Group Counseling

Most students feel this way before beginning group therapy! It can sound intimidating to talk about personal issues in front of other people. Group facilitators are trained to help create a safe and supportive environment designed to create a comfortable space for students to give and receive care. Most students find that it gets much easier to share after one or two sessions! 

Part of what makes group therapy so powerful is that your concerns are often similar to what other students are struggling with. Although we encourage you to engage and advocate for yourself, students often find they can benefit by hearing how others are struggling with the same concerns.

Not at all! Although you will get the most benefit from group by sharing vulnerably, you are only expected to share as much you feel safe and comfortable to do so. It can be helpful to start by sharing small reactions or by expressing care to others.  

Studies show that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy, and in some cases can be more effective.

We often begin to recognize patterns in the relationships we find ourselves in. Whether it’s a lack of assertiveness, a tendency to shut down in conflict, or difficulty knowing how to set boundaries, sometimes our relationships need a little bit of work to really achieve their potential. Understanding Self and Others is a therapy group where you will learn about yourself, how you relate to others, and how others relate to you. It is a unique experience of connection and trust, as members work together to achieve personal and interpersonal goals for growth. For more information, or to schedule a pre-group meeting, please call 410-704-2512.

Fall 2023 Group Times:
Mondays 1:00-2:30pm - Dr. Alessandra (Alex) Pieraccini & Nehemie Dantica
Tuesdays 2:00-3:30pm - Dr. Ashton Winslow & Sabrina Vigil
Wednesdays 2:30-4:00pm - Dr. Kathleen (Kate) DiMattia & Jessica De Leon
Thursdays 3:00-4:30pm - Dr. Diane (Di) Sobel & Jacob Moore

Join us as we embark on a quest for adventure & riches while also delving into the realm of insight, exploring personal growth, and creating community. This Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) inspired therapy group is a space where you can jump into a fantasy world, explore different ways of relating with others with your personalized character, and achieve personal growth through navigating puzzles and an exciting storyline with peers. No previous D&D experience necessary.

This group meets Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00pm. If you would like to join or to learn more, please contact, Dr. Kathleen DiMattia, kdimattia AT_TOWSON or Dr. Chris Truong, ctruong AT_TOWSON.

This group is for students who have lost someone and would like a space to connect with others who have had similar experiences.  Students in this group gain support and learn coping strategies with other students who have suffered a significant loss in their lives. They learn about the grieving process and work through significant losses with other students who understand what it feels like. This group will discuss issues such as social responses to loss, changing life roles, grief across cultures and religions, and more.

This group is facilitated by Dr. Chrissy Walsh, cwalsh AT_TOWSON and will meet Mondays from 1:00pm-2:00pm beginning September 25th. 

T-Break is a weekly drop-in group space for students who want to cut back or stop their use of cannabis. T-Break meets Mondays from 11:00am – 12:00pm and is facilitated by Zack Hitchens. For more information, please email Zach Hitchens, zhitchens AT_TOWSON. 

One Less is a weekly drop-in group for students who want to cut back or stop their drinking. One Less meets Fridays from 11:00am – 12:00pm and is facilitated by Zack Hitchens. For more information, please email Zach Hitchens, zhitchens AT_TOWSON. 

This group is for anyone who identifies or wonders if they are LGBTQIA+ or queer. Whether you are clear about your identity, questioning, or far from sure, this group offers a queer space for students of all backgrounds to confidentially discuss and explore aspects of sexual orientation and gender identity in safety. Group topics are as varied as the participants but have included: discerning an identity, coming out/inviting in, family, religion, dating, etc. This group offers an opportunity to be with others like yourself. 

This group is facilitated by Dr. Mike Zebrowski, mzebrowski AT_TOWSON  and Sabrina Vigil, svigil AT_TOWSON and will meet Fridays 1:00-2:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitators by email or call 410-704-2512.

This group is a safe, supportive, and affirming space for Two Spirit, Trans, and Nonbinary students of all backgrounds to discuss and explore aspects of gender identity and gender expression. Group supports wherever you might be on your gender path – defining a new identity, trying out a new name or pronouns, considering gender affirming care, or simply wanting to feel understood and celebrated for being exactly who you are. 

This group will meet Fridays 3:00-4:00PM throughout the Fall 2023 semester and is facilitated by Dr. Mike Zebrowski, mzebrowski AT_TOWSON  & Dr. Chris Truong, ctruong AT_TOWSON. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitators by email or call 410-704-2512.

How many times have you answered the question, “How are you doing?” with a shrug and a “Fine, I guess”? Ever felt like you just have to quietly manage hard experiences on your own for fear of being seen as weak? Being a man carries with it a set of social expectations that can corrode our mental health and well-being. Join us for Men’s Group, a therapeutic group space where students can connect with other men around shared experiences, practice vulnerability with each other, and learn effective ways to deepen relationships with loved ones. 

This group meets Wednesdays from 1:00pm-2:00pm. All students who identify as male are welcome to join. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact Dr. Ashton Winslow, awinslow AT_TOWSON or Jacob Moore, jamoore AT_TOWSON.

As We Are is a support group for students struggling with their relationship with their bodies. In this group you will gain insight into your relationship with your bodies, receive support on how to change negative thoughts and feelings about your body, and learn to recognize the impact of oppression on beliefs about food and body size. 

This group meets Thursdays from 2:00pm – 3:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester and is facilitated by Dr. Kate DiMattia. For more information, you can email Dr. DiMattia, kdimattia AT_TOWSON. 

This group provides a supportive space for individual who identify as immigrants (1st gen, 1.5 gen, 2nd gen, etc.). Students are provided opportunities to receive support related to the immigrant experience, such as family stressors, bicultural identity issues, identity development, U.S. immigration issues, and more.

This group is facilitated by Dr. Michelle Kirton, mkirton AT_TOWSON and will meet Tuesdays 4:00pm-5:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitator by email or call 410-704-2512.

This group is designed to be a safe space for all women of color to gather and support one another while discussing issues relevant to their lived experiences.

This group is facilitated by Dr. Andrea Obah, aobah AT_TOWSON & Jessica De Leon, jdeleon AT_TOWSON and will meet Mondays 4:00-5:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitators by email or call 410-704-2512.

This group is designed to be a safe space for Black-identified women of color to gather together to build community through the shared experiences of Black womanhood.

This group is facilitated by Dr. Andrea Obah, aobah AT_TOWSON & Nehemie Dantica, ndantica AT_TOWSON, and will meet Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitators or call 410-704-2512.

This drop-in group meets for the entire semester and focuses on self-reflection and skill building to help students learn to be kinder to themselves. It addresses a range of concerns, including low self-esteem, negative self-talk, difficulties with body image, and other forms of not accepting oneself. 

This group is facilitated by Dr. Michelle Kirton, mkirton AT_TOWSON, and meets Fridays from 10:00-11:00am throughout the Fall 2023 semester.  If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitator by email or call 410-704-2512.

Paralyzed by the pressure to always get it just right? Perfectionism can be the bane of many college student's journey towards academic success. Perfection Correction is a weekly drop-in group that teaches tools & techniques for pushing back against the weight of perfect.

This group is facilitated by Dr. Alessandra Pieraccini, apieraccini AT_TOWSON and meets Thursdays from 1:00pm-2:00pm throughout the Fall 2023 semester. If you would like to join or learn more, please contact the facilitator by email or call 410-704-2512.

One of the most commonly reported concerns reported by college students is feeling unprepared to handle anxiety. Looking to expand your anxiety-fighting repertoire? Join Anxiety Toolbox to learn specific evidence-based cognitive-behavioral strategies for coping with anxiety!   

Two sections of this three-week long group will be offered throughout the Fall 2023 semester on the following dates and times:  

• 10/05 – 10/19: Thursdays, 11:00am – 12:00pm
• 11/01 – 11/15: Wednesdays, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

If you would like to join, please contact the Counseling Center at 410-704-2512.

This workshop series offers four sessions that help students learn valuable self-help skills. Students may choose to attend one or all the sessions offered. Dates and times for the four session topics are below:   

Mindfulness

• Tuesday September 19th, 2:00pm
• Thursday October 26th, 3:00pm

Distress Tolerance 

• Tuesday September 26th, 2:00pm
• Thursday November 2nd, 3:00pm

Emotion Regulation 

• Tuesday October 3rd, 2:00pm
• Thursday November 9th, 3:00pm

Interpersonal Effectiveness 

• Tuesday October 10th, 2:00pm
• Thursday November 16th, 3:00pm

Students are welcome to walk-in and attend any of these workshops! You may also join in advance by calling the Counseling Center at 410-704-2512.

Executive Function Junction is a drop-in workshop facilitated by Dr. Amber Walser, awalser AT_TOWSON and Dr. Chris Truong, ctruong AT_TOWSON, that is appropriate for any student who is struggling with attention-related issues like focus, procrastination, poor study skills, low motivation, difficulty multitasking, avoidance of work, and in need of organization strategies for time management and planning. Students in need of support, tips and tricks will be able to meet other students having the same concerns, work collaboratively to increase accountability, and build community over shared experiences. 

Students will need to see a counselor first for one same-day appointment to discuss their needs and appropriateness for the group. To join, please schedule a same-day appointment by visiting, Schedule An Appointment or call 410-704-2512.

This group meets Tuesdays from 11:00am-12:00pm starting September 19th.