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Interested students should call CAPS at 330-672-2487 to set up a CAPS Consultation appointment. At your appointment, let your clinician know you’re interested in joining a group, and they will provide more information and guide you to the next step, if appropriate. You’ll have a chance to meet with the group leader(s) to talk in more detail about the group so that you know what to expect. This meeting is an opportunity to get all your questions answered and to decide whether USO is a good fit for you.

Students recommended for individual or group therapy at CAPS are eligible for up to six covered sessions each academic year. Beyond that, group sessions are billed to insurance. For students who don’t have insurance, CAPS offers self-pay rates. If you have insurance or billing-related questions, you may call CAPS’ main number or ask a CAPS clinician. 

If this uncommon situation should happen, let the group leaders know as soon as possible so that they may address it. The leaders will consult with the group members and decide how to handle the situation based on the circumstances and the preferences of those involved. 

It is normal to feel nervous about starting group therapy or to worry about saying the wrong thing - most new group members do. Members almost always find, though, that within a few sessions they start to feel less anxious and more at ease. Keep in mind, too, that the group leaders are there to guide the process and create a safe environment for everyone.  

Each USO group is made up of about 5-8 students and 1-2 group leaders who meet at CAPS for 90 minutes every week for the duration of the semester. Groups start accepting new members at the beginning of each semester, and once they are full, they close until the beginning of the next semester.  

Many people are surprised to learn that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy, and for some concerns it is more effective. For example, CAPS’ USO groups can be especially effective for students who have concerns of an interpersonal nature such as social anxiety or relationship concerns. 

That’s okay – you decide what (or if) you want to share, and you will never be forced to share anything you don’t want to. The leaders are there to make sure no one is pressured to talk, even when asked a direct question. That said, if you’re nervous talking about yourself with other people, then group might be the right place for you to try doing something different.   

The therapy groups that CAPS offers are sometimes called interpersonal process groups because they focus on the interactions between the group members. Group members relate to each other inside the group in similar ways that they relate to others outside the group, which can create a microcosm of the outside world. Group can be seen as a safe “laboratory” where you can learn more about your relationship patterns and experiment with new ways of relating.

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