You don’t have to face life’s challenges alone! Join group today!
We spend most of our lives convening in and being supported by groups, so group therapy is a natural and highly beneficial form of treatment for just about everyone. It offers a form of support and experience-based learning and growth that you can’t get in individual therapy. See below for our current offerings.
It is helpful to think of group in two ways:
| As a container that is solid, safe, and secure enough to hold the group’s vulnerability, tension, conflict, and emotionality. The more cohesive the group, the stronger the container. | |
| As a laboratory where you can experiment with new ways of relating and interacting with others. In this safe and controlled environment, you can: 1) Take risks and try something new, 2) Get feedback from others about how the experiment went, and 3) Decide if you want to use the new behavior in your day-to-day life or not. | |
The CCPS Groups Coordinator, Dr. Kristin Miserocchi, is happy to answer any additional questions you may have about our group services.
Spring 2025 groups and workshops
Process Groups
Ideal for anyone experiencing any struggles or distress related to relationships, sense of self, emotionality, empathy toward others, sense of belonging/acceptance, etc.
Skills Classes and Workshops
Ideal for anyone interested in learning concrete skills in a class-like structure.
Support Groups
Ideal for anyone interested in talking with others who have had similar lived experiences.
How to participate
If you are new to CCPS, the first step is to schedule a 30-minute initial consultation. The purpose of the conversation is to clarify and assess your needs, and explore options for next steps, which may include a recommendation to participate in our groups program as a first step of service.
If you have been seen previously at CCPS, you can do any of the following:
| Reach out to your current/former counselor for more information | |
| Contact the CCPS Coordinator or call 314-935-6695 | |
| Contact the leader of the group in which you are interested |
Group mythbusters
“I have so much trouble talking to people. I’ll never be able to share in group.”
Most people are initially anxious about talking in group. Almost without exception, however, new members find that the group process draws them in within a few sessions, and they begin to share with the group in ways they never anticipated. New members also begin to feel validated in their struggles, knowing that others are supporting them. This experience helps significantly reduce anxiety around sharing in group.
“I will be pressured to share my deepest thoughts and feelings with the group.”
You control what, how much, and when you share with the group. We encourage you not to share what you are not ready to disclose. Many group members find that when the group feels safe enough to share what they are most apprehensive about, the group can be very helpful and affirming. At the same time, you also benefit by listening to others and thinking about how their thoughts might apply to you.
“Group therapy is second-best to individual therapy.”
Group therapy has been recommended to you because your counselor believes that it is the best way to address your concerns. Group therapy is not used as a means of dealing with individual therapy overflow. Rather, we recommend group therapy when we believe it is the most effective treatment method to help you. In fact, group is frequently the treatment of choice, and, is in many ways, the very best of what we have to offer.
“Group therapy will take longer than individual therapy because I will have to share the time with others.”
Group therapy is often more efficient than individual therapy, for two reasons.
- You can benefit from the group even during sessions when you say little, but listen carefully to others. You will find that you have much in common with other group members, and as they work on a concern, you can learn more about yourself.
- Group members will often bring up issues that strike a chord with you, but you might not have been aware of, or brought up by yourself. Therefore, learning from others can be a powerful therapeutic experience and often enhances the work.
“I will be judged, criticized, or verbally attacked by the leaders and by other group members.”
It is very important that group members feel safe. Group leaders are there to create a safe environment for all involved. We understand that feedback is often difficult to hear, from leaders and members alike. As group members come to trust the group, they generally experience feedback, and even confrontation – as if it were coming from a good friend. One of the benefits of group therapy is the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment.
It is rare to find friends who will gently point out how you might be behaving in ways that hurt yourself or others, but this is precisely what group can offer. This will be done in a respectful, gentle way, so that you can hear it and make use of it.
Thanks to the IL State University Counseling Services for permission to use this content.