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West Virginia University Carruth Center
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To schedule an appointment, click "Make An Appointment" during our operational hours or call 304-293-4431.

Current Groups

Group Counseling Groups

Every semester the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of groups. Counseling groups are often the best way to work on areas of concern, especially when those concerns deal with issues that directly affect your relationship with others. Groups give you contact with peers as well as a therapist in a safe and confidential environment. 

For our group counseling sessions, we ask that students sign up for the semester. The groups meet one time a week and vary in time. Students must meet with a clinician for an initial appointment in order to get signed up for the group. Please call us at 304-293-4431, schedule an initial appointment via our online scheduling tool, or reach out directly to the group clinician. 

Fall 2023 Groups:

Understanding Self & Others Be Kind to Your Mind Creative Arts Empowering One Another Through Q-mmunity
Get More of Of Life Graduate Support The Me in Mental Health
 Understanding Self and Others
Your Inattention Please
 Survivors of Sexual Assault and Gender Based Trauma



Understanding Self & Others

Interpersonal process groups aim to support students with any social or interpersonal concern (e.g., challenges making or keeping friends, difficulty trusting others and being vulnerable, family conflict). These groups involve reflecting on communication and relationship patterns, providing and receiving feedback, and practicing different ways of relating in the group space. Discussion topics include family dynamics, how early experiences impact current relationships, coping with changing levels of intimacy, initiating conversations and relationship dynamics, with an emphasis on here-and-now exploration. 

Be Kind to Your Mind

Would you talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself when you make a mistake, fail an exam, get rejected or say something embarrassing? It is easy to be self-critical and many people believe this is a helpful tactic that will drive them to succeed – but it’s not! Learning how to show compassion to ourselves decreases depression, anxiety, stress and shame and increases happiness, life satisfaction, self-confidence and physical health. It also helps us to be more mindful and compassionate towards others, to feel more social connectedness, and to feel more comfortable with difficult emotions. This group will teach you to be kind to yourself, to recognize your experiences as common to humankind, and to stay in the present moment, even when it is difficult. Group activities will include journaling, meditation, and other mindfulness exercises. If you would like to learn to accept yourself, this is the group for you! 

Creative Arts Group

This group will be a space for students to learn how to use creative arts to cope with difficulties, understand themselves, and connect with others.  We will explore a variety of creative domains, such as art, music, and writing as a path to wellness and understanding.  No artistic ability/experience required!  

  • Wednesdays from 5-6:30 with Adam and Hannah
  • For more information about signing up, email Adam Kroloff: adam.kroloff@mail.wvu.edu

Empowering One Another Through Q-mmunity

Do you sometimes find it hard to build connections with those who share similar identities as you? Are you not feeling comfortable in your own skin? Have you experienced struggling to find your place amongst friends, family, and colleagues? Do you consider yourself part of the LGBTQIA2+ community? Then you have come to the right place! Q-mmunity is a weekly space for LGBTQIA2+ students to on focus empowering one another utilizing creativity through creative projects, movement, and writing. Not an artist? Not to worry! This space primarily is about providing one another support about challenges surrounding coming out, queer identity, relationships, labels, and family dynamics. The therapeutic projects are yours to keep as a reminder of how to support and empower yourself/others when needed! 

Get More Out of Life Group (Part of the Well-Being Adventure Series)

In partnership with Adventure WV and as part of the Well-Being Adventure Series, group members will learn tools from both positive psychotherapy and therapeutic adventure to increase their well-being. Group members will be supported to develop their strengths, practice more gratitude, interact more constructively with friends and loved ones, get more enjoyment out of their daily activities, and feel more optimistic about their future. These goals will be achieved through members participation in ecotherapy, ongoing celebration of one another’s strengths during problem-based group development, and processing with each other their unique experiences utilizing the tools they acquire during sessions and in integrative activities assigned between meetings each week. The group experience will culminate with an outdoor experience such as backpacking, aerial adventure and camping, or paddling. 

Graduate Student Support Group

The graduate student support group provides a space for students to discuss common experiences of graduate school including thesis/dissertation, research and teaching expectations, graduate advisor concerns, funding and financial concerns, and family and relationship concerns.

Survivors of Sexual Assault and Gender-Based Trauma

This group aims to provide education about trauma responses, while providing skills to improve coping and daily functioning and empowering one another in healing. 

The ME in Mental Health

Are you struggling with not feeling like yourself?  Do you have times where you are experiencing sadness/depressed mood?  Are there times where anxiety or stress overtake your day?  If so, this may be the group for you.   This is a space that will have two purposes- to create a space to openly talk about your mood with your peers without judgement and the other is to learn skills to manage these feelings.

  • Thursdays from 4:30-6:00 with Spring and Tinh
  • For more information about signing up, email Spring Szoka: spring.lepak@mail.wvu.edu

Understanding Self & Others (USO)

Interpersonal process groups aim to support students with any social or interpersonal concern (e.g., challenges making or keeping friends, difficulty trusting others and being vulnerable, family conflict). These groups involve reflecting on communication and relationship patterns, providing and receiving feedback, and practicing different ways of relating in the group space. Discussion topics include family dynamics, how early experiences impact current relationships, coping with changing levels of intimacy, initiating conversations and relationship dynamics, with an emphasis on here-and-now exploration. 

Your Inattention Please! ADHD Support Group

This group is a process space for people with ADHD to talk about their experiences and challenges with ADHD such as inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, difficulty managing emotions, sensory difficulties, and more. This group will also offer relevant, helpful skills to help you find ways to best manage your ADHD challenges and incorporate your ADHD strengths.  Skill areas may include using effective planners, how to manage “To-Do” lists, addressing procrastination, organization (school, work, home, finances, etc.), study/testing skills, time management, navigating relationships, emotional regulation skills, and self-care. We appreciate your inattention!

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