Counseling Services
Student Counseling Services is committed to helping USC students creatively handle the stresses and challenges in their academic and personal goals.
The professional staff is diverse in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and sexual/affectional orientation. The staff includes psychologists, psychiatrists and advanced graduate students. The staff is highly trained and experienced in helping students successfully cope with issues and concerns that are common to the college experience.
To initiate counseling or to participate in groups, workshops or Mentoring Programs, call (213) 740-7711, or come to Student Counseling Services in the YWCA Building for additional information.
Therapy Groups
Graduate Student Group
This group is for graduate students who would like a safe and supportive place to discuss issues or adjustment difficulties regarding returning to school. This group will explore a range of personal and interpersonal concerns including self-esteem, assertiveness, intimacy and emotional expressiveness. The group is aimed at helping participants enhance their sense of personal competence. Leader: Edith Chung, Ph.D.
Grief Therapy Group
This group is designed for students who are struggling with grief issues related to a recent or past death of a loved one. The group process can offer additional support, as well as knowledge and understanding about one's reactions and experience. The group will also help educate students about the stages of grief and how they can utilize positive coping skills to help manage their emotions. Leader: Kelly Greco, Ph.D.
Peace with Food and Body Esteem
For women who are concerned about repetitive dieting, bingeing, purging, or preoccupation with food and weight. This group will help you develop greater self-acceptance and effective strategies for dealing with these issues in a supportive and confidential setting. Leader: Elizabeth Reyes, Ph.D.
Relationship Issues Group (General Therapy Group)
These groups are designed for students who are interested in their own personal growth, who seek deeper understandings of themselves and their relationships with others. Group members can use the group to explore their conflicts, to learn new social skills, to get feedback on the impact they have on others, and to try out new behaviors. Leader: Kenneth Wang, M.A.
Women's Therapy Group
Provides a safe place to work on personal concerns with the benefit of women's energy and ingenuity. Issues may include relationship concerns, difficult childhood experiences, juggling multiple roles, struggling with anxiety and/or depression, facing life transitions. Leader: Robin Ward, L.C.S.W.
Support Groups
Dissertation Support Group
This group is for doctoral students who feel stuck in the dissertation process. Members support each other and build a helpful network of students in a similar situation. Leader: Jennifer Bradford, Ph.D.
Gay and Bi Men's Support Group
For gay and bi men who are accepting and integrating sexuality and lifestyle. Issues include coming out, intimacy, friendship, family relations, academic and career plans, community, and health. Leader: Stanley Harris, M.D.
Lesbian and Bi Women's Support Group
This is a confidential, ongoing weekly group for lesbian and bi women. Members strive to be supportive of one another dealing with issues of coming out, balancing academic and social pressures, homophobia, negotiating and sustaining relationships, and surviving breakups. Leader: Kelly Greco, Ph.D.
Nosotras: A Latina Support Group
Topics include balancing school, work, relationships and family; self-esteem; dating concerns; identity; straddling two cultures; and finding your place at USC or within the Latina community at USC. Confidentiality is a priority. Leader: Elizabeth Reyes, Ph.D.
Social Confidence Group
A structured group that focuses on the needs of individuals with social anxiety, social phobia or “shyness.” The group's goal is to help members develop specific techniques and skills, which they can use to improve the quality of their social interactions. Group topics include dating, assertiveness, networking and anxiety management. Leader: Timmy Lee, Ph.D.
Solutions and Strategies Substance Abuse Support Group
For students who have a concern about their drinking and drug use. These group members offer confidential support and realistic planning strategies to each other for both abstinence and/or controlled use. Leader: Karin Sponholz, Ph.D.
Short-term Structured Groups
Academic-Related Anxiety Group
A group for students experiencing anxiety as it relates to their academic studies. Topics include: test anxiety, fear of speaking up in class, shyness, talking to TAs and professors and collaborating with fellow students. Leader: Pat Tobey, Ph.D.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Difficulty Support Group
Provides a supportive and educational approach to such topics as: learning skills, social skills, mood management, self-esteem, focusing on tasks, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, managing distractions, task-directed thinking, career planning and other successful strategies used by adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Difficulty. Leader: Jennifer Bradford, Ph.D.
Wellness and Stress Reduction Group
This group is for individuals who would like to learn a comprehensive approach to improve health, regulate and enhance energy, improve one's concentration, relax better, and develop a greater sense of personal power, tranquility and well-being. Members will learn approaches to wellness through meditation. Yoga, BaGua Zhang, nutrition and ways to enhance positive thinking. Leader: Shing-Shiong Chang, Ph.D.
Wellness Wednesdays
Wellness Wednesdays is a workshop series designed to introduce students to stress management and self-care strategies. These one-hour workshops take place in Student Counseling Services at noon the first and third Wednesday of each month. Please contact Counseling Services at (213) 740-7711 for more information or for a schedule of upcoming workshops. Leader: Jessica Klein, M.S.W.
Group Information
Groups are confidential. Most require a pre-group meeting with the leader(s). For information or to sign up for a group call (213) 740-7711. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional Programs Offered Through Student Counseling Services
Asian Pacific American Peer Mentoring
Upper division students have been trained by USC's Student Counseling Services and the Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) department to help “new” APA undergraduate students adjust to campus and community life. Specifically, they can address ways to get involved, ethnic identity, race relations and other personal issues related to being a USC student of Asian Pacific American heritage. For more information on how to get an APA Peer Mentor, please contact the APASS department at (213) 740-4999 or drop by the Student Counseling Service.