GROUPS & WORKSHOPS — Spring 2025
Groups and workshops address issues common to most university students and are designed to help students learn new ways to deal with challenging issues. These interactive and dynamic groups cover topics such as: creating satisfying relationships, mindfulness meditation, and dealing with stress and improving mood.
Groups
Our groups are both virtual and in person at this time. Virtual groups are hosted over HIPAA-compliant Zoom. To learn more about joining our groups, contact us at 619-594-5220 to schedule a phone consultation. If you require any disability/accessibility accommodations to fully participate, please contact [email protected]. All listed times are Pacific Time (PT). Please note that these groups are not available for course credit or observation.
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:30pm
Facilitator(s): Alexis Chirban, PsyD
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
This group for individuals with body image difficulties and disordered eating concerns is based off of The Body Positive model and utilizes mindfulness, self-compassion, and emotion regulation skills. The aim of this group is to help each person move towards body acceptance and cultivating wisdom from within.
The group includes five core competencies from The Body Positive: reclaiming health, practicing intuitive self-care, cultivating self-love, declaring your own authentic beauty, and building community. The group is open to SDSU students of all backgrounds, genders, identities, and bodies.
Tuesdays 1:30 - 2:45pm and Thursdays 3:00 - 4:15pm
Facilitator(s): Maria Elena Garibay, LMFT, Ariana Cabral, LCSW, and Patricia Murillo,
Psy.D., LMFT
To join: Drop in at the Latinx Resource Center Conference Room (Love Library 182-A) (STARTING FEB 4 AND FEB 6)
¿Te gustaría conectarte con más estudiantes que se identifican como Latina/o/e/x, Chicanx, o Hispanos en SDSU? O ¿has tenido dificultad en identificarte como parte de la comunidad de SDSU?
En Confianza @ SDSU es un grupo en donde encontrarás apoyo y juntos aprenderemos a enfrentar los desafíos del choque cultural, retos generacionales y retos de pertenecer a dos o más culturas. En confianza aprenderemos cómo tener éxito en el ámbito emocional, estudiantil, y profesional. Ven y pasa un tiempo agradable en compañía de otros en el primer grupo en Español, Spanglish y en Inglés.
Would you like to connect with other students who identify as Latina/o/e/x, Chicanx,
or Hispanic? Or, are you having difficulties with identifying yourself as a part of
the SDSU community?
En Confianza @ SDSU is a group where you will find support and together we will learn how to face the challenges of culture shock, generational differences, and the challenge of belonging to two or more cultures. At En Confianza, we will learn how to be successful in our lives emotionally, academically and professionally. We welcome you to spend some time with us at the first group held in Spanish, Spanglish and English.
Tuesdays 9:00 - 10:15am and Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:15pm
Facilitator(s): Alicia Nuñez, Ph.D. and Patricia Murillo, Psy.D., LMFT
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
FriendUp is a group for neurodiverse students at SDSU who are interested in building friendships and improving confidence in social settings. This is a safe space to build community, obtain support with learning skills to improve relationships of all kinds, and address anxiety that can come up in social interactions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:15pm and Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:15pm
Facilitator(s): Joyce Lee, Ph.D., Manuel Rivera, LMFT, and Mark Teles, Ph.D.
To join: Drop in at Calpulli Center 4th floor Conference Room #4 (STARTING FEB 4 AND FEB 5)
Do you feel emotionally tangled up? Are you often caught up in overthinking or self-criticism? Have you lost touch with the things that matter most to you? Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), this group incorporates evidence-based strategies to help you cultivate greater self-understanding and psychological flexibility so that you can respond to life's challenges more effectively. Join us to learn how to get "unstuck" and live life on your terms.
Biweekly Thursdays 2:30 - 4:00pm (virtual)
Facilitator(s): Alicia Nuñez, Ph.D. and Joyce Lee, Ph.D.
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
Got a rocky relationship with your thesis or dissertation?
You're committed but you feel stressed and anxious. The clock is ticking. You want to get this done. You pushed it away for too long and the screen is blank.
You’re not alone! Join your peers in this biweekly space as you move together to navigate the ups and downs of academic writing. Stay connected, find solutions, and set realistic goals to keep yourself on track toward completing your thesis or dissertation.
Mondays 2:30 - 4:00pm (10 weeks)
Facilitator(s): Michael Juan, Ph.D.
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
Do you often feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster? Are you tired of being called “dramatic,” “sensitive,” or “reactive”? Based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, this ten-week group is designed to explore and build an understanding of our intense emotional experiences. Through the lens of living effectively, participants can learn to better identify and understand our complex emotional states, learn specific coping strategies to deal with distress, and increase awareness and self-reflection.
Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:30pm
Facilitator(s): Shireen Trujillo, LCSW
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
Get support after the death of a loved one in a nurturing and safe place at the Living with Loss Grief Support Group. In this process group, you will have an opportunity to work through your healing while building connections with other students who can relate to your experience.
Thursdays 2:30 - 3:45pm
Facilitator(s): Ariana Cabral, LCSW & Patricia Murillo, Psy.D., LMFT
To join: Drop in to the Undocumented Resource Center (Arts & Letters 202) (STARTING FEB 24)
Are you an undocumented or mixed-immigration status student trying to connect with others in a safe space? Are you dealing with feelings of uncertainty, stress, and lack of control? Would you like to explore how to be an agent of your own story and live your best life? Join us weekly to Reclaim Your Story.
Mondays 1:30 - 3:00pm
Facilitator(s): Diana Bull, Ph.D.
To join: Drop in to the Women's Resource Center (5121 Campanile Dr.) or call C&PS at 619-594-5220 (STARTING FEB 3)
Rise is a confidential supportive space for survivors of sexual assault and relationship violence. The group currently meets at the Women's Resource Center (WRC) to honor the legacy of WRC students advocating for this support space. However, this group is open to SDSU students of all genders.
Students are welcome to drop-in as desired though are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible. Each group provides space for survivors to check-in with one other, and to learn and practice skills to further the healing process. Due to the nature of the group, we ask all attendees to arrive on time (doors will close to late arrivals 10 minutes after the start time). New attendees will also complete a brief consent form in-person prior to joining.
Fridays 9:00 - 10:15am (virtual)
Facilitator(s): Devon Berkheiser, Psy.D.
To join: Call C&PS at 619-594-5220
This group is tailored to the unique needs of SDSU undergraduate and graduate students training to become helping professionals and gaining experience as helpers (through an internship, job, volunteer, or another space). Careers in the Helping Professions offer great rewards, while also presenting unique demands.
Through guided discussions and activities, this group focuses on topics such as self and community care, balancing roles, compassion fatigue and burnout, vicarious resilience, and development of one’s professional identity.
Thursdays 5:30 - 7:00pm
Facilitator(s): Koko Nishi, Psy.D. & Zemed Berhe, Ph.D.
To join: Email [email protected]
The Women of Color Empowerment Group is designed to be a confidential, safe space for women of color to receive and provide support in the promotion of: understanding and exploring intersecting racial, gender and cultural identities, navigating issues related to academics, processing experiences related to racism and discrimination, empowering self-expression, development of healthy relationships, and addressing mental health concerns.
Workshops
Workshops are a great way to learn new skills to support your well-being. There is no need to call ahead -- students can simply drop in! If you require any disability/accessibility accommodations to fully participate, please contact [email protected] at least one week before you plan to attend, if possible. All listed times are Pacific Time (PT). Please note these workshops are not available for course credit or observation.
This workshop series is designed to address and discuss the intersection of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity and mental health.
For more information, visit @aapiphanysdsu on Instagram.
Student Groups & Meetings Outside of C&PS
Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00pm
Active Minds is a student organization that is “changing the conversation about mental health.” To join the organization, you just have to show up to the meeting! Stop by, help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and learn about current trends in the mental health field.
Aztecs for Recovery (AFR), the student recovery community at SDSU, is a registered student organization open to all SDSU students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional).
There are no restrictions on membership - persons struggling with or in recovery from addiction and compulsive behaviors of all types are welcome (alcohol and substance use as well as addiction to gambling, social media, food, sex, etc.)
For more information on upcoming meetings and events, email [email protected].
Well-being and Health Promotion offers on-campus SMART Recovery meetings for SDSU students. SMART - or Self-Management and Recovery Training - is a secular method of recovery focused around self-empowerment and achieving personal goals.
SMART General Meetings are geared towards students who are in or seeking recovery,
or who are recovery-curious.
C&PS therapists do not facilitate this space. For more information, contact [email protected].
Every other Tuesday 2:00 - 3:00pm
Are you looking for ways to make a difference on campus? Be a health and wellness advocate for SDSU students by joining the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)!
SHAC members advise the departments of Student Health, Counseling & Psychological Services, and Well-Being & Health Promotion on their services, make recommendations on policy and programming, and give voice to the needs and perspectives of the student body. SHAC is also a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, build your resume, and network with professionals in the health, mental health, and wellness fields.
SHAC is open to all SDSU students and there are no dues or fees required.
Visit SHAC's Presence page or email [email protected] to learn more.
