New support groups and workshops offered this semester at CMU Counseling Center
Central Michigan University's new counseling center activity room in on Sept. 7 in Foust 135.
The Central Michigan University Counseling Center is offering two new support groups this semester and collaborating with campus offices and academic departments to help students improve their mental and physical health.
The new support groups will add to the list of free group sessions offered to students at the Counseling Center. The center’s outreach coordinator, Michelle Bigard, said the new groups are “family matters” and “anxiety busters.”
“We are trying to fill in the gaps of what (students) need with the resources that are available,” Bigard said.
All these groups are peer groups, meaning that students can connect with others and talk about various topics. The center already has groups centered around grief and loss, survivor support and international student support.
The anxiety busters group gives students the chance to learn about anxiety’s impact on the body and how to manage it. Bigard said anxiety is a common concern for students to have, which is why it was added to the list of support groups. The group meets 12:30-1:30 p.m. every Tuesday in Foust Hall room 135.
The family matters group centers around family issues, such as divorce and family conflicts. Bigard said students who encounter these issues can feel isolated, and the group is meant to give these students a private and supportive environment to talk about it. These weekly sessions begin 2-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 in Foust 135.
Along with the support groups, another project the Counseling Center is involved in is a workshop titled, “Nutrition Movement and Mindfulness.” This workshop is a joint effort between the Counseling Center, the department of nutrition and dietetics, Residence Life Fitness and Wellness and University Recreation. The goal of this workshop is to help students who want to learn about nutrition and mental health in a balanced way, Bigard said.
The workshop takes place 5-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 through Oct. 14 in the University Center Mackinaw Room. Students can register for the workshop by filling out an online form.
