Mental Health & Wellness Groups and Workshops

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 concepts impact emotions, relationships, and daily choices – while making space to connect with other men navigating similar questions. In this group we are focused on creating understanding, insight, and genuine connection.

Important group details:

• This group is open to all male-identifying Algonquin College students.
• Meetings will take place on Tuesdays (September 22, October 13, November 10) from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Registration is required, space is limited, and it will be on a first come first served basis.
• Students are not required to attend all 3 sessions. Each session will be self-contained and students can pick the date(s) that work for them.

If you are interested in attending this group, please reach out to Doug Blad at bladd@algonquincollege.com. You will receive a brief form with further instructions.

Mindcraft is a practical group designed to help you build mindfulness skills for the realities of college life. Through guided exercises and discussion, you’ll learn ways to work with stress, self-criticism, overwhelm, difficult emotions, and other common student challenges. No previous mindfulness experience is required; just curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

Important group details:

• This group is open to all Algonquin College students.
• Meetings will take place on Wednesdays, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., starting September 23.
• To register, contact David Glickman by emailing glickmd@algonquincollege.com. You will receive a brief form with further instructions.

Topics by Week:

• Sept. 23: Grounding and Focus
• Sept. 30: Noticing Your Body’s Signals
• Oct. 7: Seeing Thought More Clearly
• Oct. 14: Staying Steady with Difficult Emotions
• Oct. 21: Self-Compassion & Mindful Relationships

Attend these sessions to explore Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques that can help you calm your body, work through anxious thoughts, and face anxiety with confidence.

Important Group Details:

• Meetings will take place on October 1, October 8, and October 15, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• To sign up, visit the Welcome Centre (3rd Floor, E Building). Please arrive 5-10 minutes before start time. 
• Only 8 spots are available each session, so it is first-come, first-served.
• Students are not required to attend all 3 sessions. Each session will be self-contained and students can pick the date(s) that work for them.

Topics by Week:

• October 1: Understanding Your anxiety & Calming the Body
• October 8: Working with Anxious Thoughts
• October 15: Facing Anxiety & Living Your Life

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 Tuesdays, between 3 pm and 4 pm, from September 22 to December 8.
• There will be no session during Mid-Term Break (October 27).
• 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 and the International Education Centre. 

During Connect & Create, you can connect with the Student Health and Wellness Zone Campus Connectors while making a new craft each week! Come by every week to learn some new crafty skills and chat with your peers.

Group details:

• Sessions will take place on Thursdays, between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., starting September 24.
• This group does not meet during the Mid-Term Break (Oct. 29).
• 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.

You have access to information about counsellor-led groups on the Group Counselling website. You can also go to the Student Support Services Events page to see them listed alongside all other events happening at the college. Some groups are drop-in and others require registration.

Our Counsellor-Led Registered groups include students who meet regularly with one or two registered psychotherapists or registered social workers. Registered groups include an opportunity to learn and practice evidence-informed wellness skills in a supportive environment.

These groups are most effective when they are attended weekly, and their size varies.

We also offer drop-in groups and peer-to-peer groups if weekly attendance is not an option for you.

Specific instructions for signing up for specific groups are available here. Some groups require pre-registration and others are drop-in!

Generally, to join a registered group, you can drop by the Welcome Centre (3^rd Floor, Student Commons, E building), call 613.727.4723 ext. 7200, or email welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com

For drop-in groups, please see the specific group you are interested in, for drop-in locations and instructions and just drop in as little or as much as you’d like.

You may see other students from Algonquin College in a counselling group. We’d encourage you to remember that you are there for the same purpose: to seek support and learn new skills to support their wellbeing and emphasize the importance of confidentiality during all groups.

It is completely normal to feel nervous about joining a counselling group and it’s important to remember that these groups are designed to help students. It may be helpful to acknowledge that it’s okay to feel nervous and that the sessions can be beneficial to help you reach your goals.

You can also consider starting by attending a drop-in group to see whether counselling groups are right for you. You can also consider bringing a friend along or dropping by to the Health and Wellness Zone (3^rd floor, E building) to connect with the facilitators.

Students can call 613.727.4723 ext. 7200 or email welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com to connect with the Welcome Centre.

The Welcome Centre is located on the 3^rd floor of the Student Commons Building. Here is a link to the Ottawa Campus Map, to further help depending on where on campus you are heading over from.

If you still have unanswered questions, you can drop by the Student Health & Wellness Zone (3rd floor, E building) to learn more about counselling and peer-led wellness groups.

College brings about a whole new set of challenges; learning some key problem solving tips and how to deal with difficult situations that are known to arise in college are essential to success. This interactive workshop covers the 10 things students need to thrive at college.

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!

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.

For many students, exams can bring stress, worry, and anxiety; even when they have prepared and know the material. This workshop focuses on understanding test anxiety and learning practical strategies to manage it before and during exams. Participants will explore ways to reduce anxiety, improve focus and confidence, and access what they have learned so they can demonstrate their knowledge more effectively in testing situations.

What if your neurodiversity isn’t something to overcome, but a source of strengths, possibilities, and success? This interactive workshop invites students to celebrate how their unique brains can shape their college experience and future in meaningful ways. Participants will explore their strengths, discover practical strategies for navigating college, and identify opportunities to advocate for what they need to thrive. Leave with new tools, greater confidence, and a personalized sense of what success can look like; on your terms, in your way.