• This group is suitable for students who feel stuck, have issues with motivation and may be struggling with a wide variety of experiences such as anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, which result in relying on avoidance as a coping strategy which then creates additional problems in engaging with studies, socialising etc.
• ACT is a model of psychotherapy that emphasises the importance of connecting with values to create and maintain motivation. It focuses on developing “workable action” to help people get unstuck and promoting flexible choice-making for overcoming barriers to taking action. ACT is a hopeful, strengths-based model that uses creativity and therapeutic metaphors to bring the work alive. Evidence shows that it is an effective form of therapy and that developing psychological flexibility is linked with positive wellbeing.
• The group introduces theory, resources and techniques from ACT, to help you identify the barriers to motivation/taking action. It provides a space for reflecting on what matters to you; identifying your core values and opportunities to work differently with motivation so that you can keep choosing to move towards your goals. As well as looking at the ideas behind motivation and ACT, there will be a large experiential aspect to the group, with plenty of opportunity for discussion of how the theory relates to your own and others’ experiences.
• This is a weekly ‘in person’ therapy group run over 8 consecutive weeks, for students at any stage of their education. Each session will last for 90 minutes and attendance is required at every session. The group will be facilitated by psychological therapists and based at Wellbeing and Student Support at Senate House
• Students interested in this group should discuss this in a brief consultationLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, or if appropriate with the person they are currently working with e.g. Psychological therapist, Wellbeing Advisor, mentor etc. They may then be offered a one-to-one pre-group session with a group facilitator to decide whether it is a suitable option.