BIPOC Support

In coordination with Drexel's Counseling Center, we are pleased to offer dedicated support in the Center for Black Culture for students in the Drexel community who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to have an discussion about whatever is important to you.

BIPOC-identified students are invited to meet with the Counseling Center's BIPOC Specialist Robia Smith-Herman via individual Drop-ins, group or individual therapy, or online workshops. More information about these options can be found below.

Get To Know Drexel's BIPOC Specialist

Robia Smith-Herman, MSS, LCSW, joined the Counseling Center and Center for Black Culture in January of 2022. She received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology and Africana Studies from Gettysburg College, and her Master's of Social Service from the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College. Prior to joining the Drexel team, she worked at the Renfrew Center of Radnor as the team leader and student internship supervisor.

Within the therapeutic relationship, Robia is strength based, with a significant focus on the person in their environment with their intersecting identities. As an integrative therapist, she uses skills from cognitive behavioral therapy, relational cultural theory, exposure therapy, including prolonged exposure and psychodynamic therapy. More personally, Robia is a huge soccer fan, loves Broadway, and enjoys visits to national parks. Originally from Maryland, Robia has been in PA for over 10 years.

Office Location: Rush Building, Room 132

From the main entrance of Rush, make a left and go down a short hallway. Make a right at the end of the hall and room 132 is the second office on the right.

BIPOC Drop-ins

A BIPOC Drop-in your opportunity to meet with the Counseling Center's BIPOC Specialist and chat about class, co-op stress, relationships, mental health, life transitions, or anything else that is going on in your life. Drop-ins are typically 15–25 minutes in length and students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Depending on the number of students requesting to be seen at any one time, we may not have time to meet with everyone. If that occurs, we will follow up with you via email.

Drop-ins will be offered on the following schedule:

Tuesdays from 1–3 p.m. via Zoom (Register Today)
Wednesdays from 2–4 p.m. in person in the Rush Building, Room 132 (No appointment is needed for this option.)

BIPOC Group Therapy

The power of group therapy comes from the unique opportunity for group members to share experiences, increase self-awareness, give and receive feedback, and improve interpersonal relationships. Although it is not uncommon to be somewhat apprehensive at first, many individuals report that their group experience exceeded their expectations. For many emotional concerns and personal struggles, group therapy is the most effective treatment modality. The Counseling Center offers a range of groups each term and believes that group therapy is an effective and beneficial treatment for addressing some of the more common issues our Dragons face.

For the fall term, the BIPOC Groups will be meeting in person at the Center for Black Culture. BIPOC Groups typically meet bi-weekly for 60 minutes over the course of the quarter, and members have the option to return each term. Facilitators and members agree to maintain confidentiality and discuss any issues that may affect confidentiality.

BIPOC Workshops

Each quarter, the Counseling Center offers a number of psychoeducational workshops for students. These workshops are brief, typically over the course of three or four weeks, and focus on topics such as stress management, mindfulness, or study skills. These will be offered online using Zoom, with some of them available to sign up on the website and others requiring signing up through the Counseling Center. We attempt to adapt our topics based on the current needs of our students. Note that a workshop is different than a therapy group in that it includes education, practicing coping skills, and providing activities to encourage self-exploration.

More Information about Workshops

Please note: If you are currently in crisis, please contact our on-call counselor at 215.416.3337. If this is a psychological emergency and you need immediate attention, please dial 911, call Drexel Public Safety at 215.895.2222, or visit your nearest emergency room.