All students are welcome at CAPS.
CAPS offers a wide variety of group counseling options to assist you through your mental health journey. Some groups are drop-in, others require pre-screening.
What do you need right now?
Practice regulating emotions Connection with others like me Support through a difficult time Help managing school & personal life
Understanding Self and Others Groups
Students struggling with managing academic workloads and interpersonal relationships, particularly at the start of their college career, can benefit from an Understanding Self and Others group:
- For Undergraduate Students
- For Graduate Students
- For Graduate Students on East Campus
Skill-Building Groups
Skill building groups focus on strengthening specific mental skills like emotional regulation and well-being habits.
- Piece by Piece
- Wellness Recovery Action Plan
- Emotion Regulation
- Well-being Discussions
Support Groups
Support groups focus on specific topics to help students navigate difficulties with positive coping skills and to build community.
- Alcohol & Drug Harm Reduction Group
- Grief Group
- RENO & BIPOC
- Raíces
- LGBTQ+ Community
- Adult Children of Alcoholics
- Autism Connections in Transition
Understanding Self and Others
Pre-screening required
Undergraduate Group
Wednesdays 3-4:30 p.m.
A supportive space for undergraduate students as they balance demands of school and navigating interpersonal relationships. Goals and topics are determined by the group, but common themes include relating to peers, family, and friends, transitioning to and from graduate school, identity concerns, and managing mental health while balancing work and academic concerns.
Pre-screening required
Graduate Group
Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
A supportive space for graduate students as they balance demands of graduate school and navigating interpersonal relationships. Goals and topics are determined by the group, but common themes include relating to peers, family, and friends, transitioning to and from graduate school, identity concerns, and managing mental health while balancing work and academic concerns.
Pre-screening required
Voices Unfolding Graduate Group
Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
This therapy group is open to student of all identities and acknowledges the unique circumstances that graduate women face in their academic, professional, and personal lives. The group provides a space for graduate students to process the stressors of graduate school in a safe, open, and supportive setting with peers. Topics of discussion are set by the group members and typically focus on the experience of being a woman in graduate studies. Members develop insight, interpersonal skills, and self-awareness through peer interaction. This is a weekly group to discuss issues and life events.
Pre-screening required
East Campus Graduate Group
A supportive space for graduate students as they balance demands of graduate school and navigating interpersonal relationships. Goals and topics are determined by the group, but common themes include relating to peers, family, and friends, transitioning to and from graduate school, identity concerns, and managing mental health while balancing work and academic concerns.
Skill-Building
No screening required
Piece by Piece
Tuesdays at 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Sandoz Hall - Abel (Room 102)
Building connections in college can feel challenging, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed. Good news -- you don’t have to do it alone! Piece by Piece is a group focused on using board games as a fun and low-pressure way to explore interpersonal skills, manage emotions, and develop healthy ways of relating to others. Each session offers an opportunity to learn, reflect, and engage at your own comfort level -- no pressure to share or participate beyond what feels comfortable to you. This is an open, drop-in group.
No screening required
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Drop-In Group
Tuesdays at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Wellness Recovery Action Plan or WRAP is an evidence-based practice that helps individuals develop a personalized wellness and crisis plan. WRAP takes a strengths-based approach to help individuals take control of their well-being and increase awareness and management of health concerns. Through the course of the group, members will develop their own WRAP and learn skills to support their wellbeing. This is an open group, and members can join at any session. Members are encouraged to continue until all sections of their WRAP are completed.
No screening required
Emotion Regulation Drop-In Group
Tuesdays from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This 8-week group is open to any UNL student who is interested in learning more about mindfulness practices and emotional regulation strategies and skills. Students will understand the purpose and function of emotions, increase awareness of factors that influence and impact emotional responses and develop skills and strategies to better regulate unwanted/difficult emotions. You can join us for all 8 sessions or drop-in for one or a few of the sessions. This group will incorporate psychoeducation, discussion and in session, hands-on practice to make the concepts approachable and practical for students who attend.
No screening required
Well-being Discussions
Fridays from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
A supportive, low-intensity space for Raikes School students to explore a variety of wellbeing-related topics, pause, and reset. We engage in discussion for 20 to 30 minutes, followed by 10 to 15 minutes of guided meditation, and wrap up with 10 to 15 minutes of Q&A or additional discussion. Participants can direct what topics we spend time on. This is an open, drop-in group.
Support Groups
No screening required
Alcohol and Drug Harm Reduction Group
Tuesdays at 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
This group is offered to anyone that wants to make positive changes to their substance use. Abstinence is not required, although individuals committed to a sober lifestyle are welcome to attend. Whatever your goals are, the choice is yours for how you want to engage in the group. We foster the philosophy that every person is unique and may be in different places with their alcohol and drug use. Therefore, respect and openness to these differences is paramount to how the group is conducted.
No screening required
Grief Group
Wednesdays at 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Grief can be an isolating experience. You don’t have to go through it alone. CAPS is hosting a weekly Grief Group where all students can find a safe and supportive space to process the death of a friend, family member, or loved one with peers who have had similar experiences. Grief Group will learn about grief, explore and process grief’s complex emotions, and learn healthy ways to cope. There is no pressure to share or engage, as we are all at different stages in our grieving journey.
Pre-screening required
RENO & BIPOC Support Group
Wednesdays from 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Gaughan Multicultural Center, 3rd floor
This support group is open to students of all identities and acknowledges the unique circumstances that diverse Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and ethnic and marginalized identities face during their higher education journeys and their potential impact on mental health. The purpose of this 6-session group is to provide support in navigating topics such as race, ethnicity, identity, and intergenerational trauma. It is a safe space to receive and offer support, speak about and process experiences, share feelings, and build community with others who can empathize. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students at UNL.
Pre-screening required
LGBTQIA+ Community Support Group
This is a weekly support group for any undergraduate or graduate student experiencing conflict internally and/or socially concerning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This is an affirming group led by CAPS therapists that focuses on support and community resilience.
Pre-screening required
Raíces
Thursdays from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Gaughan Multicultural Center, 3rd floor
Raíces translates to "roots" in Spanish. The term represents the deep cultural heritage and ancestry that is a fundamental part of Hispanic and Latinx identities. The purpose of this group is to provide a safe space for students to receive and offer support, process their experiences, thoughts, feelings and build community with others who can empathize. Raíces provides a sense of belonging and connection for participants of all identities who are interested in engaging, acknowledging, and unpacking the unique mental health struggles that individuals of diverse Hispanic and Latin American identities face during their undergraduate studies.
No screening required
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) Support Workshop
Call CAPS for scheduling information | 402-472-7450
Caring for someone with an alcohol or drug problem can create serious challenges in our lives. We hope this group will offer insight, guidance, and support in addressing these challenges.
Pre-screening required
Autism Connections in Transition Drop-In Group
Call CAPS for scheduling information | 402-472-7450
This group is co-facilitated by Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) and CAPS. All groups will be located at the SSD office in Louise Pound Hall from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm. This drop-in group is designed to be used to supplement the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Transition Program at SSD, but no formal diagnosis of ASD is required to attend and students do not have to participate in the Transition Program. Group members will be encouraged to bring topics for group discussion on the week’s theme and may participate as much or as little as they are comfortable. Group facilitators will also present relaxation and coping skills at the end of each group.
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Counseling
What is group counseling?
- Group counseling is an evidence-based treatment option where students can come together with their peers in a confidential space to discuss a variety of topics and treatment goals. Most groups at CAPS have one or two CAPS facilitators. The additional advantage of group is having long-term therapy on a weekly basis.
- Groups at CAPS are not intended for journalistic, research, or course credit purposes.
How do I join a group at CAPS?
- Understanding Self and Others and Support Groups: Before a student may join an understanding self ofor support group, they need to complete an Initial Evaluation and a Group Screen appointment. If you are interested in joining a group, you may call the front desk and make this request. The front desk will schedule you for an Initial Evaluation and Group Screen with a group facilitator. If you already have an individual therapist at CAPS, please discuss your interest in group with them, and they can help you determine if scheduling a Group Screen fits with your treatment goals. The Group Screen is an appointment that gives you and the group facilitator a chance to discuss your personal goals and the focus of the group. It is the job of the group facilitator to make a clinical recommendation about what group would be the best fit for you or if another service is recommended.
- Drop-In Groups, Discussion Groups, and Workshops: These do not require a group-screen appointment, you may join this group at the time listed within the group description or contact CAPS for more information.
What are group expectations?
- Interpersonal Process Groups and Support Groups: Students interested in these groups are expected to commit to 90-minute, weekly meetings and to honor group confidentiality. These groups typically last for the duration of a semester. Groups typically have 5-8 students and are closed to new membership after they are full. In most cases, students need to commit to either group or individual treatment.
- Drop-In Groups, Discussion Groups, and Workshops: Engagement expectations vary for each group in this area. Please read group descriptions to learn about time and session commitment .
Which groups are available?
- The groups that are offered at CAPS change from semester to semester, based on student interest and clinic availability. Most groups are open to new members at the beginning of each semester and typically close once membership is full. Please call CAPS to inquire about a group for the current semester.