Group Counselling & Peer-Led Mental Health and Wellness Groups

What does it mean to “be a man” in today’s world? You may get very different answers depending on who you ask. “Men and Meaning” is a group created for men who want to openly discuss and reflect on these ideas.

In “Men and Meaning” we’ll chat about topics like the man box, the manosphere, and positive masculinity. We will explore how these ideas impact emotions, relationships, and daily choices – while connecting with other men navigating similar questions. In this group we are focused on creating understanding, insight, and genuine connection.

Important group details:

• Meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 12:30 pm-2 pm and the group will run for 3 consecutive weeks.
• There is no set start date for this group, it will begin when an appropriate number of participants is reached (maximum 8) – earliest possible start is January 27.
• Registration is required and it will be on a first-come, first-served basis (info below).
• This group is open to all male-identifying Algonquin College students.

If you are interested in attending this group, please reach out to the Welcome Centre at welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com. Please state your interest in this group and provide your name and student number.

If you have any questions about the group, feel free to email Doug Blad at bladd@algonquincollege.com

Looking to improve your outlook and improve your results as a student? Register today for Thriving in Action, an 11-week extracurricular program designed to help you reach your goals.

Thriving in Action is a program that will help you learn to thrive in both your academic and personal life. In this group session, students will meet weekly to learn key skills to increase motivation, optimism and resilience. They will also be introduced to learning strategies that will improve their time management and study skills.

It’s not too late to turn things around, and it’s never too late to learn how to flourish!

Winter 2026 details:

– In-person sessions will be held Wednesdays, from 11 am- 1 pm, starting January 28 to April 8.

– Virtual sessions will be held Wednesdays, from 4 pm-5:30 pm, starting January 28 to April 8.

Open to all Algonquin College Students. Space for the in-person session is limited.

Click here to register!

Brought to you by the Center for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services.

School is demanding, and it’s easy for stress, low energy, or self-criticism to creep in without noticing.

Peak Mind: Mind-Body Skills for Student Success is a weekly drop-in group designed to help students build simple and sustainable habits that support their overall wellness. Each session blends grounding exercises, accessible psychoeducation, and open group discussion, focusing on topics like stress, motivation, burnout, body image, nutrition, and emotional regulation.

Students will learn practical tools they can use right away to feel more balanced, focused, and connected to themselves. It’s a welcoming, low-pressure space for anyone who is looking to strengthen both their mental and physical well-being through small and meaningful changes.

Important group details:

• Sessions will be held in person on Wednesdays, between 2:30 pm-3:30 pm.
• This group will begin on January 28 and run for 8 weeks.
• There will be no session on March 4 (Reading Week).

Click here to secure your spot!

Are you ready to embark on a journey toward fulfilling and satisfying connections? At these drop-in sessions, you will learn about the essential practical skills that contribute to a healthy and vibrant sexual life and meaningful relationships.

Our facilitator will guide you through a series of interactive sessions, providing you with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of intimacy and strengthen your relationships. Whether you’re single or in a partnership(s), this group is for everyone seeking to deepen their understanding of healthy sexuality and cultivate fulfilling connections. Come ready to learn and ask questions. Drop in for any topic that interests you or come for them all.

Topics by week:

• January 22 – Initiating Connections: How to meet new people and start connections
• January 29 – Understanding Relationship Values: Defining and communicating what you want in relationships
• February 5 –  Enhancing Connections: Building confidence and self-awareness for positive relationships
• February 12– Understanding healthy relationships: Reading green flags to find good connections
• February 19 – Digital Relationship Health: Healthy texting, social media boundaries, and online safety.
• February 26  – Healthy Boundaries in Relationships: Setting Limits in Romantic and Casual Connections
• March 5 – Reading Week (no session)
• March 12 – Navigating Hookup Culture: Understanding Casual Sex and Its Implications
• March 19 – Navigating Conflict: How to start, have and engage in tough topics.
• March 26 – Sex as a Buffet: Learning Sexual Creativity for Meaningful Connections
• April 2 – Sex and Mental Health: Recognizing the Impact of Stress and Anxiety
• April 9 – Body Image and Confidence: Building Self-Esteem for Healthy Relationships

Our sessions are a safe and inclusive space, fostering a supportive environment for learning and growth. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, participate in hands-on exercises, and receive guidance from our knowledgeable facilitator. We believe that by combining knowledge, practical skills, and a dash of curiosity, you can unlock the full potential of healthy sexuality and relationships.

Open to all Algonquin College students. No registration is required. Feel free to attend only one session or all of them! This event will be held in the Student Health & Wellness Zone (3rd Floor, Student Commons).

Brought to you by Counselling Services and Project Lighthouse.

During Glitter & Gab, you can connect with the Student Health and Wellness Zone Campus Connectors while making a new craft each week! Come by to make a different weekly craft to take home, learn some new crafty skills, and chat with your peers.

Group details:

• Meetings will take place on Wednesdays, between 3 pm and 4 pm, from January 21 to April 15.
• This group does not meet during the Mid-Term Break (March 4).
• This is an in-person, drop-in.
• This group is free.

This group takes place in the AC Hub (2nd Floor, Student Commons). Attendees will receive free tea and coffee and a craft to take home.

Brought to you by the Student Health & Wellness Zone.

Stop by Snack Chats to connect with the Campus Connectors! The Campus Connectors are peers from the Student Health and Wellness Zone who will give out yummy snacks and chat about important topics each week that you, as a student, might be interested in.

Group details:

• Snack Chats will take place on Fridays, between 11 am and 12 pm, from January 23 to April 17.
• There will be no session during Mid-Term Break (March 6).
• This is an in-person group.
• This group is free and drop-in.

This group takes place in the AC Hub (2nd Floor, E Building). Attendees will receive free tea and coffee and a variety of snacks.

Brought to you by the Student Health & Wellness Zone.

Getting Started and Avoiding Procrastination – From To Do to Done: “If I’d just started earlier, I could have done so much better.” Although many students claim to work better under the pressure of deadlines, not having enough time to complete assignments can mean that you are not reaching your potential as a student. Learn to maximize your marks by starting early and breaking down your assignments into manageable parts using an “assignment tracker.” This workshop is also about sharing techniques that will help you break the habit of putting off work and learn strategies to avoid procrastination.

Say Yes to Less Stress: Balancing your course-load and personal commitments can be a stressful experience for many college students. This workshop, led by an Algonquin College counsellor, will help students learn more about stress. It will also introduce practical strategies to help with stress management so that you can focus better on your learning!

Learning to Learn Online: While learning online has many advantages, it poses unique challenges for many people.  Come to this workshop to learn more about the ins and outs of learning in an online environment, including your responsibilities as student.  Learn tips and tricks that can help you optimize your time and learn more effectively.  Feeling lost in cyber-space? — discover on-campus resources that may be able to help.

Study Smart: Practice makes perfect! If you want to feel more comfortable with new material, you need to review regularly and actively! Trade in straight reading for techniques that will allow you to rehearse material, test yourself, and come up with memory devices. Learn how to prioritize your studying and focus on the material that really matters. The techniques introduced in this session will help throughout the semester, as well as leading up to exams.

Make it Stick: It can be challenging to listen to your professors while also writing class notes . . . and how do you balance all of the readings that you need to get through, anyway? Come to this workshop to learn more about different note-taking systems, and figure which one best fits your courses and your own learning style.

Perfectionism – Taming Your Inner Critic:  Perfectionism is a trait that is often associated with achievement and success. It’s OK to want to work hard and achieve a goal, but the question is “at what cost?”. If you are picky and have too high of standards and want to feel better, reduce stress and enjoy your life more, then this workshop will cover ways to tame the inner critic to allow you to live the life you want.

Ace that Test, Part 1: This workshop will help you to plan out your time in the weeks leading up to exams so that you have enough time to study each subject. It will also introduce the “Stoplight Study Technique” to help you determine what material you need to cover. Other strategies will include active study techniques and memory tools that can improve your exam results.

Ace that Test: For many students, exam time can be filled with stress, anxiety, and worry. This workshop will help you to better access the material that you have learned while studying so that you can demonstrate all that you have learned during the semester.  There will be a focus on strategies to reduce anxiety in testing situations.

Have your final exams been switched to open book?  Never had an open book exam and wonder what it might look like?  . . . before you celebrate and decide that you don’t even need to study, come to our “Preparing for and Writing Open Book Exams” Workshop offered online through Zoom.

This 30-minute workshop will tell you more about what to expect from an open book exam and how to best prepare, depending on the type of exam.  The facilitator will give practical tips on how to set up your workspace, how to avoid possible academic offences (such as sharing information with classmates or plagiarism), and how to minimize issues with technology.  Be informed about this type of exam so that you can do your best on your upcoming exams!

Secrets to Creating Great Group Projects: Do you cringe when your professors assign group projects? Do you dread completing these projects because you know it’s going to be difficult to get everyone on board to get the job done? This workshop will teach you how to set expectations, assign roles and responsibilities, create standards for your group to follow, facilitate communication, and increase motivation in your group so that your group can work together to successfully complete your project.

Email communication is one of the easiest ways to reach out to professors, staff, and other students to share information or ask quéstions in a college setting. But how can you make sure that you are communicating clearly and effectively using email? And when should you use another form of communication instead? This session will explore the pros and cons of relying on email communication and share tips to make your emails professional and easy to read. There will be a focus on communicating with college professionals, especially professors. Several templates and examples will be provided to help you with emails regarding common requests.

Whether you are concerned about time management, organization, studying, or finding balance in your life, being a truly effective student really comes down to the habits that you cultivate every day. Learn about the basics of habit formation, including tips for making new habits easy and manageable by using the “Four Laws of Behavior Change.” Discover how these laws can be used to both build positive habits and eliminate negative ones. By the end of the session, participants will have the chance to create an “ABC Recipe Card” and commit to a new academic habit. Who knows? Maybe this habit will change your life as a student!