Please join us for safe, candid conversations about sexual orientation, sexual identity, and your experiences at Amherst College. All are welcome. Facilitated by Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW and Caitlin Carmody LICSW.
A weekly drop-in discussion centering the voices and experiences of Latinx students at Amherst. Facilitated by Lola Brown, MSW, LICSW and Nicole Torres Collado LCSW.
This group meets weekly and provides a supportive environment for students to discuss the meaningful and challenging aspects of their lives. Students get to explore and be curious about how they build relationships, and learn to observe and identify what relational patterns work and do not work for them. Students often gain insight into their identity and self-concept, improve their self-esteem, approach relationship and/or communication patterns in new ways, and explore difficult feelings and how to resolve them. Everyone works together toward their goals by providing encouragement to one another, giving and receiving feedback, experimenting with new ideas and behaviors, and connecting in deep ways. Facilitated by staff counselor Allyson Black-Foley, LICSW and post-graduate fellow Bryna Cofrin-Shaw.
If you are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one, we invite you to join this facilitated weekly group, in which we will create a warm, supportive space for dealing with the emotional impact of your loss. Facilitated by Cailin Qualliotine PsyD, staff counselor, and Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW, staff counselor
This group will draw upon art-making practices such as painting, drawing, collage-making, and crafts to support students as they manage anxiety. Each week, students will engage in creative approaches designed to help them to feel calmer and more connected to themselves and others. No artistic ability or experience is required to join and participate in this group. Facilitated by staff counselor Cailin Qualliotine, Psy.D and post-graduate fellow Jason Hopkins, MSW.
This group meets weekly on zoom. This group offers space for students with ADHD to share their experiences with one another, learn from and connect to each other, notice their strengths and how ADHD impacts their life, sense of self and relationships. Facilitated by staff counselor Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW and Senior Clinical Case Manager Meg Kroeplin LICSW
This group meets weekly and offers a space to students who might be experiencing traumatic stress, anxiety/panic, intrusive or difficult thoughts as well as emotions or physical experiences that are dysregulating. This group uses mindfulness techniques and distress tolerance skills to support students in deepening their understanding of what is happening, how to slow down the process and be able to make choices about how to care for oneself. Facilitated by staff counselors Cassiel Owens LICSW and Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW
This is a weekly therapy group that is open to students struggling with disordered eating, body image concerns, diet culture, and controlling behaviors around food and weight. We will work towards reclaiming body acceptance through exploring what is underneath these thoughts and behaviors. We will develop connections with one another and practice adaptive coping. Facilitated by Senior Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Kirstin Ritchie and staff counselor Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW
This group is for students who are navigating sobriety on a college campus and looking for connections. This group is geared towards students who, for any reason, are not using substances. This group will offer support, connection, education and strategies for those engaging in sobriety on a college campus. Facilitated by Program Director of Mental Health Promotions, Garrett Fitzgerald and Clinical Case Manager Lisa Jaffee LICSW
This group offers students the opportunity to experientially learn mindfulness through a facilitated mindful stroll on Norwottuck Rail Trail. We will explore ways to connect to our bodies and surroundings, ground ourselves in the present moment, and find accessible ways to cope with stress of our busy schedules. Further we will learn to integrate mindfulness into the day to day. Facilitated by Post-Graduate Fellow Tanner Glen, LCSW and staff counselor Britt Billmeyer-Finn LICSW
Throughout the fall semester we will offer a support group for student-athletes. There will be three group topics that will each include two groups over two weeks. We hope to provide a space for students to connect with one another regarding their experiences as athletes on campus and beyond. You do not need to be on an athletic team to attend. Facilitated by staff counselor Britt Billmeyer-Finn, LICSW and Director of Mental Health Promotions Garrett Fitzgerald
NO Prescreen Required, sign up required here.
This group will meet over two weeks to discuss transitioning back to campus for returning students and the transition to college for new students. We will discuss the experience of landing at Amherst for the school year, establishing routines, identifying personal goals and challenges, and ways to balance athletics, academics, work, and social life at Amherst. To attend this group please sign up here.
This group will meet over two weeks to discuss what being an athlete means to you. How athletics impacts your sense of self and how others view you. We might explore questions like How long have you been an athlete, what does that mean to you? How does being an athlete contribute to your emotional and interpersonal strengths? How does it intersect with other interests, passions, and social identities? Does it contribute to your values and your community? And more. To attend this group, please sign up here.
This group will meet over two weeks to discuss the many ups and downs, wins and losses, personal bests and disappointments that come with being an athlete. Being an athlete requires commitment and hard work and is full of you, surprise and success, as well as uncertainty and change. Come discuss the ups and downs of being an athlete by signing up here.
The Amherst College Center for Counseling and Mental Health (CCMH) is proud to announce a new offering of virtual groups run by professionals at McLean Hospital. These groups are free and available to all students. See the information on the different offerings below.
McLean Hospital's College Mental Health Program (CMHP) is offering a weekly psychoeducational group specifically for Amherst students. This group uses a strengths-based and identity informed model to support students in bridging the connection between their mental health and wellbeing, and their personal and academic goals. The group structure allows for both development of concrete coping skills informed by DBT, CBT, and ACT, as well as an opportunity to process and reflect with peers on the multifaceted experience of being a college student. Facilitated by CMHP staff members, Malia Chan, LMHC, and Alison Matthews, LMHC.
For Amherst students who wish to participate in psychoeducational groups with students from colleges and universities across the country, McLean Hospital's College Mental Health Program welcomes them to join one of their three existing outpatient groups. These groups are open to students currently enrolled in college or on a leave of absence, allowing for a range of perspectives, experiences, and insight around college student mental health. Group agendas are informed by the needs of the students in the group. The Wednesday and Friday groups are considered general psychoeducational groups for college students and the Thursday: Self-Care and Wellness group offers a specific focus on eating behaviors, interpersonal relationships, and substance use. Facilitated by CMHP staff members, Malia Chan, LMHC, and Alison Matthews, LMHC.
Project Connect is a peer led discussion group held over multiple weeks. Designed to foster community and develop conversation skills by asking fun and thought-provoking questions in a small, supportive space, with the goal of building resources to create new and deeper connections with each other inside the group and beyond.
As part of the series your cohort will meet for 3 weeks of conversation groups followed by an outreach activity designed by the group and a final opportunity to share a meal with each other sponsored by the Center for Counseling and Mental Health.
To find currently offered Project Connect groups follow the link below to our Picktime scheduling portal:
Step 1: Select an open class time.
Step 2: Register for the class
Step 3: Your Project Connect Facilitator will be in contact with you and your cohort to finalize time and location for your first meeting.
Please register for no more than one class at a time.
We often provide training, workshops, and educational sessions for members of the Amherst community, including faculty, staff, and departments/centers on campus. Topics include tips on accessing and connecting with services, responding to students in distress. The Wellness Team and Mental Health Promotion also provide education on a wide range of topics including self-care, listening/support skills, conflict resolution, resiliency, and goal setting.