Join CWHC counseling staff and community for a group addressing the impact of systemic injustice on mental health. This group is designed with the idea that emotional well-being and social change are interconnected and aims to support both in a collaborative environment. 

We plan to discuss topics including climate change, debt, living under the United States Empire, and an additional topic determined by group members. The impacts of these issues are often experienced on the individual level as fear, grief, numbness, overwhelm, shame, and avoidance. The goals of this group are to:  

• Explore how the "personal is political"  

• Connect individual experiences to societal issues 

• Build toolkits to support emotional regulation 

• Develop capacity and agency to resist 

Group sessions will involve psychoeducation, discussion, skill-building and practice, and support around engaging in social change. 

The group is for anyone who wants to develop tools for emotional well-being and collective liberation, no matter what your toolkit looks like now. The facilitators are a licensed counselor and a counseling staff member with queer, mixed-race identities. Together, they hold previous experience in reproductive justice, Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) abolition, HIV/AIDS advocacy, community organizing, public health, and anti-racism and economic justice work. 

When and Where

• Wednesdays from 12-1:30pm CT 

• Weekly from June 24th until August 26th 

• Online via Zoom

Group Composition

• Led by two facilitators and consisting of up to 10 group members 

• Group members must be over 18 and located in Illinois during the group session 

• Group members can be new or current CWHC clients 

• Open to and affirming of people of all gender identities and expressions 

To Join the Group:

Fill out our Contact Request Form, and one of the facilitators will reach out to schedule a phone screening. These free 30-minute calls are for us to answer any questions you have about the group, gather some information about you and your interest in the group, and address payment and paperwork.

Group Attendance

The commitment to group therapy differs from individual counseling. You have three sessions to decide if the group is a good fit for you. After that time, you agree to attend all group sessions. If you choose to leave before the fourth session and notify the facilitators, you will not be charged for the remaining sessions. 

Payment and Insurance Information

This opportunity is available to individuals using insurance or accessing our sliding scale. No one will be turned away based on their ability to pay.

Insurance: We can bill Blue Cross Blue Shield and Optum PPO plans. Group members will be responsible for any remaining copay that their insurance plan determines.

Sliding Scale: The sliding scale for group sessions is $60-$15 per session. The fee can slide down based on household income, household size, and what is affordable for the client. For any questions about payment or group information, please contact counselinginfo@chicagowomenshealthcenter.org.