College years can often be tumultuous ones for young adults. Many students are living on their own for the first time and facing new life situations. Others feel isolated and alone, struggling with different problems.
To combat this, the University Counseling and Testing Center hosts several therapy groups each year, ranging from specific groups, such as one serving students who are bipolar, to much broader groups, such as a group for women.
This term the center is adding a new one for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. However, the group is not simply a support group for LGBT students, but rather a therapy group for students exploring different personal relationship and identity issues.
“These groups are a great opportunity to have a discussion supported by a counselor,” said Chicora Martin, director of LGBT Educational and Support Services. “The groups will be a really supportive environment for students.”
The groups are confidential, private therapy sessions that often offer more for the individual than one-on-one therapy sessions, said Sue Orchard, who is leading the LGBT group. In the group setting, students can discuss different issues with other students going through similar situations. Having a close group also allows for a bigger support net. For students struggling with similar problems or feeling like nobody else understands them, it is often beneficial to hear about other people’s experiences, Orchard said.
“The groups are for students looking to get counseling in a very safe, caring environment,” Orchard said.
The LGBT group has not been formed yet, but Martin said a couple of students have already contacted her for information about the group.
“They were finding out if it was a safe place,” Martin said. “Now they are really looking forward to it.”
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer Alliance, a student-fee funded ASUO group, did not contact the UCTC about hosting the group and is not directly associated with the group. The UCTC is constantly developing new and different groups based on the different needs of students, Martin said. The groups are only available to University students and are free.
“It’s a really great opportunity to have available on campus,” Martin said. “The groups are something that students can make of it what they want and need.”
The LBGT process group is tentatively planned to meet on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the counseling center. Interested students should contact the UCTC at 346-3227 for more information.
