Groups and workshops

Click above to view video: "The LSE Student Wellbeing Service":

 

Groups and Workshops

At the LSE Student Counselling Service we run a number of groups and workshops as we believe that working in groups can be an effective way of helping with a range of problems.   In our view, being part of a group, sharing and tackling issues with others in a similar situation, can often be a highly effective way to address common difficulties. This page outlines some of the group and workshop options.

Workshops

Workshops are short-term, usually one-off, structured and agenda led. They focus on building skills and respond to the demands of life at university. We run a range of workshops throughout the year so keep an eye on this page for updates.

(If there is any issue you would like to see a workshop on which is not included on the list, do let us know.  We are always keen to hear suggestions from students about what might be useful.  Get in contact about workshop ideas via student counselling.

Below are the workshops we have arranged to run this semester:
  

Focused Groups

These are also short term but run over a few sessions. They focus on a specific issue and can also be structured and agenda led, allowing members more time to get to know each other.  They often include deeper discussions as well as providing information.  In the past we have run focussed groups on bereavement, stress management, disordered eating, self- esteem and anxiety management.

The Focused Groups need to be booked in advance and with some of them, you need to meet with the counsellor running the group for a discussion before joining.  If you are interested in joining one of these groups you can contact us  (Link)

 

• Daily Meditation Groups ( in the Faith Centre) The LSE Faith Centre now has meditation every day of the week:
  
  • Meditation sessions open to all are run on Monday and Thursdays between 12-1pm.
  • Student meditation run by the society The Meditation Circle are run on Wednesdays from 12-12:30 and on Fridays from 2-3pm.
  • Meditation and mindfullness for postgraduate students takes place on Tuesdays from 12-1pm.
    See article about meditation here.

Click on the highlighted course titles above for more information.

Places on groups must be booked in advance- please contact the office to book a place. These small groups will have no more than twelve people in them. Participants need to be able to attend each session of the group and stay for the whole session.

Ongoing Therapy Groups

Ongoing psychotherapy group

We also run an ongoing psychotherapy group. This can be particularly helpful for students who need more time and support to resolve their issues and who we feel might particularly benefit from having regular therapy in a group setting.  Students who have problems making or maintaining relationships or find their difficulties are ongoing and keep repeating may benefit from this group.

There is an assessment process before joining this group, which will mean meeting our group therapist usually more than once to think carefully about whether the group is right for you.  If you would like to discuss this option, you can contact us.

To find out more about what this kind of group might be like and why you might benefit, please click (link) here for our information sheet.

Currently we have an ongoing therapy group which runs on a Wednesday from 3.00 pm – 4.30 pm.

If you are interested in taking up a place in any group, please visit us in KSW.507 or make contact via student counselling or 020 7852 3627

 

 

Past Workshops

• Academic Job Applications Workshop: For PowerPoint click  here
  Applying for academic jobs can be a relentless business especially when there seem to be fewer and fewer jobs to go round. The process of making numerous job applications takes both practical and emotional energy. This interactive workshop explores how to  make an effective application for academic jobs and  develop the emotional resilience required to keep going. Aimed at PhD students and will be delivered by  the Careers and Counselling Service . 9 June 2011.
  
  
  
• ADAPT TO STUDY AND LIFE IN THE UK 
  (Study and Survive)
  For PowerPoint click here. 
  This presentation looks at the experience of being a student at LSE, putting into context the challenges that lie ahead. It will include tips for coping and a review of stress management skills.
  11 October 2016.    
  

 

• BUILD CONFIDENCE FOR ACADEMIC WRITING
  (Good Writing Psychology)
  For PowerPoint click here
  This presentation looks at ways of thinking about the task of writing, with advice and tips to help manage blocks and unhelpful fears. 
  It will include a range of management techniques for dealing with common writing difficulties, such as procrastination and perfectionism.
  Wednesday, 19 October 2016. 

• Black & Minority Ethnic Student at LSE?
  This meeting provides a safe setting in which BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) students can explore and  look at a range of issues. It is a supportive and therapeutic space for students to share experiences of being a BME individual in London and LSE.  Tuesday 25^th October 2011
  
  
• Communicating Assertively:
  For PowerPoint clickhere
  Learn how you can improve the effectiveness of your communication skills. Friday 29 Nov 2013
  
  
• Disordered Eating Group:
  The Disordered Eating Group Group provides participants an opportunity to develop new behaviours and more helpful thoughts affecting their eating habits. This group is part experiential, part psycho-educational and is suitable for bulimic, bingeing, restrictive or compulsive eaters. The group runs for six weeks. For PowerPoint presentation click here
  
  
• End of Term Review
  (How to learn from experience: End of Term Review) 
  For PowerPoint clickhere.
  An opportunity to review progress and anticipate future challenges. It will include discussion of practical skills to help with the challenges of the MSc programme, including stress management.
  Wednesday 16 March.   

• End of Term Review:     (MSc)
  How to Learn from Experience: End of Term Review:   
  For PowerPoint click here.
  An opportunity to review progress and anticipate future challenges. 
  It will include discussion of practical skills to help with the challenges of the MSc programme, including stress management.
  Wednesday 02 December 2015.       
  
  
  
  
   
• Exams workshop - revise and de-stress:
  For PowerPoint click here
  This workshop has tips for revision and preparing for exams, as well as many stress management techniques. Wednesday 8 May
  
  
• Good writing Psychology: 
  For PowerPoint click here; 
  This presentation looks at ways of thinking about the task of writing, with advice and tips to help manage blocks and unhelpful fears. It will include a range of management techniques for dealing with common writing difficulties, such as procrastination and perfectionism. Wednesday 24 October 
  
  
• How to cope with psychological challenges of dissertation writing
  A workshop for MSc students exploring how perfectionism and procrastination are often unwittingly used to mitigate many of the psychological hurdles that can arise in the dissertation writing process. 
  Whilst such defences are intended to impede and inhibit unwanted feelings and thoughts, they can end up being mechanisms that stop the writing process itself.   Thursday 14 July  
  
  
  
• How to de-stress for revision and exams
  For PowerPoint click here
  This workshop has tips for revision and preparing for exams, as well as many stress management techniques. Wednesday 4 May 2016.
  
  
  
• How to be Mindful and Reduce Stress
  For PowerPoint click here.
  This workshop will look at the use of mindfulness as an excellent way of managing stress. Mindfulness is a type of relaxation exercise which can help reduce the amount of time you spend worrying about things. The workshop will look at how you  can combine this with other practical techniques to reduce stress, and better manage the pressures of being a student.
   Tuesday 24 February 2016.  
  
  
• How to be mindful and reduce performance anxiety - 
  This workshop will offer mindfulness strategies to increase your calmness and help you enable improved performance.
  Thursday 28 April.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How to Deal with Study Related Stress
  For PowerPoint click  here.
  This course will define stress and explore the mechanisms involved in stress.This course will also examine the causes of study stress, then identify the studying mistakes that maintain stress. Finally strategies will be identified for 
  28 October 2015.     
  
  
• How to Learn from Experience: End of Term Review:   
  For PowerPoint click here.
  An opportunity to review progress and anticipate future challenges. 
  It will include discussion of practical skills to help with the challenges of the MSc programme, including stress management. 02 December 2015.  
  

• How to Manage your Time Effectively
  For PowerPoint click here.
  This course will identify strategies for better time management. The course will also examine psychological issues and explore common difficulties with perfectionism and procrastination. Thursday 21 January.      
  
  
• How to make a smooth transition to LSE: an introduction for international students:
  For PowerPoint click here.
  Studying in another country (and often in a different language) presents a variety of challenges. This session offers an opportunity to explore cultural and academic styles in the UK, and will include advice and tips for making the most of your time at LSE.  Friday 9  Oct 2015.    
  
  
  
• How to be Mindful and reduce Stress Workshop
  This workshop will look at the use of mindfulness as an excellent way of managing stress. Mindfulness is a type of relaxation exercise which can help reduce the amount of time you spend worrying about things. The workshop will look at how you  can combine this with other practical techniques to reduce stress, and better manage the pressures of being a student.
  Wednesday 18 May.  
  
  
  
• How to Overcome Perfectionism
   For PowerPoint Handout click here.
  This workshop looks at common difficulties with excess perfectionism, and will cover a wide range of practical approaches to help you manage your studies. It will include a look at common myths and how to overcome self-defeating thinking errors.  Monday 25 January.    
  
  
• How to Overcome Procrastination
  For Powerpoint click  here.    
  For Questionnaire click  here . 
  This will look at the difficulties with procrastination, examining the negative thoughts and behaviours that inhibit students from being able to work. The workshop will examine a range of techniques and practical tips to help you deal with this.  Wednesday 10 February.    
  
  
• How to Present with Skill and Confidence
  For PowerPoint click   here.
  This workshop looks at a wide range of practical confidence-building measures to help students give presentations, including positive self talk, good vocal technique and tips for managing anxiety and stress.
  Friday 15 January 2016.   
  
  
• How to Sleep Well 
  For handout click  here 
  This workshop will look at a range of difficulties associated with sleep. It will increase your understanding of the process of sleep and explore strategies and ideas about how you might work towards achieving better sleep.    Friday 20 May.  
   
• Interview Nerves:
  For PowerPoint Click  here
  This is a joint presentation with LSE Careers Service, offering practical techniques to relieve our interview nerves. This workshop will include a focus on effective preparation, useful presentation techniques, and advice on non-verbal communication. Monday 22 October   
  
  
• Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender
  This is an opportunity to share experiences and reactions within in a safe space. Living and studying in London raises many concerns and sexuality may be one of them. Why not come along to this workshop and hear how others are doing. It will include time to share tips and ideas about how to get the most out of your time here at LSE. Thursday 17 January 
  
  
• LOOK AFTER YOURSELF DURING YOUR STUDIES 
  (Study and Survive)
  Tuesday, 4 October 2016.
  
  
  
• LSE COUNSELLING CENTRE  - WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE CAN HELP 
  Thursday, 27 October 2016. 
  

   

• Managing Depression 
  For PowerPoint click here.
  Coming to LSE can be an exciting time, but also a time of challenges that can leave you vulnerable to depression. Depression and low moods are some of the most common problems presented at University Counselling Services. This workshop will look at how you can become more aware of the coping with low moods. Other topics discussed will include strategies of how to challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. We will also discuss how to access on-going support to help you feel more in control.   Monday 18 January 2016.
  
  
• Managing Perfectionism workshop: 
  For PowerPoint Handout clickhere
  This workshop looks at common difficulties with excess perfectionism, and will cover a wide range of practical approaches to help you manage your studies. It will include a look at common myths and how to overcome self-defeating thinking errors.  Monday 23 January
  
  
  
  
• Managing PhD Stress:
  For PowerPoint on Mindfulness click  here
  This workshop from the Student Counselling Service will look at a range of practical techniques to reduce stress and better manage the pressures of being a PhD student. It will include a description of an easy to use Mindfulness exercise, which can help with relaxation and reduce the amount of time spent worrying about work. Wednesday 16 November.
  
  
• Managing PhD Thesis Anxiety
  This workshop from the Teaching and Learning Centre will explore how various factors such as perfectionism, procrastination and self esteem can be blocks in the process of writing the thesis. It will be run by a student counsellor and the PhD student adviser, and explore useful strategies to help manage the stress of writing a thesis. Tuesday 22 November
  
  
• Managing Study Related Stress
  This workshop from the Student Counselling Service will look at a range of practical techniques to reduce stress and better manage the pressures of being a student. It will include a description of an easy to use Mindfulness exercise, which can help with relaxation and reduce the amount of time spent worrying about work. Wednesday 29 October. 
  
  
• Mindfulness and Stress Management Workshop:
  PowerPoint clickhere
  This workshop will look at the use of mindfulness as an excellent way of managing stress. Mindfulness is a type of relaxation exercise which can help reduce the amount of time you spend worrying about things. The workshop will look at how you  can combine this with other practical techniques to reduce stress, and better manage the pressures of being a student.
  Tuesday 15 May
  
  
• Overcoming Procrastination workshop:
  For Powerpoint clickhere
  For Questionnaire clickhere .
  This will look at the difficulties with procrastination, examining the negative thoughts and behaviours that inhibit students from being able to work. The workshop will examine a range of techniques and practical tips to help you deal with this.  Wednesday 8 February 
  See also the "IProcrastinate" podcast series.
  
  
• PLAN AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW, NOW 
  (Overcoming Procrastination)
  For PowerPoint  here; 
  Monday, 7 November 
  See also the "IProcrastinate" podcast series.

• Presentation Skills and Confidence:
  For PowerPoint clickhere
  This workshop looks at a wide range of practical confidence-building measures to help students give presentations, including positive self talk, good vocal technique and tips for managing anxiety and stress. Wednesday 18 January 
  
  
  
• Prisoners of our own defence: stopping and starting the MSc dissertation :
  A workshop for MSc students exploring how perfectionism and procrastination are often unwittingly used to mitigate many of the psychological hurdles that can arise in the dissertation writing process. Whilst such defences are intended to impede and inhibit unwanted feelings and thoughts, they can end up being mechanisms that stop the writing process itself. Thursday 22 July
  

• Psychological challenges faced by MSc students:
  For PowerPoint clickhere
  How are you managing with the changes involved in being an MSc student? This workshop will include a focus on how can you cope with the difficulties and stresses of this intense programme. Friday 11 November
  
  
• Raise Your Self-Esteem:
  The workshop will examine ways to increase positive self-esteem, identifying thoughts, feelings and behaviours linked with your experiences. We will also discuss practical exercises and checklists to help you increase your self-esteem.
  Dates:          Wednesday 24 February   11.00 am –1pm                                        
                      Wednesday    2 March       11.00 am – 1pm 
                      Wednesday    9 March       11.00 am – 1pm  
  
  
  
• SAY HELLO TO “CONSTRUCTIVE PERFECTIONISM” – TOP TIPS                   (Overcoming Perfectionism)  Monday, 14 November. 

 

 

 

• Self Hypnosis:
  For PowerPoint click here.
  A brief introduction to self-hypnosis.
  Hypnotherapy is an effective form of treating stress and anxiety.
  Having the ability to better manage stress can not only improve  academic performance, but can also help to cope with stress in other situations.
  
  Recording: Listen to a 15-minute mp3 "Hypnosis for Anxiety", by clicking on the  mp3 link here.
  
  Evidence: Article of Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy :
  
  
  • Article:  "A Review of randomised controlled trials evaluating the effect of hypnosis on exam anxiety": This article, based on five RCTs, concludes that hypnotherapy offers beneficial effects in reducing exam anxiety.
    
    
  • Article: "Stress Management for Medical Students"
    This systematic review found that hypnosis interventions done for stress management on medical students had important positive outcomes on several areas relatedto health. 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
• Sleep Well workshop: For handout click  here
  This workshop will look at a range of difficulties associated with sleep. It will increase your understanding of the process of sleep and explore strategies and ideas about how you might work towards achieving better sleep. Monday 27 February
  
  
  
• Stress Management
  This workshop from the Student Counselling Service will look at a range of practical techniques to reduce stress and better manage the pressures of being a student.
  It will include a description of an easy to use Mindfulness exercise, which can help with relaxation and reduce the amount of time spent worrying about work. 
  Dates:  Thursday  3rd March 11.00 – 1.00 pm 
               Thursday 10th March11.00 – 1.00 pm 
               Thursday 17th March 11.00 – 1.00 pm
  
  
  
  
   . 
• STUDYING AND SURVIVING AT LSE
  For PowerPoint click here
  Are you a new student? Do you want to get useful advice on surviving at LSE?This seminar looks at the experience of being a student at LSE, by putting into context many of the forthcoming challenges you might face. It will include advice on developing your stress managing skills and tips for coping with your studies, workload and stress.
  Friday 23rd September 2016.
  
  
     
  

• Time Management:
  For PowerPoint click  here
  Wednesday 18 January.