The Center for Mental health Care and Resources provides a variety of different types of counseling. All of our services are evidence-based, inclusive, and focused on addressing the unique needs of Georgia Tech students. Once you complete your initial assessment, you may be recommended to one or more of these counseling services.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is a collaborative effort between a client and a counselor to address emotional, social, and behavioral issues that the client may be facing. These may include depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, relationship concerns, and ADHD.
Individual Counseling help students to:
- Identify goals and solutions to problems which cause stress
- Reduce problematic symptoms
- Improve communication and coping skills
- Strengthen self-management skills and confidence
- Promote behavior change and optimal mental health
Group Counseling
Our Center offers about a dozen counseling groups each semester, including more general groups which support students in making positive changes in their lives, as well as groups based on specific issues or student identities. For many students, addressing their issues within the context of a counselor-led group can be the most helpful form of counseling.
Usually, groups have two facilitators whose function is to use their knowledge and experience to assist in individual and group growth. Facilitators work to promote an atmosphere of safety and encourage open communication between members. Group facilitators also help to identify group patterns, feelings, and underlying meaning.
What to Expect
Group counseling provides an opportunity to address the issues that concern you, identify with others, and examine life patterns that interfere with your personal growth. In group, you will have the opportunity to gain immediate feedback from other group members and the group facilitators. By receiving feedback from others about how they perceive you, you increase your awareness of yourself and aspects of your life that you wish to change.
Group counseling also gives you an opportunity to experiment with new behaviors, talk about feelings you have been hesitant to express, or assert yourself in new ways. You will also be able to learn from other members as you identify and connect with their struggles and successes. The more you invest in group counseling, mentally and emotionally, the more you will benefit.
What to Do to Get the Most Out of Group Counseling
1. Be yourself.
Start from where you are, not how you think others want you to be. Growth begins by taking the first step of sharing in the group.
2. Define goals.
Take time before each session to define your goals for that session, but be flexible because goals can change through the group process.
3. Recognize and respect your pace for getting involved in the group.
Some group members will open up and relate easily while others will take their time toi gain feelings of trust and safety. By respecting your needs you are learning self-acceptance.
4. Take time for yourself.
You have the right to take group time to talk about yourself.
5. Recognize and express thoughts and feelings.
If you are having difficulties recognizing and expressing your thoughts or feelings, ask the group to help.
6. Take risks.
Experiment with different ways of behaving and expressing yourself. By taking expressing difficult feelings, sharing information you usually keep secret, or confronting someone about something upsetting to you, you can discover what works for you and what doesn't.
For more information about our groups or to check whether a group is still open for the semester, please contact our current Group Coordinator, Dr. Andy Smith at andysmith@gatech.edu. To contact staff associated with a particular group from the list below, call 404-894-2575 or contact them directly via email.
To discuss the possibility of joining one of our counseling groups, please schedule an initial consultation session.
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling helps romantic partners to explore current problems that they may be experiencing and to address dysfunctional patterns of communication and interaction. Couples counseling also helps couples to learn new and effective skills that they can apply in their relationship.
In order to receive couples counseling at CMHCR, one of the partners should be currently enrolled at Georgia Tech.
For your convenience, individual and couples counseling services can be provided virtually or in-person.
