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.

Building Resilience: Understanding Stress and Building Skills to Cope  

Facilitator: Jessica DeLuca (she/her), RN, MN CPMHN(c)
When: Thursdays | 1:30pm - 3:00pm | November 7, 14, 21 & 28
Where: Wellness Den, Student Services HUB, DV2207

This workshop series is offered to all UTM students and takes place over 4 sessions. This series offers an introduction to understanding stress, both its benefits and challenges. We will also explore the skills and supports needed to cope well in university and develop long-term resilience (the ability to bounce back from overwhelming forms of stress). 

Registration is now closed. Stay tuned for Winter 2025 dates.

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. 

Register here!

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.

Register here!

Dealing with Hard Feelings: A 4- Week 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.

Register here!

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!

🧩 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!