Group Counseling

Most people think of counseling as a one on one meeting with a counselor, and this certainly is the context in which many students get help for the difficult times they are experiencing.  At times, however,  the most helpful way to address your concerns is to do so in Group Counseling rather than individual psychotherapy.  Groups are particularly helpful when the problem is something that impacts relationships because groups provide a safe place to examine how others experience you, and you end up actually practicing relationship skills and implementing insights you gained in a group experience. 

Unlike relationships outside of the group, where others may not always provide honest feedback, Group Counseling is professionally facilitated toward a supportive and caring approach. The facilitator, along with the group members, provide support, validation, and avenues for change.  As a result, they help shed light on how each group member may come across to others.

Group Counseling sometimes helps you see the universality of your struggles.  Often, simply addressing common concerns helps students feel less alone. More importantly,  hearing the varied ways in which others have had success can contribute to growth for all group members.

CAPS offers a variety of groups to address the many needs of the Duke student community.  Some CAPS groups are structured more like mini-workshops, teaching skills for coping with a particular challenge, such as anxiety or eating problems.  For more information on our currently offered groups, click on the links to the right under the Groups Offered heading.