CAPS Groups & Workshops
Joining a group or workshop with other students can be beneficial by increasing feelings of connectedness and understanding. A facilitated space with community validates your challenges and experiences, and is a way to understand yourself better, get relief from painful feelings, and learn new skills to live according to your values. There is an opportunity to share experiences and get support from your peers along the way. Groups and workshops are facilitated by various members of the CAPS staff and differ in focus and duration.
For most groups, workshops, and classes, you connect with CAPS to talk with the group facilitator about the group or workshop before signing up. For some group services you can drop in or sign up online. Group description explains how to connect for each group below. If you want to learn more about all of CAPS services, meet with CAPS Connects
Understanding Self and Others
Description: Do you find being a student at Stanford a unique and demanding endeavor? Do you find yourself wondering how other students feel about their experience here, and how they manage life’s demands? Understanding Self and Others will help you explore the stressors related to academics, relationships, caring for yourself and for your communities. This group aims to support members in understanding how their own unique histories intersect with their present circumstances, and how these influence the way they cope with significant barriers, life-events, and personal challenges. Group members and facilitators will create a safe, collective, healing space to support each other in unpacking life at Stanford, and how we all experience it.
Dates and times: We would like to hold this group, in-person, if possible, and have a space reserved, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., on Mondays, beginning 09/12/2022. We are glad to hear from interested students, and may adjust the group meeting time, and treatment modality, to accommodate group members.
How to access: Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. The group will be considered a ‘closed group’ meaning the same people meet each week and new members would not join after the group cohort begins. Please call: (650) 723-3785 during CAPS business hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist, or message your therapist/contact person at CAPS, to determine if this group, is a fit for you.
Facilitators: Hae-Ok Miller, LMFT and Danny Meza, PhD
Rooted! Black Graduate Students Process Space
Description: Rooted! Is a support group for Black-identified Stanford graduate students that is designed to be a confidential space for students to speak their minds, build community, rest, connect with themselves, and learn coping skills for managing graduate life at Stanford. Graduate school is naturally stressful, rigorous, and will challenge you in unexpected ways. That stress can be compounded by identity, politics, isolation, and overall climate. Whether this is your first year or fifth year, we welcome you to join this group and get Rooted!
Dates and times: Virtual space, held on Wednesdays 3:30-5:00 pm starting 10/12. Group runs through Fall Quarter: 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/02/11/09, 11/16, 11/30
How to Access: Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. Please call 650-723-3785 during business hours (8:30-5:00 weekdays) to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist, or message your therapist/contact person at CAPS, to determine if this group is right for you.
Group Facilitators: Bianca Aaron, LMFT and Cierra Whatley, PhD
Body Project Treatment
Description: Body Project is a quarter-long group that uses verbal, written, and behavioral exercises to guide you through self reflection about body image. This group provides space to explore our relationships with our bodies, with food and eating, and the many systemic factors that inform those relationships. We welcome all who are interested in building a more positive view of their whole selves.
Dates/times: This group is 8 sessions, in-person, on Mondays from 3:00-4:00 starting 10/10/2022 through 11/28/2022
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group. You can sign up on the INTEREST LIST- BODY PROJECT on Vaden Portal in the "Groups and Workshops" section of the portal- sign up at the link or via the red button below, and one of the facilitators will reach out to you to schedule a pre-group meeting. Any CAPS therapist you meet with can put you on the INTEREST list as well.
Facilitators: Bianca Aaron LMFT, Tovah Krokoszynski PhD
Anxiety Toolbox
Description: Multiple dates and times available to attend this two part, 1-hour each virtual workshop. Learn about how stress and anxiety show up in your body, emotions, thoughts and behaviors, and gain skills to lower anxiety in each area. Increase your ability to manage anxious thoughts and develop skills to recognize the role of systems of oppression and conditioning in anxiety. This workshop consists of psycho-education, break-out groups, and skills practice.
Dates and Times: See the schedule for Fall by clicking on red button below
How to access: Connecting with CAPS is required to join this group. Please call 650-723-3785 during business hours (8:30-5:00 weekdays) to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist, or message your therapist/contact person at CAPS, to determine if this workshop is right for you and be added to the workshop series that works best for your schedule.
Facilitator: Meredith Parker PsyD with additional CAPS therapists
Koru Meditation Workshop
Description: This four-session workshop will introduce you to the practice of mindfulness and meditation to assist you with managing stress and enriching your life. Like learning any new skill, it takes practice to get comfortable with mindfulness. We invite you to devote yourself to the study and practice of mindfulness for these four weeks, and we challenge you to stay curious about what evolves for you as you persistently and patiently practice living mindfully. This is an educational class series, led by two CAPS therapists.
Dates and times: Virtual class format, 4 sequential Monday sessions, Mondays 1:00-2:00pm starting 10/10/2022
How to access: Sign up for the class on the Koru website- https://student.korumindfulness.org/course-detail.html?course_id=6834
Facilitators: Cierra Whatley, PhD & Sally Huang MD
FLI Support Space
Description: This space is dedicated for any student who aligns with the FLI (First generation in your family to go to college and/or low income student at Stanford) identity. Come connect with peers to openly communicate about your experience in the campus community. Explore how your unique background intersects with your mental well-being and develop a safe place to be your authentic self. This group will be offered for two sessions in the fall- you can attend one or both! If interest is there, we can develop into a weekly group for the winter and spring quarters.
Dates and times: Thursday October 13th 3:00-4:30 and Thursday November 17th 3:00-4:30
How to Access: Sign up at the link below and the facilitator will contact you to share information on the upcoming meetings.
Let’s Chat aBAOt it: Asian Community Support Space
Description: Support group for Asian Identified Stanford students. Join us in sharing support for each other as we navigate through the journey of life. Topics being covered include (but not limited to): identities, managing different expectations, imposter syndrome/perfectionism, Anti-Asian hate, stigma around mental health support, multi-cultural integration and awareness. This group forms and stays together for 6-weeks with the same members meeting each week. A pre-group meeting with the facilitator is required to join the group.
Dates and Times: Tuesdays starting October 11th- time and location TBD
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group. You can sign up on the INTEREST LIST- ASIAN COMMUNITY SPACE on Vaden Portal in the "groups and workshops" section, and the facilitator will reach out to you to schedule a pre-group meeting. Any CAPS therapist you meet with can put you on the INTEREST LIST as well.
Food, Body, Eating and Stress
Description: Stress can have an impact on how we eat, move, and how we feel about our body. This is a supportive and inclusive space to talk about how you are experiencing these impacts, with facilitation from experienced therapists.
Dates and times: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 PM starting 10/05
This is an open/rolling admission group where new members can join anytime after meeting with the facilitator. dates are 10/05, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/02, 11/09, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group- you can join any point in the quarter. You can sign up on the INTEREST LIST- Food, Body, Eating, Stress on Vaden Portal rosters, in the "Groups and Workshops" section. One of the facilitators will reach out to you to schedule a pre-group meeting.
You can also call CAPS and ask for a CAPS appointment, or reach out to your CAPS point person/therapist if you are in touch with CAPS already. Any CAPS therapist can also put you on the INTEREST list.
Facilitators: Emily Caruthers, LMFT and Diane Saenz RD
Action Plan for Mental Health
Description: Creating a Plan for Mental Health Wellness - Do you find that mental health issues make it difficult for you to thrive at Stanford? Would you like to identify the resources and support you need that are most helpful to YOU in managing your daily life? Developing an Action Plan For Mental Health helps identify feelings and behaviors, triggers that threaten wellbeing, while building toolbox of coping strategies, and other supports. Elements of the Action Plan For Mental Health and topics covered in this group include: Creating a personalized Wellness Toolbox; Daily self-monitoring plan; Understanding Triggers; Green and Red Flags; Know when things are breaking down and how to support your wellness.
Dates and times: In person, Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 PM starting 10/05
How to access: this group will be in-person at CAPS, not offered virtually. This group has rolling admission, so you can join anytime in the quarter. Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. Please call 650-723-3785 during business hours (8:30-5 weekdays) to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist, or message your therapist/contact person at CAPS, to determine if this group is right for you.
Facilitator: RosaMaria Oceguera, LMFT
Wise Mind DBT informed skills group
Description: Our emotions affect us and our relationships, and our relationships impact our emotions. This virtual Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group is a quarter-long workshop-style group on how to identify and work with intense emotions. DBT addresses skills to understand and regulate emotion, tolerate distress, and be more effective in interpersonal concerns. Each group includes mindfulness practice.
Dates and Times: Virtual group. This group will meet online Tuesdays 3:00-4:00 starting 10/11/2022- group will run weekly through the quarter.
How to Access: Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. Please call 650-723-3785 during business hours (8:30-5:00 weekdays) to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist to determine if this group is right for you. If you have already connected recently or in past with CAPS, you can message your contact person and ask them to help you connect with the group.
Dissertation Support
Description: This six-session group will be a place to vent, meet other people like you, share goals and perspectives on navigating common themes (isolation, motivation, relationships), and learn some helpful coping skills to manage the stress of dissertation writing. If you’re enrolled student, located inside the state of California, and in the process of writing (whether you are just starting, or approaching completion), please consider joining us! This is a supportive graduate student space with the expertise of a Graduate Life Office Dean and a CAPS therapist co-facilitating, and sharing skills, resources, and support specific to your situation.
Dates and times: Virtual, Mondays 2:00pm-3:00pm 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/07, 11/14, 11/28
How to access: Join at any point in the Quarter .Sign up on the Graduate Life Office roster by clicking the red button below.
Facilitators: Cierra Whatley PhD, CAPS & Angela Estrella, Graduate Life Office
Seeking Safety
Description: Seeking Safety is an ongoing group designed to support individuals who struggle with behaviors that interfere with their ability to function and cope as a student. The model was designed for individuals with trauma and substance abuse, but can also be useful to those who experience difficulty with emotion regulation, impulsivity, and unhealthy coping. Being “safe” means to be able to manage symptoms and take care of yourself in adaptive ways. Seeking Safety is NOT a process group. It is a present-focused, skills-based model that addresses behavioral, cognitive, and interpersonal themes.
Dates and times: In person, Tuesdays 3:00-4:00 PM starting 10/11
How to access: this group will be in-person at CAPS, not offered virtually. This group has rolling admission, so you can join anytime in the quarter. Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. Please call 650-723-3785 during business hours (8:30-5:00 weekdays) to connect and meet with a CAPS therapist, or message your therapist/contact person at CAPS, to determine if this group is right for you.
Facilitator: Jennifer Maldonado LCSW
Grief Group
Description: In-person community space providing expert support, education, and resources for any student living with any form of grief and loss, whether recent or past. Three spaces are held each quarter. Fall dates and times are still being determined.
Student Grief and Loss Gathering
Facilitators: Helen Hsu PsyD of CAPS, Annanda Barclay and Laurie Hahn Tapper of OSRL,Donnovan Somera Yisrael of Well-being and Chidel Onuegbu of Graduate Life Office