GROUP THERAPY PRACTICES WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH: AN EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: the mental health of university students is a growing concern, affected by the academic pressure and emotional challenges of this phase. Objective: to report an experience in group therapy, associated with art therapy and music therapy, carried out by psychology students with other university students. Methodology: this is a qualitative descriptive study of the experience report type that describes an experience carried out by psychology course students in conducting a therapeutic group, therefore, the stages of this process followed a pattern where each meeting was worked on from three moments, namely the reception, the discussion on a specific topic, starting from the conversation circle, and an art therapy or music therapy demonstration at the end. Results and discussions: therapeutic groups proved to be extremely effective in facing these difficulties, offering a safe space for expression and exchange of experiences. Therefore, this study reports an experience of group therapy at a university, highlighting the benefits of these approaches for the well-being students' well-being and the importance of offering psychological support in higher education institutions. Final considerations: the relevance of these experiences for all participants was identified, as well as the need for higher education institutions to promote these spaces.