Groups & Workshops

Groups & Workshops are powerful vehicles for change. When people participate in a group with others who may be experiencing similar challenges, they are often validated that they are not alone in their struggles. Students explore and learn new skills and can practice these in the safety of the group. Groups can be an empowering experience; feeling the support of the facilitator(s) and fellow group members can increase motivation and energy to create the change people want for themselves.

Please check out the upcoming groups & workshops outlined below and choose one (or more) that you believe might be a good fit for you!

If you have any questions about therapeutic groups and workshops or have any concerns, please call the HCC at 905-828-5255 or drop by the clinic (DV 1152) or email health.utm@utoronto.ca.

Calm and Connected: A Skills Group for Managing Symptoms of Anxiety  

Facilitator: Tiffany D’Souza (she/her), MSW, RSW
When: Tuesdays | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | January 21, 28, February 4, 11
Where: Wellness Den,  Student Services Hub, DV 2207 

Are you struggling with frequent worry or anxiety that’s affecting your academic goals, relationships and overall enjoyment of life? If so, this group is for you! 

During this 4 – week psychoeducational group, you'll discover practical strategies to manage the thoughts, feelings and physical discomfort associated with anxious thoughts and worry. We’ll explore specific techniques to help you stay present, navigate stress more effectively, and enhance your overall wellbeing. Find relief and connect with other students who understand what you’re going through. 

Together, we'll work towards a more balanced and calming mindset. 

Registration is now closed.

2SLGBTQIA+ DBT Skills Group 

Facilitator: Isha Saini (she/her), RP
When: Thursdays |1:30pm - 2:30pm | January 23, 30, February 6, 13
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV 2207

This 4-week group is designed to provide students who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with a supportive and affirming space to build foundational Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills. 

Participants will explore the impact of minority stress related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and societal stigma while developing the core DBT skills of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. 

Whether you're seeking tools to improve your emotional well-being, looking for a space to explore and affirm your identity, or hoping to build a sense of connection within a supportive community, this group offers a welcoming environment to grow and thrive.

Registration is now closed.

Dealing with Hard Feelings: A 4Week Skill-Building Group  

Facilitator: Asha Ramsumair (she/her), MSW, RSW & Diana Yacop (she/her), MSW Intern
When: Wednesdays | 3:00pm - 4:00pm | January 22, 29, February 5, 12 
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV2207

Are you struggling with difficult emotions like anxiety, sadness, or anger?  For many of us, experiencing strong emotions can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. It's natural to want to avoid these feelings and make them go away. However, emotions like anxiety, sadness, and anger are a normal part of being human—and we cannot avoid them forever.

In this 4-week group, you will learn to:

• Understand the role of emotions in your daily life.
• Recognize the effects of avoiding or suppressing emotions and how this can impact your mental health.
• Explore mindfulness, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) techniques to manage emotional distress in healthy, productive ways.
• Develop your own personal plan for coping with difficult emotions and building emotional resilience.

Registration is now closed.

Lifting your Mood: A Skills Group for Managing Low Mood

Facilitator: Katrina Levasseur Nedamat (she /her), MSW, RSW
When: Wednesdays | 2:00pm - 3:00pm | February 26, March 5, 12, 19
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV 2207

Do you often find yourself feeling down or sad? Or perhaps struggle with having enough motivation or energy to do the things you want or need to do? 

This 4-week group is for anyone who has concerns with low mood and what’s sometimes referred to as depression. Together, we will learn more about depression, how it affects us, and practical changes we can make to improve our mood and help to get us going again.     

Register here!

Building Self-Esteem: Learning how to Appreciate Yourself  

Facilitator: Michael Smith (he/him), MSW, RSW
When: Thursdays | 1:30pm - 2:30pm | February 27, March 6, 13, 20
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV 2207

Many of us struggle to build our self-esteem. We may find that our feelings about ourselves are pulled up and down based on achievement or feedback from others. 

In this group, we will learn straightforward ways to begin to build a stable positive sense of self and to appreciate our core worth as human beings. 

Through this learning we can begin to be ok with ourselves regardless of external influences.

Register here!

Shyness and Social Anxiety Group for 2SLGBTQIA+ Students

Facilitators: John Nguyen (he/him), OT Reg. (Ont.) 
When:  Tuesdays | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | February 25, March 4, 11, 18
Where: Wellness Den, Student Hub, DV2207 

Do you struggle to meet new people or connect with others due to feeling uncomfortable in social situations? Do you have trouble with public speaking or find yourself avoiding public spaces? It can be difficult to feel comfortable in social situations given our lived experiences within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community dealing with judgment, prejudice and even discrimination. 

This 4-week group is designed to provide students who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with a supportive space to work through shyness and social anxiety. Drawing from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lens, participants will develop practical skills to feel more comfortable and confident in social situations.

Register here!

Strategies for Managing Worry and Anxiety

Does thinking about the future bring you anxiety? Are you worried about managing assignments, your internship and your personal life? While starting a new year can bring excitement and motivation, you may find yourself feeling anxious about what is to come in the future. 

In this workshop, you will learn strategies to manage your anxiety and to bring balance to your professional and personal life. If you find that too much stress interferes with your goals and enjoyment of life, this workshop is for you!

Facilitator: Faiza Khokhar (she/her), MSW, RSW
When:  Wednesday, February 5 – 1:30-2:30
Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting

Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 898 2505 3025
Passcode: 218732

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Do you every question how you ended up in an academic environment? Have you ever felt that your achievements are just luck? You are not alone! 

Like many others, the self-doubt that you experience may be imposter syndrome. The term imposter syndrome was first coined in the 1970s by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance, and they described it as a phenomenon that occurs amongst high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their own personal success.    

In this workshop, we’ll explore imposter syndrome from an intersectional lens. Together, we will consider how this common phenomenon may be more prevalent amongst certain groups and identities.  Race, socio-economic class, gender, sexuality, citizenship status are just a few examples of how systemic and social barriers related to identity can amplify imposter syndrome and get in the way of your success and confidence. Join us as we work to increase our self-awareness of imposter syndrome and its impact along with identifying strategies to overcome it!   

Facilitator: Faiza Khokhar (she/her), MSW, RSW
When: Tuesday, February 25 – 3-4pm
Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting

Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 895 7136 4206
Passcode: 884761

🧩 Community & Connections: A wellness drop-in for students identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC).

Facilitators: Racialized staff from the HCC Counselling Team
When: Every Friday from 1:30pm - 2:30pm 
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV2207

Community & Connections is a weekly drop-in session at the Wellness Den that offers a safe space for BIPOC students to hang out, reflect on their identities and experiences and build a supportive community while engaging in a variety of wellness activities.  Activities will include:

• Sip n’ Share - Join us as we sip tea and share our experiences in a supportive circle.
• Playlist Power Hour - Music is a vital part of our identity! Come share your favourite tunes, discover what others are listening to, and craft a personalized playlist to help manage stress, reflect, and boost your mood.
• Craft & Chat - Come by and build community as we engage in an art activity!
• Positive Vibes - Come together and craft uplifting messages and heartfelt notes to inspire and support each other.

Sign up for a weekly reminder!

Meditation and Movement

Facilitators: RAWC or HCC staff
When: Every Monday from 1:30pm - 2:00pm 
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services Hub, DV2207

Guided Meditation & Movement will be paired with a physical practice to help us move our bodies into wellness including seated yoga and stretching.  

Mindfulness is about being present and in the moment. These free, drop-in classes foster an accepting, non-judgmental environment to learn and practice different forms of mindful meditation. No prior experience with mindfulness or meditation is required! Everyone is welcome, students, staff, and faculty!

Lower Stress. Improve Mood. Feel Better.

Need a little encouragement?  

Sign up for a weekly Mindful Reminder here!