Okanagan Charter Adoption Spotlight - SDCC Groups

On November 13, 2024, WPI adopted the Okanagan Charter recognizing essential interconnections between people, place, and planet in elevating community health and well-being for those occupying our campus and its environs, both now and into the future.  

The following is part of a series of spotlights written by the people behind the resources, spaces, programs, and groups at WPI that work to improve the well-being of all who call WPI home, both here and abroad.   

Typically, when most people think of mental health support or therapy, the image that comes to mind is of a single client working with a single counselor in talk therapy. But did you know that the Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC) offers a range of therapeutic groups each term that can be just as effective, and sometimes more effective (or at least effective faster) than individual therapy? And that for some situations, a combination of both individual and group therapy is particularly potent? Because one of the biggest contributors to many individuals’ distress is a sense of disconnection or isolation, the potential benefits of participating in group therapy can be doubly powerful. 

The SDCC offers groups that can focus on anything from general support and processing (often in identity-specific groups) to skill-building, and one-off psychoeducational workshops. Some groups even sidestep the typical talk therapy model and instead focus on doing things like creating art or playing through a therapist-led tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) campaign. The SDCC determines which groups will run in a given term by the end of the previous term and puts that information out on our Instagram (@wpi_sdcc), our website, among other places. Some groups require that participants have an initial conversation with a counselor before joining, while others allow people to just drop in. There is no limit to the number of groups a student can participate in as long as their needs fit the purpose of the group (for example, the Depression Strategies group is intended for students who struggle with depression). An inquiry to sdcc@wpi.edu is a great place to start with questions about the groups being run. 

Our WPI community flourishes when we have a strong sense of connection and mutual support for one another. Group therapy is one way to foster that while simultaneously addressing other common mental health struggles people face.