Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Group

The Practice: The Cognitive Behavioural Group (CBT) Group for Mood and Anxiety is a group therapy program aiming to build evidence-based coping skills for the management of depression and/or anxiety, foster resilience, and develop a sense of self-efficacy in coping with adversity and stressors. This 8-week closed-group program (1 hour and 45 minutes per session) is intended for undergraduate and graduate students who present with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and who may meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety or depressive disorder. Group sessions are largely skills-based and include both in-group and take-home exercises. The group protocol was developed by clinical psychologists at the Health & Wellness Centre, University of Toronto who are experienced in the delivery of CBT for a diverse range of mental health issues for community and university student populations. In addition to improving student mental health outcomes, the program aimed to improve access, build capacity, and reduce wait times for evidence-based care at the University of Toronto.

The Evidence: Between 2017 and 2021, 46 groups have been delivered to a total of 450 student participants. Evaluation results of the program demonstrate improvements in general functioning, reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, reductions in negative thinking, and improvements in overall well-being. Students reported high satisfaction with the group and qualitative findings highlighted the value of skills gained, the importance of the interpersonal experience, and appreciation of the group structure and format. Learning outcomes relating to insight, self-awareness, and the psychoeducational components (e.g., understanding CBT model) received higher endorsements by participants.

Practice Category: Promising

If you are interested in delivering and evaluating this practice at your campus, please contact sandra.yuen@utoronto.ca.