Workshops and Groups
- Workshops and groups are open to all enrolled graduate and undergraduate students, so come join us!
- Missed a workshop? Learn at your own pace by checking out our On Demand Workshops.
- Trouble accessing a Zoom workshop? Read about logging onto Zoom with your Caltech credentials.
- Want to request a custom workshop? We'd be happy to collaborate on a program for your group or department! Please call (626) 395-8331 to get in touch with our office.
Current Workshops and Groups
Week 1 - First week of classes, no workshops!
Week 2 - Wednesday, 10/5, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Tackle the Term, with Grace Wong, OTD, OTR/L, and Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP
Tackle The Term is a 1-hour workshop for grads and undergrads to help you start the term off right. We'll talk about different ways to view stress and procrastination, how to manage your time and keep a schedule, set goals that help you feel successful, find an ideal place to work, and what to do when your plans fall off track.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/83768613372
Week 2 - Friday, 10/7, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Dealing with Procrastination
Counseling Services is pleased to offer a workshop on coping with procrastination and work avoidance. It's open to all graduate and undergraduate students - come join us!
- Learn tools for coping with procrastination and work avoidance
- Learn practical, behavioral strategies for responding differently to old habits
- Respond differently to unhelpful thoughts like, "I can just get up early and do this tomorrow."
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/89495783629
Week 3 - Wednesday, 10/12, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Getting Better Sleep, with Grace Wong, OTD, OTR/L, and Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP
This 1-hour workshop is perfect for people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. We'll cover strategies for managing insomnia, changing your sleep schedule, and dealing with worries that might keep you up at night.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/86833453788
Week 4 - Wednesday, 10/19, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Building Better Habits
Learn how to build meaningful habits that stick! We'll learn about the habit loop, pick out habits that align with your values and identity, and break down habits into their components so you can confidently build your own!
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/89701077519
Week 5 - Midterms, good luck! Workshops will resume next week!
Week 6 - Wednesday, 11/2, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
An introduction to the Getting Things Done system of productivity, with Grace Wong, OTD, OTR/L, and Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP
Getting Things Done (GTD) is a popular system developed by David Allen for structuring your work at both the big-picture level and at the level of your daily responsibilities. It's an effective way to get your work out of your mind and into a trusted system that shows you only what you can handle right now. Come join us for this fun and engaging informal overview of the GTD system. Please come ready to take notes and jump right in! *This workshop and the presenters are not affiliated in any way with Getting Things Done, David Allen, or the David Allen Company.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/87278298197
Week 7 - Monday, 11/7, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
ADHD + You: Understanding and Working with Your Brain with Dr. Sam Valasek
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/88082619989
Week 7 - Wednesday, 11/9, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Financial Literacy: Intro to Investing
When it comes to personal finance, the sheer amount of information available can be overwhelming and it can be easy to get stuck in decision paralysis. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of investing for retirement. Walk away with concrete steps and resources to start on right after the workshop!
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/86519516266
Week 9 - Monday, 11/21, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Zoom
Behavioral Activation with Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP
Behavioral Activation is a set of evidence-based techniques derived from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. This approach is useful in getting ourselves to take effective action even when we don't feel like it. These techniques are useful when dealing with the paralysis that depression and anxiety can cause - or even if you're just feeling stuck and unsure how to start a task.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/84035739039
Week 10 - Last week of classes, no workshops! Good luck on finals!
The interpersonal process group is co-facilitated by staff clinicians Shauna McManus and Jimmy Higa. It is a space to share about the unique experiences of being graduate students at Caltech. Some goals of this group include, but are not limited, to:
- Decreasing loneliness and isolation
- Enhancing social skills and intimacy
- Developing effective coping skills
- Navigating the stressors of the graduate student experience
- Instilling hope
When: Tuesdays, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
This group will run throughout the school year and students will be asked to commit to at least one full term.
Where: In-person at Student Wellness Services North. This is the house on the corner of California Blvd. and Arden Rd. at 1245 Arden Rd.
Who: Open to currently enrolled graduate students.
Brief screening appointment required. Please call the counseling center at (626) 395-8331 to set one up. You can also use the Student Health Portal to send a message to the Counseling Center Front Desk and ask to schedule a screening appointment.
We're a drop-in mindfulness meditation group open to all Caltech students. No previous experience is required; we offer techniques that are appropriate for everyone from newbies to more experienced meditators. There's no religious component: We offer secular practices that are, whenever possible, based in research.
We meet every Tuesday from 12:00-12:50pm via Zoom; you'll need to be logged into Zoom with your Caltech credentials to join.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/94197631287
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 941 9763 1287
Learn more about the Meditation Mob and view the mp3 archive.
https://hipaa-caltech.zoom.us/j/86136040213
Meeting ID: 861 3604 0213
Occupational therapy office hours are open to all students, regardless of whether you've been to OT before. Drop in and ask your questions about your to-do list, sleep, routines, and habits, and get resources.
Please note: Office hours are not meant to serve as an individual, private session and there may be others present to learn from as well!
Office Hour Dates Fall 2022
- Nov 1, 2022 04:00 PM
- Nov 8, 2022 04:00 PM
- Nov 15, 2022 04:00 PM
- Nov 22, 2022 04:00 PM
- Nov 29, 2022 04:00 PM
- Dec 6, 2022 04:00 PM
- Dec 13, 2022 04:00 PM
- Dec 20, 2022 04:00 PM
Occupational therapy will be offering workshops at the Catalinas on a rolling sign-up basis. When 3 or more people have signed up for a given topic, you will receive an email to coordinate the workshop date and time. Workshops will take place at the Central Cats Rec Room (350 S Catalina). Use the Google Form below to indicate your interest.
Financial Literacy: Budgeting (~45 minutes)
Budgeting isn't just about cutting back and skipping your favorite latte! In this workshop, we'll cover what it means to use your budget to build the life you want to have. Bring your laptops and get started on building your own budget in session.
Financial Literacy: Investing (~60 minutes)
When it comes to personal finance, the sheer amount of information available can be overwhelming and it can be easy to get stuck in decision paralysis. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of investing for retirement. Walk away with concrete steps and resources to start on right after the workshop!
Getting Organized: Deep Dive & how to retain what you're learning (~60 minutes)
Bring your laptops so you can get a jump start on these strategies! In this workshop, we'll explore more thorough ways of collecting and organizing your tasks and knowledge. We'll cover an introduction to David Allen's Getting Things Done and explore some useful programs for organizing information. We'll also talk about how to get the most out of learning and retaining what you read.
Getting Better Sleep (~60 minutes)
Learn about how sleep works and how to best craft your routines to feel well-rested and focused during the day. Bring your questions and get a handle on your sleep schedule!
Caltech Connect training is a 2-hour interactive experience designed to give participants practical skills for having supportive conversations and making referrals to resources for those in crisis. Caltech Connect is highly interactive, as participants engage in multiple exercises throughout the training to increase both their skills and awareness concerning the emotional intensity of responding to suicidal college students. The training culminates with a role play, in which participants are given the opportunity to practice the skills they are taught during the course of the training.
Upcoming Workshops and Groups (Winter 2023)
The DBT skills group is a 4-week in-person group that will teach you 4 important skills: Emotion regulation (dealing with intense emotions); coping with emotional crises or feeling overwhelmed; managing your relationships effectively, and staying focused on the present with mindful awareness. The sessions are facilitated by Denise Lin, LCSW, and Erica Liao, LMFT.
When: This group will run in Winter 2023 if there are enough interested participants
Where: In-person at Student Wellness Services North. This is the house on the corner of California Blvd. and Arden Rd. at 1245 Arden Rd. Masks will be required.
Who: Open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students
Who should not attend?
- People who cannot commit to attending all 4 sessions
- If you are dealing with current active suicidal thoughts, you'll need to have an individual therapist in addition to attending the DBT class
Brief screening appointment required. Please call the counseling center at (626) 395-8331 to set one up. You can also use the Student Health Portal to send a message to the Counseling Center Front Desk and ask to set up a screening appointment.