Group Counseling Offerings

Career Resilience: Thriving Together as Emerging Professionals in Higher Education

Join our seven-week virtual therapeutic support group offered by the Employee Assistance Program. This group is designed for young or new professionals with five years or less experience in higher education. It aims to foster personal and professional growth through shared experiences and learning.

As a participant, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Understand Mental Health Needs: Learn strategies to reduce stress and enhance well-being within a supportive environment.
• Build Meaningful Connections: Engage in activities to form peer support networks, fostering mutual understanding and empathy.
• Develop Coping Skills: Learn practical strategies and resilience-building techniques to effectively manage stress, setbacks, and work-life balance challenges.
• Cultivate Personal Growth: Foster a growth mindset and self-awareness, recognizing strengths and overcoming obstacles while seizing development opportunities.
• Advocate for a Supportive Workplace Culture: Promote an organizational culture prioritizing mental health, open communication, and the well-being of young professionals in higher education.

This group, facilitated by an EAP counselor, is limited to 12 participants. Those interested in joining will participate in a pre-group interview with the facilitator before joining.

Sign up for a screening appointment by emailing eap@austin.utexas.edu.

Eldercare Support Group

Join us for weekly, virtual meetings on Mondays from 10-11am beginning February 26th and lasting for 5 weeks. Our support group is for caregivers in the UT community caring for other adults. Group members will have an opportunity to share their experiences, get support, learn about topics such as community resources, and discuss the importance of maintaining work/life balance. All UT employees, retirees, and partners/spouses are welcome to join.

For more information or to join the weekly meeting, please email jeff.stellmach@austin.utexas.edu

Living Through Big Changes: Stress Management and Resiliency

Changes, big or small, can be stressful to live through and can bring up feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and grief, to name a few. The body can sometimes experience the stress of change through panic, digestive issues, sleep disturbance, or other somatic symptoms. This therapeutic group offers a space to turn towards the body to gently acknowledge and express the vulnerable and uncomfortable emotions spurred by various life changes. Group sessions will entail deepening and strengthening mindfulness based practices for resiliency including a gentle hatha yoga practice appropriate for all levels and ability, meditation, breathwork, and exploration of emotions. Group members will learn to embody a compassionate approach to mental and physical well being, while finding support through connecting with others.

The group will be facilitated by Geeti Shirazi Mahajan, LCSW-S (she/her), one of the counselors at the Employee Assistance Program. Geeti is also certified as a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). The group meets in person on Wednesdays from 11am-12:15pm from September 25th – Nov 13th and is limited to 10-12 participants.  Group members will attend a virtual pre-group interview with the facilitator before entry into the group. 

Sign up for a screening appointment by emailing eap@austin.utexas.edu.

Unpacking Weight Stigma for Larger Bodies

Weight stigma describes the negative biases, attitudes, and behavior towards people based on their weight and size. This stigma is held up by social expectations that tell us how we should eat and look, and that we will be accepted if our bodies look a certain way. This stigma impacts both physical and mental health of people with larger bodies.

In this group, we will meet weekly for a brief introduction on a particular dynamic of weight stigma, and then group members can explore how the topic shows up in their lives and impacts them. Members can receive support from others who understand their experiences and can gain new perspectives and tools. This virtual group will meet Tuesdays from 11 am-12 pm from 10/15/24-12/3/24. A pre-group interview is required to join the group. 

Sign up for a screening appointment by emailing eap@austin.utexas.edu.