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.
More About Groups, Workshops, and Classes
All of CAPS Groups and workshops are FREE for registered Stanford students. 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 register online and attend the session, and some you can drop-in, same day. Group description explains how to connect for each group below. If you want to learn more about all of CAPS services, call CAPS 650-723-3785 to get started.
Explore CAPS Groups & Workshops below.
Anxiety Toolbox
Description: Multiple dates and times available to attend this 90 minute 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. You will create an individualized plan for recognizing and working with stress and anxiety during this workshop.
Dates and Times: See the schedule for Spring Quarter 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 meeting that works best for your schedule. Most workshops are in person, but a few offered virtually.
Facilitator: Multiple CAPS therapists collaborate to provide these workshops- see the schedule in link below for therapists facilitating for each individual workshop
QTrees
Description: Qtrees is a process/support group for LGBTQIA+ undergraduate and graduate students at Stanford. Join us to connect with other LGBTQIA+ to process and support each other around your identity and how that may impact your experience.
QTrees will meet for 60 mins. weekly for 7 weeks, with same people each week.
Dates and Times: In-person group meeting Thursdays 11:00-12:00 pm 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/02, 11/09, 11/16, 11/30 (skip 11/23)
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group. You can sign up on the INTEREST LIST- QTrees on Vaden Portal rosters, in the "Groups and Workshops" section before 10/05. The facilitator will reach out to you to schedule a pre-group meeting.
Facilitators: Christine Catipon PsyD
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 groups is 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 2:00-3:15 pm starting 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/5
How to access: this group will be in-person at CAPS. Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is the first step. Sign up on the INTEREST LIST- at the Vaden Portal go to Groups and Workshops and find INTEREST LIST: Seeking Safety and add your name. A facilitator will reach out to you.
Facilitators: Jennifer Maldonado LCSW, Mari Evers LCSW
Meditation for Mental Wellness
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. This is an educational class series, led by a CAPS therapist.
Dates and times: Virtual class format- meets Mondays at 11am 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13
How to access: Sign up on the INTEREST LIST- at the Vaden Portal go to Groups and Workshops and find INTEREST LIST: Meditation for Mental Wellness, and add your name, to register for the virtual meditation sessions.
Facilitator: Cierra Whatley, PhD
The Algorithm: Self-image Support Space for BIPOC students
Description: The Algorithm is four in-person sessions, created to support BIPOC students with navigating self-view/self-image, including processing internalized messages.
Dates and Times: In-person, 4 workshops Thursdays, 3:30-5:00 pm 10/12, 10/26, 11/16 and 11/30
How to access: This is a wellness outreach space, register by clicking red "register" box below. You have option to ask to meet with facilitator prior to the group, if you would like to meet first, but this is not required.
Facilitator: Bianca Aaron LMFT, Madeleine Kannan LCSW
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.
Dates and times: In person, Thursdays 12:00-1:00 pm Dates: 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30
How to access: This group will be in-person at CAPS. Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is the first step. Sign up on the Vaden Portal- go to Groups and Workshops and find Action Plan for Mental Health and add your name. A facilitator will reach out to you.
Facilitator: RosaMaria Oceguera, LMFT
Mixtape: Creativity and Mental Health Workshop for BIPOC Students
Description: This is a one-time outreach workshop for BIPOC creatives and creative enthusiasts to engage in their preferred art forms to aid in finding balance in daily life. Participants can expect theme-based guidance as they explore their own experiences.
When: Wednesday 11/29 3:30 pm-5:00 pm
How to access: Sign up by clicking the "Register" button below and completing the form.
Facilitator: Bianca Aaron LMFT and Madeleine Kannan LCSW
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: In person, Mondays 2:30-3:30 pm 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20, 11/27,12/04
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: Cierra Whatley, PhD and Katie Ohene-Gambill, PsyD
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. To see most recent info on dates, times, and locations, go to link below:
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
Let’s Talk: Communication Series
Description: This three part workshop series will explore how individuals show up in different spaces with different people. It will create space to reflect on personal communication styles, better understand others perspectives, and to develop skills to nourish interpersonal relationships. Attendance to all three parts is not required.
Dates and Times: In person- come for one or all: Session 1: Monday 11/06 3:00-4:00pm "Love Languages" Session 2: Wednesday 11/15 3:00-4:00 pm "Healthy Boundaries" Session 3: Wednesday 12/06 3:00-4:00pm “Boundaries”
How to Access: Drop ins welcome, In-person FLI Student Success Center in Old Union. Sign up on the interest form below if you wish to receive information on the meetings!
Facilitator: Louisa Jacquez LMFT
Eating Disorder Recovery Holiday Workshop
Description: A two part workshop for all genders, to support you over the holidays- support and skills to work with with the internal and external triggers for eating disorder behaviors, that can come up during holidays.
Dates and Times: Two Mondays- 11/13 and 12/04, from 3:00-4:30 pm
How to access: You can sign up on the INTEREST LIST- Eating Disorder Recovery Holiday Workshop on Vaden Portal rosters, in the "Groups and Workshops" section. The facilitator will reach out to you to give details on the meeting place.
Facilitator: Carrie Grabaskas, LPCC, CEDS
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 at 4:00 om 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/2
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
School of Medicine BIPOC Support Space
Description: This is a 5-session, student-lead virtual support group for School of Medicine BIPOC students, with 2 MHT clinicians serving as host facilitators. In this supportive space, students come as they are, share mutual support, and foster community. Students build tools to cope with academic and professional stressors, anxiety, issues rooted in systemic oppression, decrease impostor phenomenon, and process other student lead topics. This group is open to registered BioSci PhD/MS, MSPA, and MD students of all genders who identify as people of color. Our third meeting will be in-person, all other meetings virtual.
Dates and Times: 5 -session virtual support group Thursdays, 8:30am-9:30am. Dates are 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group. You can sign up on the on Vaden portal link below. In the "Groups and Workshops" section look for* INTEREST_LIST_SOM_BIPOC Student Support_ FALL Q and add your name. One of the facilitators will reach out to you to schedule a pre-group meeting.
MHT Host Facilitators: Mariko Sweetnam, LCSW and Isela Garcia White, LCSW
Sofa Sessions
Description: This is a monthly gathering for Black students to seek support regarding race-based trauma, critical incidents on campus and/or nationwide, or are in need of connection in community.
When: TBD
How to sign up: Check back here for updates and registration.
Facilitators: Katie Ohene PsyD, Bianca Aaron LMFT, Cierra Whatley PhD
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: This group will be held in WINTER QUARTER
How to Access: Connecting with CAPS and attending a pre-group meeting with a group facilitator is required to join this group. Sign up on the the Vaden portal by goint to WISE MIND DBT Winter and adding your name. A Facilitator will reach out to you to talk more with you about the group.
Facilitators: Amy Wilkinson LCSW
OCD Support Space
Description: The experience of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) can be isolating and stressful. This is a 6-week group for students who live with OCD to support to each other and have a safe space to connect.
Dates and times: This group is scheduled to be offered Winter Quarter. Please sign up on interest list in Vaden portal (below) to receive a contact from a group facilitator for Winter session.
How to access: Meeting with a facilitator is required to join this group. This group is for students who have a current diagnosis of OCD and are connected with care. You can sign up on the Interest List for "OCD Support" on the Vaden portal link below. If you want to receive OCD assessment or connect with initial therapy for OCD concerns, call CAPS at 650-723-3785 and ask for an initial visit at CAPS.
Facilitators: TBD
