Contact us:

(515) 294-1898 groups@iastate.edu

 

 

About the Program

 

Network exists for three primary purposes:

1. Provide mental health counseling in a group setting.

2. Research group counseling processes and outcomes.

3. Train mental health professionals in group counseling.

 

Who We Serve

People Seeking Counseling

Our first priority is to provide counseling for those in the need. Anyone dealing with a mental, emotional, or relational concern is potentially appropriate for our groups. This includes (but is not limited to) concerns such as depression, grief, anxiety, separation/divorce, substance abuse, life adjustments (such as job loss), and relationship problems.

People Seeking Training

Network also serves those who are interested in learning more about group counseling. The program is a primary training site for doctoral students in counseling psychology and also conducts continuing education for mental health practitioners.

Group Content

Most of our groups are open-ended, meaning we don't have a specific agenda or bring people together with one specific problem, like depression. Although most of our groups usually don't follow a structured “topic list” there are some basic themes that usually emerge. These include:

             Relationship problems

             Adjustment to life events

             Understanding oneself

             Developing self-esteem

In addition, we spend time looking at the interactions among the members of the group. We call this the group “process” and have found that understanding what goes on in the group is a great way to learn how we relate to others outside the group as well.

However, we also offer group workshops that cover specific topics in a set amount of weeks. These groups typically cover relationship issues, individual development, and personal growth.