Counseling Services offers a variety of counseling, support, and educational groups each semester. Participants benefit from the mutual support and learning that occurs from interaction with others who have similar concerns.
Unless otherwise noted, all groups will require a pre-group meeting. For more information, or to schedule your pre-group consultation, please schedule an appointment and and state your interest in group counseling on the form.
If you have questions, email the group facilitator or caps@msu.edu.
Programs that are full for the current semester may be available the following semester.
CAPS is committed to providing clinical and supportive group services that are responsive to the needs of our students. If you are interested in a group that you do not see below, please email the CAPS group coordinator, Dr. Ciera Lewis, at lewisci1@msu.edu.
Learn more about all of our groups by exploring each of the group types below. Each group is designed to support participants in specific ways. Therapy, support, and educational groups are safe spaces for MSU students to connect with one another and learn more about themselves, skills for improving mental health, and ways to improve interpersonal relationships. Consistent attendance is encouraged for all CAPS groups.
Participation in CAPS programs is not restricted based on sex or race. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
This is a weekly supportive space where graduate students can gather and empower one another through shared experiences. Themes in this group include exploring stressors related to graduate studies, purpose, sense of belonging, “creative differences” with your advisor, juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, time management, challenges with completing dissertation or thesis and impacts related to diet, sleep and emotional well-being. Whatever your concerns, we can listen, offer support, or help you come up with strategies to make the most of your time in grad school. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Mondays 9:00 -10:00 am
Location: Virtual
Facilitators: Zari Carpenter, PhD, LLP (she/her) & Sahar Al-Tweej, MA (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started. If you have questions, email Dr. Zari at carpe449@msu.edu.
This therapy group is for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in better understanding themselves and their relationships, learning to communicate more honestly and effectively with others and gaining support from peers. Group members are encouraged to give and receive honest feedback and to practice new, healthier ways of relating. Discussion topics are determined by the group, but may include family dynamics, how early experiences impact current relationships, coping with changing levels of intimacy, initiating conversations, and relationship dynamics, with an emphasis on here-and-now exploration. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
There are multiple sections of USO group; offered on Tuesday & Wednesday.
Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Ciera Lewis, PhD, LP (she/her) & Leo Harzman, MS (he/they)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. If you have questions, email Ciera at Lewisci1@msu.edu
This is a support group for those struggling with disordered eating and body image concerns. The group is open to both undergraduate and graduate students experiencing overeating and restrictive tendencies. This is a non-judgmental space to receive support from other students who can relate to similar concerns and to provide each other encouragement and resources to continue working towards a balanced life. Topics might include coping skills, body image, relationships, stress management, perfectionism, etc. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Basak Khamush, PhD, LP (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join to determine if the group will be a good fit for a student or whether 1:1 therapy and/or higher level of care would best meet a student’s needs. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started.
Have trouble trusting, connecting, or communicating with others? Are you engaging in repetitive patterns in relationships that don’t serve you? This group is intended to help you better understand who you are in relation to others and practice meaningful changes in a brave and supportive space. Open to graduate and undergraduate students. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Tuesdays 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Virtual
Facilitators: Olivia Scott, PhD, LP (she/her) & Sahar Al-Tweej, MA (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started. If you have questions, email Olivia at scottol1@msu.edu.
This undergraduate student support group will freely explore the experiences of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and discuss sense of identity, self-expression, sexual expression, gender expression, attraction, desire, kinks, relation to others, and types of relationships. It is also a space to explore needs, wants, and boundaries, and how to communicate with family, partner(s), friends, and others. All MSU students, including allies, are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Tuesdays 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Facilitators: Victor Leon, LMSW (He/Him)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started. If you have questions, email Victor at leonvict@msu.edu.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training is an evidence-based group therapy for the treatment of numerous mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, some personality disorders, and other mental health issues. DBT is also useful for individuals who have no diagnosed mental health condition but want to increase their quality of life.
This skills-based program is designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthy coping strategies. Unlike traditional talk therapy groups, DBT groups are more like classes. Students will learn skills each week that can be used to improve their life and are encouraged to practice skills between sessions and to discuss their practice of skills in group. Skills include mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation skills. We strive to create an environment that is supportive and non-judgmental, and group members often benefit from shared experiences and mutual encouragement. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Tuesdays 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Dave Gates, MA, LPC (he/him), & Victoria Baker, LCSW (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started.
In this support group we will explore the experiences of Black women graduate and undergraduate students moving toward self-healing. This group may help students working through interpersonal relationship concerns, managing symptoms of anxiety and depression, or students who are busy but trying to make more time for self-care and connection with others. Topics are determined by the group, but could include: building community on campus, family conflict, relationships, boundary-setting, resource sharing, life transitions, imposter syndrome, academic stress, self-esteem, body image concerns, combatting stereotypes, and more. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Tuesdays 2:30-3:45pm
Location: In person
Facilitators: Ciera Lewis, PhD, LP (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at
caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started. If you have questions, email Dr. Lewis at Lewisci1@msu.edu
Are you hard on yourself? Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected? This 5-week workshop combines creative writing and mindful self-compassion to help you slow down, reflect, and relate to yourself with greater kindness and understanding. Through guided writing prompts, brief mindfulness practices, and supportive group discussion, participants will explore their experiences in a low-pressure, non-judgmental space. No prior writing experience is needed: this group focuses on expression, not perfection. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Wednesdays 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Runs June 3 - July 1 (5 weeks)
Location: Virtual
Facilitators: Christian Gibson, LMSW (she/her)
Group runs May 27 - June 24, 2026 (5 weeks)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment.
This therapy group is for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in better understanding themselves and their relationships, learning to communicate more honestly and effectively with others and gaining support from peers. Group members are encouraged to give and receive honest feedback and to practice new, healthier ways of relating. Discussion topics are determined by the group, but may include family dynamics, how early experiences impact current relationships, coping with changing levels of intimacy, initiating conversations, and relationship dynamics, with an emphasis on here-and-now exploration. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff. There are multiple sections of USO group offered on Tuesday & Wednesday.
Wednesdays 3:00 to 4:30 pm
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Josh Turchan, PhD, LP, ABPP (he/him), Samara Al-Omaishi, MA, (she/her) & HanaLi Gilbert, MA (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training is an evidence-based group therapy for the treatment of numerous mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, some personality disorders, and other mental health issues. DBT is also useful for individuals who have no diagnosed mental health condition but want to increase their quality of life.
This skills-based program is designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthy coping strategies. Unlike traditional talk therapy groups, DBT groups are more like classes. Students will learn skills each week that can be used to improve their life and are encouraged to practice skills between sessions and to discuss their practice of skills in group. Skills include mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation skills. We strive to create an environment that is supportive and non-judgmental, and group members often benefit from shared experiences and mutual encouragement. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Kayla Zentz, LLMSW (she/her), Haleh Jortani, MA (she/her) & Arielle Vannette, MA, TLLP (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started.
Anxiety and Mindfulness is an in-person cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) group for undergraduate and graduate students to reduce anxiety and other emotional distress. Group members will learn mindfulness techniques and cognitive strategies. Members will also gain non-judgmental self-awareness and peer support. No religious background is required. All MSU students are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Thursdays 2:30 -4:00 pm
Location: In-person
Facilitators: Mollie Delzeith, MA, LPC (she/her) & Nicki Walker, LLMSW (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment.
Empower U is a virtual space for all graduate and undergraduate students to support and empower one another. This group will explore the experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ students of color. Some themes of the group include relationships, self and community care, values exploration, intersectionality, self-compassion, family dynamics, navigating cultural expectations, and building resilience. All MSU students, including allies, are welcome to participate based on the clinical recommendations of CAPS staff.
Fridays 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: Virtual Facilitators: Olivia Scott, PhD, LP (she/her) & Haleh Jortani, MA (she/her)
*A pre-group meeting is required to join. Please schedule a phone consultation at caps.msu.edu/schedule and state your interest in this group during the appointment. You are welcome to join after the group has started. If you have questions, email Olivia at scottol1@msu.edu.