SCC workshops are available daily from September to the end of April and regularly through the summer. Workshops cover topics like stress management, conflict resolution, self-esteem, relationships and meditation. Workshops help students build skills for coping and do not require personal sharing. Please check below for our current workshop offerings.

SCC Groups are different from workshops in that they are more than one session and you will have the same people in your group from week to week. Groups allow an opportunity for more in-depth help for your needs. Our groups focus on helping students with depression and anxiety, relationship challenges, substance use, attention and focus, grief, body image and more. Please check below for our current group offerings.

Students who have attended SCC workshops and groups have told us that they are very helpful and that they would recommend them to fellow students:

“The workshop gave me exactly what I needed.”

“It was nice to hear from other students and not feel as alone.”

“I wish the group could have gone on for more sessions.”

Who can attend our workshops and groups

Our workshops and groups can be used by UM and International College of Manitoba (ICM) students who are working on their degree requirements (i.e., undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in courses, graduate students working on research and writing, cooperative education students in a placement). This includes:

  • Domestic and international students who are currently registered in studies (including cooperative education students in a work placement, graduate students working on their thesis)
  • English Language Centre students at the UM
  • Students under academic suspension or on a leave of absence

How to register

Contact us by telephone (204-474-8592) or in-person (474 UMSU University Centre). Our hours of operation are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays.

Process

The first person you will speak with will be one of our reception staff. They will begin by confirming that you’re eligible for services.

  • Space permitting, you will be registered for the workshop or group and information will be provided to you about when the workshop or group will start.
  • Some workshops and groups are only available to students living in Manitoba (due to professional regulations); please check with us to see which workshops and groups are available to you if are living in another province or country.
  • SCC workshops are rarely full and are therefore very accessible – you can receive mental health support very quickly in a SCC workshop!

SCC Director David Ness and SCC Counsellor Danna McDonald from the Student Counselling Centre share more about the groups and workshops offered, and how they can be helpful tools for students.

Workshops

The following are a list of workshops available to students during WINTER 2024.

Antiracism Workshop Series - (Michelle Pearson)

This workshop is offered via In-Person

Who this workshop is for:

This workshop series is for students who are seeking to better understand racism, the impact of racism and ways to begin advocate against racism and begin to heal from the impact of racism.

Workshop Details: 

Thursdays from 10:30a.m. to 12:00p.m.

  • January 25 - Understanding and Managing Racial Stress and Distress
  • February 1 - Building Resiliency in the Face of Racial Related Stress, Distress and Racism
  • February 8 - The Impact of Racism on Personal Identity
  • February 15 - Responding to Microaggressions

Communication and Conflict: Skills to Build Positive Relationships and Improve Your Interactions with Others (Lori Mac)

This workshop is offered via in-person & remotely by video connection

Who this workshop is for?

Anyone who would like to learn information and practical strategies to maintain and enhance their relationships with others. This workshop applies to all types of relationships, e.g., with friends, family, partners, peers, co-workers, etc.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Stress from life and school can and often does create stress in relationships we have with others. This workshop will focus on research derived strategies for maintaining and enhancing your relationships that are practical and effective. For example, come and find out what research has shown can predict the stability and satisfaction of your relationships with over 90% accuracy. In this workshop you’ll:

  • Learn specific strategies and skills to communicate and address conflict in a way that may be easier for others to hear without compromising the integrity of your message
  • Learn about conflict styles and non-verbal communication
  • Gain skills to address behaviours that get in the way of connecting and communicating with others, including the four behaviours that have been empirically shown to be most damaging to communicating and building positive relationships

Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this workshop"

  • Please go! After taking this workshop, all I could think was "wow, I wish everyone I know would go to this". It was so helpful!
  • This is helpful for all relationships when approaching conflict or even improving them even when not in conflict. The skills are applicable in the moment and preventative as well.
  • I liked the fact I could relate to many of the scenarios, and my questions were answered without needing to ask. It is definitely worth the time investment, both in and out of it

Workshop Details:

  • Length of Workshop: 2 hour (120 minutes)
  • Available Thursdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • January 25 (Zoom)
    • February 22 (In Person)
    • March 21 (Zoom)
    • April 11 (In person)
    • May 9 (Zoom)
    • June 6 (In person)
  • For Grad Steps:
    • Friday - March 8 - 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Zoom

Grad Steps - Responding to Microaggressions (Michelle Pearson)

This workshop is offered via In-Person

Who this workshop is for: 

Graduate students only, students must register through grad steps.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

This grad steps workshop is for graduate students who are experiencing, witnessing and wanting to advocate to end microaggressions and to promote microaffirmations.  The session will define the different types of microaggressions that can occur on a daily basis, the impact of microaggressions and different ways to respond to microaggressions whether you are the person directly impacted by the microaggression or as a bystander with a responsibility to intercede.  Time will also be allocated to discussing ways to promote microaffirmations.

Workshop Details:

Thursday - January 18 - 9:00a.m. to 11:a.m.

It's Over But It's Not: Understanding and Managing the Ongoing Impact of Trauma (Lori Mac)

This workshop is offered via in-person & remotely by video connection

Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who has experienced trauma. What is trauma? It can include physical assault or sexual assault, physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse, experiencing a crime (e.g. mugging), bullying, experiencing a natural disaster, experiencing war, traffic accidents, sudden loss of someone through violence or suicide, or experiencing a life-threatening illness. 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

If you have experienced a traumatic event that is continuing to affect you, consider attending this workshop to:

  • Learn about and understand what happens in our bodies and brain when we experience trauma,
    • This includes how your brain made the decision how to survive, not you
  • Learn quick and effective strategies to calm and ground ourselves to manage triggers and anxiety
  • This workshop is focused on learning and skill-building: increase your control over your body and reactions

No personal sharing about your specific experience happens in this workshop

Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this workshop"

  • The workshop was very well thought out and included lots of helpful information. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and believe I have learned more about trauma and ways of coping through this course than I have throughout my entire mental health journey. I didn’t feel like I was being force fed information as the delivery of the workshop was very relaxing and easy to follow.
  • I highly recommend it, I think the questions you had us answer [on our own] were insightful. It’s the kind of stuff you won't just forget about once the workshop ends. I have a feeling I'll be going back to those questions and really think on them long after the workshop ends. I think it also provided me with knowledge on how to address trauma in others’ lives.
  • It was helpful to be with others who have experienced trauma, knowing that I'm not alone. Understanding that my experience fits with known patterns for trauma and being given tangible coping strategies was helpful in making me feel more supported and more in control of my own life moving forward.

Workshop Details: 

Thursdays 2:30-4:30 p.m. for 2 weeks in a row (part 1 & 2)

Part 1                                                      Part 2

January 25 - Zoom                               February 1 - Zoom

February 29 - Zoom                              March 7 - Zoom

March 28 - In-Person                            April 4 - In-Person

May 2 - Zoom                                         May 9 - Zoom

June 6 - In-Person                                 June 13 - In-Person

July 11 - Zoom                                       July 18 - Zoom

Learning to Cope (Kim Kiley)

This workshop is offered via In-Person

Who this workshop is for: This workshop series is designed for students who would like to learn strategies to cope with difficulties that are common among university students. Students must be in the province of Manitoba to attend sessions offered via Zoom. Workshops do start on time with no late admittance.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Each session focuses on a specific topic: Procrastination, Perfectionism, Sleep, and Low Self­ Esteem. The students will learn about the aforementioned topics and coping strategies to start addressing these difficulties.

Reviews: “See what other students are saying about this workshop”

  • The workshop gave me many tools to use on a daily basis and I learned a lot of things that I can incorporate in my daily life.

  • The worksheets helped a lot, instructions were straight forward. I left the workshop in a better mood.

Workshop Details:

  • Length of Workshop:   Mondays - 1.5 hour (90 minutes)
  • 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Procrastination - February 26

Low Self-Esteem - March 4

Sleep Difficulties - March 11

Perfectionism - March 18

Luck Isn’t Everything: Creating your own Career Opportunities (Lori Mac)

This workshop is offered remotely by video connection

Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who is thinking about or in the process of career planning

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Learn how you can create unexpected opportunities for yourself by recognizing and including chance events into your career plan

Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this workshop"

  • This workshop will provide a bit of comfort about the future knowing that there are a large number of things you can control and do to help with job opportunities.
  • The instructor provided a lot of useful examples and approaches for implementing planned happenstance in career planning.
  • If you're feeling uncertain about your approach to career development or other more general contexts, you may find this workshop to be quite useful for re-evaluating your outlook

Workshop Details:

  • Length of Workshop:   1.5 hour (90 minutes)
  • Grad Steps
    • Thursday February 15 - 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (Zoom)

Mid-Day Mindfulness (Tim Osachuk)

This workshop is offered In-Person 

Who this workshop is for: This is a single session workshop and is open to any UM student. No previous experience with mindfulness-based meditation is required. Students may attend as many sessions as desired.

What you will learn: In each session, participants are introduced to the practice of mindfulness to become more aware and accepting of their experiences non-judgmentally, allowing them to respond to stressful situations in a different way.

    Each session lasts up to 1 hour, and participants will be guided to practice from 1–2 mindfulness-based meditations (variations of mindfulness of breath) over the course of the group. After each practice, participants are invited to speak about their experience with each mindfulness practice within the group, with reflection(s) on common experiences arising of people engaged in mindfulness practice.

    Participants are encouraged to practice meditations outside of the group, to promote their learning to respond to stressful situations differently.

    Workshop Details:

    • Length of Workshop: 1 hour (60 minutes)
    • January 2023 through June 2024
      • Wednesdays | 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

    Relationships: Coping with the loss of a romantic relationship (Lori Mac)

    This workshop is offered remotely by video connection

    Who this work is for:

    Anyone who has experienced the break-up of a romantic relationship.

    Topics Covered and what you will learn:

    Stages of a break-up and the emotions involved, grief and coping, self-care, learning from the past, identity, self-esteem, learning about letting go.

    Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this workshop"

    • I say do it. If you're in a rough place and need some help getting out of it, you're definitely going to get something good out of this workshop. It's a step forward towards trying to be there for yourself, whether that'd be for present you, or future you.
    • This experience helped me clear things and open up
    • It's nice to feel validated about strong feelings that one might be feeling in regards to breakups. It's definitely helpful knowing that there is hope in knowing that things can get better.

    Workshop details: One session, 3 hour workshop

    Winter semester

    • TBA
    • Please call the SCC office to be added to the waitlist for this group.

    Self-Compassion (Danna McDonald)

    This workshop is offered in-person at the SCC

    Who this workshop is for:  Students of any gender who want to increase their sense of contentment and self-worth, reduce perfectionism or harsh self-talk, and have a more peaceful relationship with themselves.

    Topics covered and what you will learn:

    Self-compassion is a way of approaching our thoughts and feelings with kindness. But it is not just about being nicer to ourselves; research on self-compassion shows that it can increase our motivation and reduce self-blame and self-criticism. Together, we will learn about what self-compassion is, how it can be helpful, and do a short practice together. 

    Workshop Details:

    • Length of Group: 1 hour - 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

    Dates:

    • Monday January 22 
    • Wednesday February 14 - GRAD STEPS
    • Monday February 26

    Stress & Wellness 101 (Various Counsellors - please call us)

    This workshop is offered in-person at the SCC and remotely by video connection

    Everyone experiences stress at times and this is definitely true for university students. It is also common for people and students to feel overwhelmed by stress and to struggle to cope and manage. The Student Counselling Centre has developed a three session workshop series to help students manage stress and Wellness. Each workshop is unique and students can attend any that they would like – you do not need to attend all three but we do recommend doing so to get the most out of the workshop series.

    Who this workshop is for: This workshop series is for any student looking to develop skills to improve coping when faced with life challenges and feeling stressed and distressed.

    What you will learn: Across all three workshops you will learn to: notice and identify triggers and factors contributing to stress in your life; develop and identify strategies to help you; and expand your awareness about resources available to you both on and off campus. Information on what happens in each session follows:

    Session 1: Foundations of Wellness (S1):

    • Self-Compassion and Forgiveness
    • Importance of Nutrition, ways to improve Sleep 
    • Stress reduction strategies

    Session 2: Calming the Body (S2):

    • Strategies for reducing the Stress in body including breathing techniques
    • Progressive muscle relaxation
    • Visualization activities and TIPP skills

    Session 3: Calming the Mind (S3):

    • Mindful observation of thoughts 
    • "ABC's" of paying attention to thoughts
    • Unhelpful thinking traps and strategies for challenging negative thinking 
    • Being more Self-Supportive

    Workshop Details:

    • Length of Workshop: 1 Hour & 50. Minutes (110 minutes)
    • Series 1: In-Person - Thursdays - January 11, 18, 25 - 10am to 11:50am 
    • Series 2: Zoom - Fridays - February 2, 9, 16 - 1:30 to 3:20pm
    • Series 3: In-Person - Tuesdays - February 20, 27, March 5 - 2:30 to 4:20pm
    • Series 4: Zoom - Wednesdays - March 6, 13, 20 - 1:30 to 3:20pm
    • Series 5: In-Person - Mondays - March 25, April 1, 8 - 10:30 to 12:20pm
    • Series 6: In-Person - Thursdays - April 11, 18, 25 - 10:30 to 12:30pm

    The Imposter Phenomenon (Danna McDonald)

    This workshop is offered in-person at the SCC

    Who this workshop is for:

    Do you feel like a fake no matter how hard you work or how qualified you are? Do you worry that it’s just a matter of time before someone figures it out? You’re not alone! This workshop is open to any students who are experience a sense of being an impostor in their studies or work.

    Topics covered and what you will learn:

    We will define the Impostor Phenomenon, explore the experience, and learn strategies to combat this common and debilitating experience, so that you can better enjoy your studies and successes.

    Workshop Details:

    • Length of Workshop or Group: 1 hour (60 minutes)
    • Dates: In-Person
      • Wednesday March 6 - 12:30pm - 1:30pm

    Groups

    The following are a list of groups available to students in WINTER 2024.

    Body Image (Danna McDonald)

    This Group is offered In-Person

    Who this group is for: Having a negative body image impacts us in many ways: low self esteem, less confidence, disordered eating, and often, a constant uncertainty about our own self worth. If you are struggling with your relationship with your body, join us for a closed five week group to learn strategies to improve your body image and be more content with yourself. This group is open to people of all genders and body sizes, and a short intake screening is required.

    Topics covered: We will explore our relationship with body image, including how we develop body image, all through a Feminist informed, body affirming perspective. We’ll also learn strategies to improve our relationship with our body by changing our thoughts and behaviours.    

    Reviews: “See what other students are saying about this group”

    • “Being able to come to a safe place and talk about bodies and confidence was very helpful. Hearing other people struggling with similar thoughts made me feel less isolated.”
    • “I came in not knowing what to expect, and left with more stable mental health and more self love. Great group!”
    • “The group became a safe space to talk about what I felt and how I thought.”

    Group Details:

    • Please call the SCC office to be added to the wait list for this group. 

    DAMN (Depression & Anxiety Management Now!) (Paul Collins & Nicolas Brais)

    This is a drop in group, offered via Zoom & in-person at the SCC

    Who this group is for: This open group series is for students who would like to learn strategies for managing depression and anxiety.

    Group Topics Include:

    1. Managing Expectations: Enhancing Self-Esteem (CBT Session). Learn a tool for examining biased expectations and increasing self-esteem.
    2. Knowing and Liking Myself (ACT Session): Learn tools for exploring your personal values and how they impact your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
    3. Approaching My Fears (CBT Session): Learn how to desensitize yourself to your fears and worries through development of an anxiety exposure hierarchy.
    4. Activities Scheduling (BA Session): Learn to schedule meaningful activities into your life to promote physical and psychological health.

    Group Details

    • Length of Group: 2 hour (120 minutes)
    • Dates: Mondays 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
      • Zoom - January 29, February 5, 12, 26
      • In-Person - March 11, 18, 25, April 1
      • Zoom - May 13, 27, June 3, 10

    Enneagram: Understanding & Enhancing Your Life (Marlene Pomrenke)

    This group is offered in-person at the SCC 

    This three session group explores the Enneagram and leads students into a path of self-discovery. Using the nine spaces of the Enneagram as tools, students can begin to explore personality types as well as finding ways to bring balance into their lives.  Benefits include insight into self, relationships and others, and dedicated time to reflect on negative patterns of behaviour.  As well, understanding the symbols of the Enneagram calls attention and understanding to each part of ourselves, Head, Heart and Body.  Unlocking this tool promotes personal growth and helps us to understand the connections between personality, essence and spirituality.

    Group Details:

    • Tuesdays for 2 hour (120 minutes)
    • January 16, 23, 30, March 5, 12, 19 
      • 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

    Healing from Racialized Trauma (Michelle Pearson and Edgar French)

    This Group is offered In-person: Offered at the Spiritual Care and Multifaith Centre Group Room 5th Floor University Centre.

    Who is this group/workshop for:

    Students who identify as Black, Indigenous, Bodies of Culture (BIBOC) are seeking to healing from racialized trauma.

    Topics covered and what you will learn :

    We will focus on understanding the impact of racialized trauma, recognizing how racialized trauma may be presenting in the body and learning individual and community healing strategies to help settle the body. This group will focus on active body practices and processing of feelings that arise within the body when considering racialized trauma.

    This group will run once a month with the potential of continuing or expansion based on student interest.

    Group details:

    • Days and Times: Tuesdays - 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. with an additional 15-minute holding space for students who may need time to settle before returning to their day.
    • Dates: 
      • January 16
      • February 13
      • March 12
      • April 9, 24

    Loss & Grief Support for Students (Linda Churchill)

    This Group is offered In-Person

    Who this group is for: This is a group for students who have lost a loved one through death.

    What you will learn: Sorrow from the death of a loved one was never meant to be endured in isolation. The purpose of this group is to provide a safe forum for addressing the realities of loss and grief, to connect with others, and to access resources that aid in the healing process.

    Reviews: “See what other students are saying about this group”

    • “I wish it could have last longer”
    • “Sessions seemed too short”
    •  “I felt less alone”

    Group Details:

    • Sessions: This group involves six 90-minute sessions. Students who register will be contacted and asked to provide best weekdays and times that suit their schedule. The facilitator will then notify them of a time that work for the majority. Next group: Winter 2024.
    • Length of Group: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)
    • Dates: TBD
    • It is due to start in February 2024

    Making Meaning About Me: Understanding and Expressing My Emotions in a Good Way (Linda Churchill)

    This Group will be offered via In-Person

    Who this Group is for:

    For students who would like to understand and make sense of their emotions as well as learn how to express them in safe and constructive ways.

    Group Details:

    This group will feature six weekly 90-minute sessions starting in February 2024. The timing will be based upon student availability. Once a minimum of 4 people register, the group facilitator will email everyone to ascertain best days and times for all to meet.  Group maximum will be 8 participants.

    Mastery of Your Anxiety and Worry (Tim Osachuk, Nicolas Brais, Paul Collins)

    This group is offered in-person & Zoom

    Who this group is for:  Any U of M student experiencing anxiety. This is a 5 session group that is closed to new participants after the group starts, as skills are additive over sessions.

    What you will learn:  Participants will learn a number of strategies to cope more effectively with a variety of types of anxiety. We view anxiety and worry as a common experience in everyday living and being a university student, and rather than trying to eradicate anxiety, we focus on managing the anxiety we have. In learning mastery in managing our anxiety, we no longer have to be concerned about it becoming a barrier or an obstacle.  We typically learn skills to manage anxiety in two broad ways: 

    1) understanding how our thoughts can influence (either increase or reduce) our anxiety;

    2) learning strategies to manage our bodies and physical symptoms of anxiety.  We are then able to manage our thoughts, our bodies or both to feel better, and live our lives more fully.

    Group Details:

    • Length of Group:  2 Hours (120 minutes per session); 5 Sessions
    • Fridays, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
      • In-Person - January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16
      • Zoom - March 1, 8, 15, 22, April 5

    Mindful De-Stressing Group (Tim Osachuk)

    This group is offered In-Person

    Who this group is for:  Any U of M student experiencing some level of stress/distress. This is a 5 session group that is closed to new participants after the group starts, as skills are additive over sessions.

    What you will learn:  Participants will be introduced to the practice of mindfulness to become more aware and accepting of their experiences non-judgmentally, allowing them to respond to stressful situations in different ways. 

    No previous experience with mindfulness-based meditation is required.  Each session will last 120 minutes, and participants will be guided to practice a variety of mindfulness-based meditations over course of the group.  Participants are encouraged to practice meditations outside of the group, to promote their learning to respond to stressful situations differently.

    Group Details:

    • Length of Group:  2 hours (120 minutes); 5 Sessions
    • Fridays, 1:30 p.m.  - 3:30 p.m.
      • March 1, 8, 15, 22
      • April 5

    Pay Attention! (Kim Kiley)

    This group is offered in-person at the SCC 

    Who this group is for: Any students who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or suspect that they have 
    attention related difficulties.
    Pre-registration is required for each group topic. Although, students are encouraged to attend all sessions of the group, the group is an open group series, which means students can attend as many of the group topics as they desire. Students must be in the province of Manitoba to attend sessions offered via Zoom.

    Topics covered and what you will learn:

    Each session will cover a specific topic that is relevant for students with ADHD. Students will learn about how these topics relate to ADHD and discuss ways to manage these ADHD-related difficulties and draw upon ADHD-related strengths. The group also provides participants the opportunity to connect with other students with ADHD.

    Reviews: “See what other students are saying about this group”

    • “Kim fostered an extremely safe and accepting environment which allowed students to share what they were comfortable with. I enjoyed being able to share my experiences and hear the experiences of other students. Each session provided helpful tips and information for students, but also (and more importantly, in my opinion) really well explained what was happening in the ADHD brain and why we are experiencing these things - all using kind language. The tips are of course helpful, but understanding why without placing any additional blame on myself was the most valuable takeaway.”

    • “Neurodivergence is greater than the sum of its parts, and it was great to have a space that validated all of my neurodivergence, not just the slice that is diagnosed as ADHD.”

    • “Really appreciated the opportunity to meet other folks with attention difficulties, share experiences, and hear about the common issues! It really made certain things "click" for me and explained a lot of the difficulties I've been having lately.”

    • “I liked that I was able to hear about and relate to other people's experience with ADHD. The information presented during the sessions also helped me to better understand my own experiences/issues and ways to deal with them, and to learn more about what ADHD is and how it affects one's everyday life.”

    Group Details:

    • Length of Group: 2 hours (120 minutes)
    • In-Person - Thursdays 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
      1. Managing My Attention and Focus - February 15
      2. Organizing Myself and My Time - February 22
      3. Managing My Distracting and Negative Thoughts - February 29
      4. Improving My Self-Esteem and Social Connections - March 7
      5. Understanding and Regulating My emotions - March 14

    Queerly Beloved (QB) - (Karla Penner)

    Who this Group is for: 

    A group for Queer students and allies in the UM student community who have experienced harm and hurt through your faith community* simply because of your identity, who you love, or who you support.

    What will be covered in this Group:

    A gathering space for you to belong, to know, hear, and feel that you are beloved, to tell and process your story, and to receive the stories of others who have walked a similar path.

    A space to authentically show up, knowing you will be welcomed and supported, regardless of whether you:

    • Have left your faith
    • Are grappling with whether or not to stay
    • Are choosing to remain part of your faith community

    Queerly Beloved will be facilitated by Karla Penner, an SCC Counsellor who celebrates and delights in all of the Queer students she gets to cross paths with and Michelle Collins, a fully affirming and embracing Lutheran minister who is part of UM’s Spiritual Care team.

    *Students from all faith backgrounds and experiences are welcome.

    Group Details: 

    Facilitators will contact all interested group members in early January for their availability and will offer the group at a time that works for the majority.  This will be a closed group, meaning no new members may join after the first session has run.  Register by contacting the SCC Reception desk at 204-474-8592 (select 4 to speak with a receptionist) or by emailing karla.penner@umanitoba.ca.

    Relationships: Breaking up is hard to do (Lori Mac)

    This Group is offered In-Person

    Who is this group is for:

    Anyone who has experienced the break-up of a romantic relationship six weeks ago or longer,  or is having difficulty with a break-up and letting go.

    Topics covered and what you will learn:

    Topics covered: Stages of a break-up and the emotions involved, grief and coping, self-care, learning from the past , identity, self-esteem, letting go, building healthy relationships, and boundaries and assertiveness.

    What you will learn: Information about healthy relationships and break-ups, skills for self­ survival and doing better next time, to rediscover your strengths and let go while gaining knowledge and resources.

    Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this workshop"

    • Join! It will help you move forward
    • The group helped me understand valuable points such as self-worth. I am very happy that I attended. It made the breaking up less painful period I feel like I was understood. Thanks. This workshop will help you understand your feelings or thoughts that are during a breakup. Or if you're still thinking about a bad breakup or about your ex-partner, the workshop will help you understand why you're feeling or thinking about them
    • I could be 100% open about my feelings without fearing being judged

    Group details:

    6 sessions, each group meeting is 2 hours long; possible post-group following-up meeting about one month after group ends (decided by group members)

    Winter term: Tuesdays 1:30 -3:30 p.m. February 27- April 2 (possible one-month post group additional meeting on April 30)

     

    Relationships: WTF! (Why They’re Frustrating) (Lori Mac)

    This group is offered In-person

     Who this group is for: Anyone who is feeling frustrated with family, friends, co-workers, or a romantic partner and anyone having difficulty relating to them, communicating, or getting along. It is also great for anyone who would like to improve relationships that are going well.

    Topics covered: Learning what four empirically derived behaviors are part of research that can predict relationship stability and satisfaction with over 90% accuracy and how to identify and manage them.

    What you will learn: This group is intended to provide information about healthy relationships. You will explore and develop skills to better understand and manage your relationships with others.  Participants will have an opportunity to discover their own strengths and style of relating, while gaining knowledge and resources. (6 sessions)

    Reviews: "See what other students are saying about this group"

    • Do it! The content given in this group, the work you do outside of it (reading/quizzes) is SUPER helpful, not just for a romantic relationship, but with friends/family - any relationship with another person
    • We were given the space to share our opinions about others' issues or questions. In my opinion, hearing others who have experiencing the issues I have experienced is as valuable as a professional counsellor. It also gives me a chance to see different responses to the same situation and help me to think differently than the way I am "customized" to.
    • Lori is very caring. It wasn't just giving out information about psychology but actually listening, understanding, and sorting things out. I will miss this group.

    Group Details:

    • Length of Group:  6 sessions; each is 2 hours (120 minutes)
    • Mondays from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
    • February 26 
    • March 4, 11, 18, 25
    • April 1

    Students on the Spectrum (Karla Penner)

    This Group is offered In-person

    Who this group is for:  This support group is designed for Autistic students with official or self-diagnosis. The hope is that it will provide a safe space for members to connect, validate, inform and support each other in areas of mutual interest, while creating a place to explore the unique challenges and gifts that adults on the spectrum face

    Topics covered: Some topics may include masking, communication, relationships, identity, emotions, etc. The possibilities will be as unique as the members of the group!

    Group Details: To register please call SCC reception. The group facilitator/counsellor will contact you directly to arrange a time for a short intake session and will then determine group dates and time based on availability of the majority.

    Sessions: The group will run for 6 consecutive weeks and each gathering will be 90 minutes in length. It is a “closed group” meaning that once the group begins with the first gathering, no new members will be able to join.

    Reviews: “See what other students are saying about this group”

    • “Being someone who struggles to connect with others, SOS facilitated deep connections with other’s experiences that I don’t often feel.”

    • “The most useful thing about SOS was learning how other students navigate the world with Autism.  This resulted in me learning to face my challenges better and affirm the unique experiences that come with them.”

    • “SOS was a welcoming and safe space to feel comfortable being myself.”

    Details:

    ** will run in February/March for Winter 2024 term** Exact dates to be determined based on availability of interested group members by facilitator.

    You're Not Alone: A Support Group for Trauma Survivors (Lori Mac)

    This Group is offered In-Person

    Who is this group for:

    Anyone who has experienced trauma and who has already attended Part 1 and Part 2 of this counsellor's "It's Over But It's Not: Understanding and Managing the Ongoing Impact of Trauma" workshop. This is to ensure that everyone has the knowledge and skills from the workshop to draw on and share with one another. This group is a place to talk about the experience of trauma in a safe and supportive space, and to be with others who have a shared experience and can support one another.

    Topics covered and what you will learn:

    This group is focused on an open discussion related to the experience of going through and managing trauma, not discussing or sharing specific details of any one person's trauma (i.e. sharing what happened to you), as that has been shown to not be helpful in a group setting. Discussion topics may include managing trauma symptoms, self-esteem, trusting self and others, understanding emotions, reactions, and symptoms, interacting with others and navigating relationships post-trauma, exploring shattered life assumptions, exploring new beliefs, exploring identity post-trauma, practicing calming and grounding strategies, or anything else that the group members agree would be helpful.

    This is an open Group which means students can attend as they desire (as long as they have already attended Part 1 and Part 2 of the trauma workshop as stated above).

    This will be a 1.5 hour group that meets once a month. Day/time TBD.

    Students to call the front desk to add their name to the waitlist.

    Contact Us

    Student Counselling Centre (SCC)
    474 UMSU University Centre
    65 Chancellors Circle
    University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus)
    Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

    204 474-8592
    204 474-7558
    Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.