Peer Support at the UCC

Online Peer Support – Togetherall

All Pitt students can access Togetherall, a free and anonymous peer-to-peer online community specifically for mental health and well-being concerns. Togetherall is available 24/7 and is monitored by trained clinicians.

Whether you’re feeling down, struggling to navigate stressors or just need a safe place to share your feelings, the Togetherall community can help you connect with others that have similar experiences and learn to better manage your mental health. Visit the Togetherall website to sign up.

Peer Support Spaces

The University Counseling Center hosts a variety of Peer Support Spaces to provide a space for students to create new relationships, strengthen their support network at Pitt, and discuss common topics of concern with like-minded peers. Peer Support Spaces are hosted and monitored by a UCC staff member, who works closely with participating students to create a supportive and inclusive community.

Peer Support Spaces are open to enrolled Pitt students. No registration or sign-up is required to participate. Please see below for information on current Peer Support Spaces being offered.

It is important to note that Peer Support Spaces are not mental health treatment or counseling. If you are interested in engaging in mental health counseling at the UCC, please utilize UCC Drop-In Hours by calling 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm.

Attend a Peer Support Space

Open to any BIPOC student who is seeking to share their experiences and strengthen their support network at Pitt.

Fall 2024 Schedule

  • November 13th from 3:30-4:30pm  |  William Pitt Union – Dining Room B
  • December 11th from 3:30-4:30pm  |  Nordenberg Hall – Room 204 (Wellness Center)

Open to any Pitt student seeking support related to their relationship and behaviors with substances.

Fall 2024 Schedule

  • November 14th from 4-5pm  |  Nordenberg Hall - Room 204 (Wellness Center) 
  • December 12th from 4-5pm  |  Nordenberg Hall - Room 204 (Wellness Center) 

This virtual space is open and welcoming to any Pitt student who has a disability that wants to share their experiences and strengthen their support network at Pitt.

Fall 2024 Schedule

Open to any international student who is seeking to share their experiences and strengthen their network at Pitt.

Fall 2024 Schedule

  • November 7th from 4-5pm |  William Pitt Union – Room 310
  • December 5th from 4-5pm  |  William Pitt Union - Room 310 

Open to any LGBTQIA+ student who is seeking to share their experiences and strengthen their network at Pitt.

Fall 2024 Schedule

  • November 6th from 10-11am  |  William Pitt Union – Room 310
  • December 4th from 10-11am  |  William Pitt Union – Room 310

Open to any Pitt student who wants to maintain a caring relationship with their body and strengthen their support network at Pitt.

Fall 2024 Schedule

  • November 6th from 1-2pm |  O’Hara Student Center - Room 114
  • December 4th from 1-2pm  |  O’Hara Student Center - Room 114

What is the difference between a Peer Support SPACE and Group Counseling?

At the University Counseling Center, counseling groups are led by UCC clinicians who support students to improve skills and create change in a group setting. UCC Groups are “closed”, meaning students are screened prior to attending groups to ensure the group best meets their needs. Additionally, students who participate in a counseling group commit to attending weekly sessions throughout one semester. Groups are considered a form of mental health treatment and focus on helping students with specific mental health-related concerns, such as anxiety and grief. Group counseling is structured and typically utilizes a specific treatment modality, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Peer Support Spaces are an open space for students to: connect and build new relationships; conversate and socialize with like-minded peers; and offer and receive support around shared experiences. While a UCC Clinician is present in the space, there is no “expert” in the space; instead, students benefit from the collected wisdom of the group when seeking support and/or help problem-solving. Additionally, students participating in a Peer Support Space are invited to identify discussion topics that feel most relevant. Student interested in participating in a Peer Support Space do not need to engage in a screening process prior to participating and are free to attend as much or as little as they’d like throughout their time at Pitt. Peer Support Spaces are not a form of mental health treatment and participants are not considered clients of the UCC.