Personal Counseling

We offer short-term, goal focused counseling to currently enrolled students. The first step is to call or email the office to schedule an initial consultation.  During that meeting, you and the counselor will discuss specific goals, frequency of sessions and the likely length of treatment taking into account your presenting concerns.

If you and the counselor decide that ongoing individual personal counseling is the best course to address your concerns, a future appointment will be scheduled.  

Our services are short-term in nature.  Many students only need 2-3 sessions to talk about something specific, while others need more.  Students are typically seen biweekly or triweekly.  Positive outcomes in counseling are often dependent upon the work a student does in between sessions.  We encourage our students to practice the skills that are learned and discussed in counseling during the time in between sessions.   Common presenting concerns include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Major/career decision-making difficulties
  • Low self-confidence
  • Concerns related to sexual orientation and identity
  • Excessive concern with eating or body image
  • Life-college balance
  • Grief and loss
  • Relational violence and/or sexual assault
  • Hopelessness or suicidal thoughts

Please note students under the age of 18 will need parental/guardian consent in order to receive counseling services. 

Couples Counseling

Counseling and Psychological Services will provide couples counseling if both members of the couple are currently enrolled students attending classes in the current semester.  Couples counseling is the most appropriate treatment when the difficulties in one's life are primarily the result of problems in their romantic relationship. It is more helpful for both partners to be working on the relationship rather than either one on their own. Additionally, premarital counseling services are available for couples who are engaged or who are planning to become engaged.

To be considered for couples counseling, each individual student will need to complete an initial consultation during our Let's Hoot hours.  Inform the consultation counselor that you are interested in couples counseling.  If you are already actively seeing a counselor, let your counselor know that you are interested in couples counseling.

Group Counseling

Through weekly discussions, group counseling provides a safe space to focus on how problems in your life influence day-to-day activities and relationships. Groups allow you to both give and receive feedback from others who are experiencing similar issues. Groups are led by a clinical staff member and typically have 5-8 members.

To join a group, a few steps are needed.  If you are new to our office, you'll need to start with an Initial Consultation. Once you have had your initial consultation, potential group members will be scheduled to briefly meet with the group leader to determine if the group is a best fit for the student's needs.  

If you are a continuing client of CPS, talk to your counselor on your next appointment about joining a group. 

Group Sessions for Fall 2024

  • RIO is a three-week program that teaches students techniques for recognizing and moving past situations that cause stress, frustration, and anxiety. RIO can provide skills to help you:

    Manage and reduce anxiety
    Adapt to new challenges
    Understand your thoughts and feelings WITHOUT judgement or shame
    Move beyond feeling "stuck"
    Take the initiative to step out of your comfort zone

    Multiple sessions offered.  Check OwlLife for dates. 

  • Do you want to learn more about yourself and improve your ability to form and maintain relationships? 鈥疌ommon themes discussed include setting boundaries, communicating needs, and improving relationships with family, friends, or partners. In addition to improved interpersonal relationships, people who participate in this group frequently report improved mood, increased self -esteem, decreased anxiety, and overall improved higher quality of life. 

    • Mondays, 10:45am-12:00pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus
    • Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:45pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus
    • Wednesdays, 2:30pm-3:45pm, In-Person, Marietta Campus

  • This group is open to LGBTQ+ students as well as students who want a chance to explore their sexual and/or gender identity. This group is an open space to share, discuss, support, and learn from one another in a confidential environment. Frequent topics include coming out, self-expression, family conflict, religious conflict, dating and finding community. 

    • Tuesdays, 1:00pm-2:15pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus

  • SPECTRUM is a support group for students who are on the Autism Spectrum and students who identify as neurodiverse. The group fosters opportunities for peer engagement, identity-development, and skill-building (i.e. social, academic and life skills) while navigating college.

    • Thursdays, 2:30pm-3:45pm, In-Person, Marietta Campus
    • Fridays, 2:00pm-3:15pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus

  • A 8-week psychoeducational and experiential group for survivors of physical and emotional trauma. It will focus on helping participants create stability and safety by discussing common reactions to trauma and learning effective coping techniques. Expressive arts, meditation, and relaxation strategies will also be utilized.

    • Wednesdays, 2:00pm-3:15pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus

  • This is a group for students who have lost a loved one or a significant person and provides a safe and confidential setting for them to process their grief and the impact the loss has on other aspects of their lives. The sharing of grief with others can help with the process of healing from the pain of losing a loved one or a significant person.

    • Wednesdays, 11:00am-12:00pm, Virtual, MS Teams

  • The Anxiety Toolbox is specifically designed to help those who struggle with any anxiety-related concerns (for example: panic attacks, Generalized Anxiety, test-related anxiety). The goal of this group is to provide education on anxiety itself and to disseminate a variety of skills for understanding and managing anxiety symptoms.

    • SEPTEMBER:  Tuesdays, 11:00am-11:50am
    • OCTOBER: Fridays, 10:00am-10:50am
    • NOVEMBER: Fridays, 10:00am-10:50

    All sessions will be virtual, MS Teams.

  • Group members will learn mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance skills. This DBT Skills Group is structured to teach healthy coping skills to students struggling with emotions, relationships, and/or impulsivity. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based practice that has been proven effective in reducing emotional distress and suffering. 
    • Thursdays, 1:15pm-2:30pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus

  • Feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed? Learn to relax and feel better through practicing mindfulness and meditative drumming. Instruments are provided and no musical experience is required.

    • Fridays, 1:15pm-2:30pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus (Student Ctr, Wellnest)

  • A support group for Black women to authentically connect with others of a shared identity. Group members will explore their identity, develop healthy self-care practices, build stress tolerance, practice effective communication and boundary-setting techniques, and process unique challenges associated with being a Black woman in college. 

    • Wednesdays, 1:00pm-2:30pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus

  • Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are collaborative storytelling experiences that allow players to try out new ways of interacting with others in a low-pressure environment. This group will give you the opportunity to develop communication skills, empathy and increase confidence in social situations. 

    • Thursdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm, In-Person, Kennesaw Campus