[UTSA] Feelings & Friends

Service Description

Managing our big feelings is an important part of building and maintaining healthy friendships and relationships. However, emotions such as stress, anxiety, anger, and sadness can sometimes feel overwhelming or difficult to understand, especially in everyday social situations. We sometimes struggle to recognize how emotions affect both our mind and body, as well as how our feelings influence communication, confidence, and relationships with others. In this course, we will explore mental health through the lens of emotional awareness, self-regulation, and social connection. Using guided discussions, interactive activities, and supportive group conversations, students will break down complex emotions into simple, relatable concepts while learning practical strategies for navigating everyday challenges. The course will also incorporate the PEERS social skills model to introduce tools for making and maintaining friendships, starting and sustaining conversations, handling conflict, and responding to social situations with confidence. Students will learn how emotions show up in the body and mind, how to communicate feelings in healthy ways, and how to strengthen social and interpersonal skills in supportive environments. Through role-playing activities, group exercises, and real-world examples, participants will practice strategies they can apply in daily life while connecting with others in a fun and welcoming space. These skills will empower participants to build emotional awareness, strengthen friendships, improve confidence in social situations, and develop healthy coping and communication strategies that support long-term well-being.