Group Counseling

Group therapy provides a safe and trusting environment where you can gain support, share experiences, get feedback from others, and try out new skills. Research consistently shows that group therapy is an effective treatment choice for many people. CAPS offers a variety of groups to fit a range of needs.

If you are interested in joining a group call: 802-656-3340. 

Please note that groups are not drop-in and that you will need to complete a screening with a counselor prior to attending a group.

Fall 2025 Groups Schedule

Family Stress and Support

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This group is a safe place for you to explore how stressors from home including but not limited to substance use and abuse, family conflict, divorce, persistent illness, etc. impact your college experience and evolving identity. Meetings will vary widely and include managing stress, general adjustment to university life, and relating to others and to oneself. Focus is on undergraduate experience but at times the group has had graduate students participate. 

Stefan Nickum

Wednesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 pm 

Start date: October 1  

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with the group facilitator. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment.  

Grief and Loss

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Students who have experienced the loss of a loved one recently or in the past, have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other in this group.

Walter Brownsword

Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm 

Start date: TBD 

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with the group facilitator. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment.  

Recovery

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This group is geared towards people who are substance free for at least 30 days and are interested in exploring issues that arise as part of living a substance free life.

Walter Brownsword 

Thursdays, 5:00 – 6:00 pm 

Start date: TBD 

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with the group facilitator. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment.  

DBT Skills Training Group

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This skills based group is helpful for individuals struggling with emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, and distress management, and are interested in learning skills. The group is open to individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, anxiety, or other emotional dysregulation issues. Note: Participants should be committed to attending sessions regularly and completing homework.

Huaying Li and Miki Beach

Thursdays, 2:15 – 3:45 pm  

Start date: October 16 

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with group facilitator Huaying Li. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment.  

Healing from Harm: Re-building Trust in Relationships

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Emotional and narcissistic abuse consists of death by a thousand cuts - lots of little injustices and mistreatments that add up to a larger pattern of inflicting harm. Participants in this group will have similar experiences of dealing with people exhibiting narcissistic behaviors, whether parents, other family members, friends, or intimate partners. People who are unaware of, unaffected by, or in denial about narcissistic abuse in their lives often minimize these harmful patterns or dismiss the harms survivors endure. Participants in this group will be able to empathize with one another without the need to exhaust themselves with efforts to explain their experiences. Skills for early identification of red flags in relationships, reality testing and reality checking, setting and holding healthy relationship boundaries, disengaging from bids for conflict, noticing projections of blame, and carefully crafting succinct communications to protect oneself from further harm will be covered.

Miki Beach

Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 pm 

Dates: August 26 through October 21, no group on October 7 (8 sessions total) 

Group participation criteria: This group is full and in-progress for Fall semester. If you are interested in participating during the Spring semester, this group requires a screening appointment with the group facilitator. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment. The day and time for Spring semester may change based on group member availability. 

The Body Positive

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The Body Positive is a group, where participants will focus on healing their relationships to their bodies through exploring topics such as community, selfcare, and self-compassion. As a group, we will build concrete skills that support selflove, self-regulation, and social connectedness through activities as well as ongoing discussion. All body types, genders, and identities are welcome.

Amy Sercel and Micaela Young

Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm  

Start date: October 2 

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with one of the group facilitators. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment. 

Yoga for Anxiety

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This therapeutic yoga group is designed for individuals looking to explore how yoga practices can help manage stress and anxiety. Through a combination of breathwork, movement, and meditation, participants will learn practical tools that can be applied to everyday life. Each session will include time for discussion, allowing people to share their experiences and insights. This group is best suited for those with previous yoga and/or meditation experience that are looking for a supportive space to connect, relax, and build resilience.  

Victoria Diederich 

Day/Time: TBD 

Start date: TBD 

Group participation criteria: This group requires a screening appointment with the group facilitator. Please call CAPS at 802-656-3340 to schedule this appointment.