Students relieve stress in many different ways, and the stress management group is one way to get rid of it.

“The stress management group is open to students, faculty, staff and community members,” said Victoria Gabrovich, graduate intern in the counseling field. “We developed this group as a need of what we saw among students.”

The group meets from 4:45 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays at the University Resources for Women, Gabrovich said.

“At the meetings, we discuss different causes of stress having to do with school, work, relationships, time management and the national crisis,” said Natasha Salier, graduate assistant in the counseling field. “People share a lot of commonalities.”

The group starts off its meeting with introductions, then it is open to discussions, Gabrovich said.

“We have ideas for each session but we assess what is important,” Salier said. “After we discuss, we do a closure to find out if stress levels have decreased.”

There are many things that can be gained from attending a meeting.

“The most important thing is an opportunity for people to come together with their concerns,” Salier said. “People don’t have to talk if they don’t want to. Once people come, they tend to feel comfortable. Our goal is to increase the comfort level.”

The majority of people that attend the meetings are students, but there are some faculty, staff and non-traditional students, Salier said.

“This group is open to everyone,” Salier said. “People can check it out and not feel obligated to become committed to the group. People can come whenever they have available time.”

The group was made for the members.

“It’s what they want to put into it that they’ll get out of it,” Gabrovich said.

Student involvement is strongly encouraged, Salier said.

“We’re trying to reach as many people as possible,” Salier said. “The meetings are free and very beneficial. Come and see what it’s all about. Do not feel shy about coming because you haven’t done this before.”