Counseling & Testing Center
 

• Specialized Interests
• alcohol/drugs
• eating/body image
• glbtq students
• graduate students
• international students
• on–line screenings
• students of color
• students with disabilities
• test anxiety

Group Counseling

Many people come to Counseling & Testing (C&T) assuming they will meet one–on–one for their counseling. Often your intake counselor will recommend group counseling instead or in addition to individual counseling. This is because group counseling is often the most effective type of counseling‚ especially if your problems involve relationships with other people. Groups usually involve 5–10 students and are led by two members of the C&T staff.

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Support Groups

Support groups usually center around a common experience and are designed to help you get support and encouragement from other students who are dealing with a similar issue. They can meet weekly or every other week. You can be in a support group and individual counseling at the same time. You can be in a support group and individual counseling at the same time because support groups are not considered to be “therapy.” For current support group schedules, please check our group schedules.

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Therapy Groups

General therapy groups are designed to help you learn about yourself and how you interact with others. Group members often have a variety of initial concerns‚ but share a desire to feel better about themselves and their relationships with others. It can be a powerful experience to realize others struggle with the same things as you do. General therapy groups meet for 1.5 hours each week for the duration of the semester. You cannot be in a general therapy group and individual counseling at the same time. For current therapy group schedule‚ please check our group schedules.

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Psychoeducational Groups

There are a number of structured‚ educationally focused workshops and groups that are currently being offered by the UK Counseling & Testing Center. Some have been regularly offered in the past and some are new. All of these groups and workshops are free for fee-paying University of Kentucky students who are enrolled for at least 6 credit hours. Below is the list:

Relaxation Workshop

The Relaxation Workshop is a drop-in single-session workshop designed to help students learn a variety of mind/body approaches to reducing excess stress and increase their ability to then focus on academic or other work. Focus is on breathing/ mindfulness approaches. The group meets Wednesdays from 3-4pm in SC 357 (above Starbucks®).

Stress Management Group

This is a three-session informational group designed to help students understand stress and identify ways to reduce the stress in their lives. Relaxation techniques are taught during the workshops to help students learn to let go of worry and release tension carried in the body. Students will gain the most benefit by attending all three sessions but can attend fewer if they choose. Students are referred to this group after first meeting with an intake counselor.

Test Anxiety Workshop

This workshop covers “what is test anxiety”‚ “how anxiety affects students’ performance”‚ and “techniques to reduce test anxiety”. The content of this workshop is the same for all sessions offered this semester. Just drop in‚ no appointment necessary.

Career Decision Workshop

In this workshop‚ the leader will talk with students about making a career decision and will assign the on-line Strong Interest Inventory—a forty minute career “test” that can help students identify preferred majors‚ motivating work environments‚ and potential career interest areas. Participants make an appointment to receive the results in an individual interpretation/discussion session.

Social Confidence Group

This group is a three-part series and is being offered twice this semester. The group is educational in nature and goes over specific skills such as reading social cues‚ overcoming initial anxiety‚ and getting to know others on a meaningful level. It is particularly geared for those individuals who feel socially awkward‚ find it difficult to initiate conversation‚ and have trouble meeting friends or dating partners.