Student Affinity Groups

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Group

Richa Saraswat
Richa Saraswat,
facilitator
Mia Orans
Mia Orans,
facilitator
The BIPOC affinity group is a peer led support group for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We, as co-leads, strive to foster a space centered around sharing experiences, navigating our identities as BIPOC therapists, and expanding our communities鈥 tools and resources.

We want to intentionally hold space to support, listen, and acknowledge each other鈥檚 unique identities. We recognize the inherent differences of each individual鈥檚 experience navigating within the white colonial framework, and strive to hold the complexities associated with race and power in our society. We hope to collaboratively build a group centered on vulnerability, curiosity, and joy.

Our aim is to cultivate a space that thrives long after our time at the 91精品, building a community that we can all rely on even after graduation. For more information, please feel free to reach out to Richa Saraswat at rsaraswat@wi.edu and Mia Orans at morans@wi.edu. Hope to see you there!

Black Student Group

Dominique Creer
Dominique Creer,
facilitator
Welcome to the Black Student Affinity Group! In the MA Program it can often feel like a journey for black students. Hearing statistics surrounding blackness and mental health, microaggressions, and trying to find yourself in this work can be overwhelming and intense. If building a community of black mental health practitioners at the 91精品, and having a space for black joy sounds interesting to you, then you should join!

Come meet with us to meet other black students, build our community, and share experiences and knowledge. We are currently meeting virtually but will have some meetings or events in the near future.

Contact Dominique Creer at dcreer@wi.edu with any questions you may have!

Capacity Collective

Archana Vellasure
Archana Vellasure,
facilitator
Disabilities鈥攙isible, invisible, and self-assessed鈥攂ring complexities to our academic and professional paths, often heightening feelings of isolation in a world that's slow to embrace the full spectrum of disability experiences. Chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, or overwhelm might bring additional challenges.

The Capacity Collective is a dedicated space that fosters a vibrant, accepting, and supportive community for disabled MFT/PCC students at the 91精品. We're committed to cultivating a close-knit community, united by shared professional values and aspirations, to enhance the understanding of resilience and diversity within our therapy field through the lenses of our student, personal, and professional lives. We'll begin with a focus on mutual emotional support through the trials and triumphs of our academic journey. We invite you to join us in building a space where we can begin tackling challenges and societal barriers to disability together.

In this community, your narrative, challenges, and strengths find a welcoming audience eager to listen, learn, and uplift. Engaging with this collective not only enriches our group but also plays a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive, empathetic, and empowered MFT/PCC environment.

The Capacity Collective will meet virtually on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. Please check out the 91精品 Portal Calendar for the virtual meeting details.

Please email Archie at avellasure@wi.edu with any questions. Hope to see you there!

The First Generation and Immigrant Group

Kassandra Mayhew
Kassandra Mayhew,
facilitator
The First Generation and Immigrant Affinity Group aims to provide a space of belonging through being in community with students who have immigrated or whose families have immigrated in their generation. In this supportive peer space, we hope to explore the ways in which our identities intersect and inform our experiences as therapists and as individuals.

Being 鈥渇irst generation鈥 or 鈥渋mmigrant鈥 to the country we call home encompasses a wide range of experiences. In an increasingly overwhelming environment, this group aspires to provide an avenue in which to navigate our world while holding our overlapping identities with care.

Our gatherings will occur monthly at minimum; days and times will rotate to accommodate different schedules. Gatherings will be held in person and virtually.

Reach out to Kassandra at kmayhew@wi.edu for more information, feedback, and ideas.

Pride / LGBTQIA2S+ Group

Martine Glaros
Martine Glaros,
facilitator
Elizabeth Hamp
Elizabeth Hamp,
facilitator
Welcome to Pride Affinity Group! This is a community for students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Agender, Two Spirit, and + (LGBTQIA2S+). It is also a space for students who are questioning, or are in an evolving process with their gender, romantic orientation, or sexual orientation. Pride Affinity Group is...

  • A celebratory space to share joy in our LGBTQIA2S+ identities; to connect socially and be in community across cohorts
  • A brave space to process our experiences in class, practicum, and our personal lives in regards to being LGBTQIA2S+
  • A supportive space to explore how we, as future clinicians, may come into ever-deepening integrity in how we support LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and communities

Our hope is to enable respectful dialogue around a variety of intersectional experiences related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) and, in so doing, raise awareness and promote activism within the concentric circles of our group, our institution, our field, and beyond.

All students within the LGBTQIA2S+ umbrella are welcome to join. We have monthly virtual gatherings, along with occasional in-person gatherings- dropping in at any time throughout the year is welcome.

To reach out with questions, share ideas, or get on the email list for updates about the group, contact mglaros@wi.edu. Hope to see you there!

Mindfulness and Meditation Group

Chiara Ogan
Chiara Ogan,
facilitator
We often hear about mindfulness in our classes, but what does it actually look and feel like to do it? The Mindfulness and Meditation affinity group is a place to learn about these practices and interventions, allowing us to care for ourselves simultaneously. At each meeting, we will focus on a different type of meditation, like body scans, visualizations, or lovingkindness meditation. We will learn about the practice, spend some time doing it ourselves, and then discuss the experience and how we might see ourselves using it in the future.

No previous experience meditating is needed鈥攋ust an open mind and a willingness to try a new way of getting to know yourself. Our meetings will be mainly on Zoom on Monday nights at 7 p.m., with the occasional in-person practice. We plan to continue meeting virtually on the second Monday of every month. Please check out the 91精品 Portal Calendar for the details of the virtual meeting.

For more information, please email Chiara at cogan@wi.edu. I hope to see you there!

Multicultural and Mixed Race Group

A.J. Tyler
A.J. Tyler,
facilitator
Mohammad Abdul-Rahim
Mohammad
Abdul-Rahim,
facilitator
The Multi-Cultural and Mixed Race Affinity Group provides a supportive space for 91精品 MA students to explore the complex dynamics of holding multiple ethnic, racial, and cultural identities.

Belonging to more than one cultural, racial, or ethnic group can provide individuals with a rich and deep understanding of the human experience that brings an invaluable perspective and empowerment to our profession. It can also, however, result in internal conflicts, feelings of exclusion, and pressures to acculturate/assimilate.

We aim to foster connections, provide peer support, and facilitate discussions on topics relevant to our community. Our group will meet in person monthly (time and date to be determined) and host one off-campus event bimonthly.

We encourage you to reach out to atyler@wi.edu and mabdulrahim@wi.edu to share your ideas, get involved, and stay updated on meetings and events.

Parents and Caregivers Group

Julia Wadsworth
Julia Wadsworth,
facilitator
Caregiving is a demanding job. Perhaps you are a parent to a new baby or a middle schooler or a teenager (or all of the above!), maybe you are caregiving for a disabled or older family member or maybe find yourself in another caregiving scenario not mentioned here. Caregiving is something that can be wonderful, fulfilling and rewarding as well as unrelenting and constant no matter what else is going on in your life. Being a student and caretaking can be isolating and take it鈥檚 toll. If you are undertaking the gymnastics required for being both a student and a parent or caretaker and would like to join a group of people who have similar challenges, this is a group for you!

While everyone has individual circumstances they are dealing the hope is that this group will be a space for creating a supportive community that shares support and resources with one another. We will begin with one monthly meeting and see what will best serve the community from there. Hope to see you there!

You can reach out to Julia Wadsworth at jwadsworth@wi.edu.

White Anti-Racist Affinity Group

Alex Knecht
Alex Knecht,
facilitator
Anne Johnson
Anne Johnson,
facilitator
Welcome to the White Anti-Racist Group - a dedicated space within our counseling psychology program committed to fostering anti-racist values and practices among white-identifying individuals.

Together we recognize the critical role that white allies play in dismantling systems of oppression and promoting racial justice within our field and broader society. Guided by principles of humility, self-reflection, and accountability, our group aims to explore our whiteness, privilege, and the impact of systemic racism on individuals and communities.

Whether you're new to anti-racism work or a seasoned advocate, we invite you to join us in this important journey of growth, learning, and allyship. Together, we can create meaningful change and build a more inclusive and equitable world.

Meetings will rotate to accommodate the schedules of different cohorts and will be held both in person and virtually.

If you are interested in joining this group, . We will get in touch with you before our next meeting.