Student AffairsMental health therapists lead 4–10-week student-only groups. Most are offered in the fall and winter terms. Spaces are limited and each one fills up fast, so we recommend registering early.
Steps to Register
- Review group descriptions below
- Set-up TELUS CHR Connect account (mobile app or desktop available)
- Select visit type - group
- Select location
- Select type – click on the specific group
Email counselling.services@queensu.ca if you have questions or difficulty registering.
Group Descriptions
This group is for students navigating friendship and relationship breakups at university. Students are invited to share their stories, find support from peers and get tools to help get through these experiences.
F25 dates/times: Mondays from 4-5:30pm Oct 6 to Dec 8 (excluding Oct 13)
This group welcomes students who have experienced all kinds of break-ups (queer, straight, poly, romantic, friendship and other)
Visit Faith and Spiritual Life events calendar to learn more.
Register by emailing Chaplain Heidi DeJonge (heidi.dejonge@queensu.ca)
This group is for female identified students who have self-identified trauma or adverse childhood experiences (i.e., sexual assault, childhood trauma, bullying, etc.). Weekly resistance training sessions are combined with body-based trauma therapy.
In this group you will:
- Learn ways to manage your symptoms of trauma, anxiety and/or depression
- Build physical and emotional/mental strength
- Connect with others who may have experienced something similar
- Become familiar with the Athletics & Recreation Complex (ARC)
Students will learn and practice mindfulness techniques that can create a sense of calm and help with staying focused and centered in high stress situations. This groups helps students connect with others in Smith Engineering experiencing similar challenges and to experiences and strategies.
F25 dates/times: Tuesdays from 3-4pm, bi-weekly Oct 7 to Dec 2 (except Oct 14)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
This group is designed for graduate students in Smith Engineering who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPoC). Students will get the chance to build meaningful relationships and learn valuable wellness tools to navigate the challenges of grad school.
Sessions will focus on different topics including:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) identity and overcoming barriers
- Unhooking from anxiety and learn how to manage anxious thoughts and feelings
- Building a sense of belonging within academic and professional communities
- Navigating imposter syndrome and tackling feelings of self-doubt
- Addressing power dynamics with supervisors and mentors
F25 dates/times: Thursdays from 3:00-4:00pm on Oct 2, 9, 23, Nov 6 and 9
In-person (location sent upon registration)
Students are welcome to attend one or all sessions
This therapeutic support space is rooted in the belief that we discover Self through community and community in Self. This space is held by and for gender diverse folx - trans, non-binary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, questioning and more.
Facilitated by a nonbinary therapist passionate about trans liberation and healing grounded in joy and connection, this group blends collective care with personal empowerment. Through laughter and tears, breath and movement, story sharing and conversation, we explore the rich terrain of the unfolding of Self, community witnessing, ritual and art.
We hold space for it all - the scared, the silly, the soft, the sharp. This is a place where students do not have to explain their existence. It is already honoured here.
Come as you are. Stay as you become.
F25 dates/times: Sept 24, Oct 8 and 22, Nov 5 and 19, Dec 3 and 17 from 4:30-6:30pm
Visit Yellow House events calendar for more details
This group offers support to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. The Chaplain will work with the group to provide a safe and brave space for sharing and listening. We will also explore ways to integrate grief and loss into our lives.
Offered in-person
F25 dates/times: Mondays from 6-7:30pm starting Oct 6
Email chaplain@quensu.ca with questions and/or visit Faith and Spiritual Life events calendar to register
This group is for students who are struggling to manage overwhelming emotions, deal with crises and control unhelpful behaviours.
At the end of this group, students will learn how to:
- describe and understand the function of emotions
- reduce tendency to get swept away by overwhelming emotions
- implement strategies to improve thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
F25 dates/times: Thursdays from 1:30-3pm Oct 2 to Nov 27 (except Oct 16)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
This group is for first year students who want help tackling the university chaos with laughter, and a touch of sarcasm. Weekly sessions include activities and snacks that help students build their academic survival kit. Learn key things like effective stress reduction techniques, tricks to balance academic demands, wayfinding to navigate campus and adulting.
F25 dates/times: Thursdays from 2-3:30pm Oct 2 to Nov 27 (except Oct 16)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
This group is for students who want to improve their focus and decrease anxiety and stress, without having to spend hours meditating. Each week students will try different mindfulness exercises (e.g., body scan, mindful eating, and mindful self-compassion).
In this group, you will:
- Learn mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques
- Find ways to stay focused on the present and change the way you handle stress
- Integrated a variety of formal and informal mindfulness techniques into student life
F25 dates/times: Wednesdays 4-5:30pm from Sept 24 to Nov 5 (except Oct 15)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
This group is a safe space for students who have experienced sexual violence. Through support and education, students will get an opportunity to gain skills and strengths that build resiliency and lead to a sense of self-empowerment.
At the end of this group, you will:
- Understand the impact of sexual violence
- Develop effective coping skills to deal with the emotional aftermath
- Explore issues such as trust, intimacy, setting boundaries, assertiveness, and positive body image
F25 dates/times: Tuesdays 4-5:30pm from Sept 30 to Dec 2 (except Oct 14)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
Registration closes after the 2nd week
Queer scribbles is more than a therapeutic writing group - it is a gathering of poets, scribblers, feelers, storytellers and lamenters. Together, we write toward freedom. Using creating writing and images as tools for liberation, identity reclamation and soup expression, this space invites students to explore their inner landscapes through the written word.
With themed prompts rooted in elements, queerness, community and creating healing, each session becomes a journey of self-discovery. We honour silence and sharing, solitude and solidarity. No writing experience needed.
Facilitated by 2SLGBTQ+ psychotherapist Shannon Gendron (they/them)
F25 dates/times: Sept 29, Oct 27, Nov 10 and 24, Dec 8 from 4:30-6:30pm
Visit Yellow House events calendar for more details
A supportive space for students to connect with others to discuss unique challenges faced by women in a traditionally male-dominated profession. Weekly sessions will tackle imposter syndrome, navigate sexism, and build professional confidence. Through open conversations and mentorship from peers, this group aims to empower women to thrive and lead in engineering and beyond.
F25 dates/times: Wednesdays from 3-4pm, Sept 24 to Nov 19 (except Oct 15)
In-person (location sent upon registration)
