Stay Informed without Drowning

A 5-week somatic grounding group for introspective, introverted BIPOC professionals

You're not broken for feeling overwhelmed by the world right now.

You pride yourself on being informed and engaged. Your Instagram feed is a careful curation of news sources, activist accounts, and educational content. Your TikTok algorithm serves up a steady stream of current events mixed with the occasional cute pet video and 20-second cooking tutorial. 

You tell yourself this is what being a responsible, aware person looks like in 2025. But your nervous system is screaming otherwise.

You're a high-achieving professional who values staying connected to what's happening in the world. You understand that your position at work comes with responsibility. But lately, that responsibility feels like it's suffocating you.

You scroll through story after story of what’s become everyday abuses of power, violence, and despair – and your body holds it all. Your shoulders carry the weight of every headline. Your chest tightens with each scroll you take. Your sleep suffers as your mind replays the images you've seen.

You want to take a break from the constant input to give yourself some space to breathe. But then your mind jumps in:

  • “How can I take a break when people are suffering?”

  • “Is wanting a news detox just…privileged?”

  • “If I’m not constantly informed, am I being irresponsible?”

What if there was another option?

What if you didn't have to choose between overwhelming yourself with information or completely disconnecting from what matters to you?

What if you could learn to stay engaged with the world without becoming mentally fried?

What if you could honor both your values AND log off and enjoy the rest of your day?

This group, Stay Informed without Drowning, is a somatic and parts work therapy group designed specifically for introspective, self-aware BIPOC professionals who are feeling overwhelmed by current events and the constant stream of world news.

This isn't a traditional talk therapy group. This isn't a space for venting or processing every headline. This is something different – something your nervous system is desperately craving.

What this group offers

Group sessions once a week for 5 weeks

In our weekly 60-minute sessions, you'll experience guided somatic regulation exercises designed to help your body process and release the activation that builds up from constant news consumption so that you can actually enjoy your afternoons and evenings with your friends and family. You’ll meet in a small group (minimum of 3 participants, maximum of 5 participants), with Rani facilitating.

⟶

Working with overwhelm and calm

We'll work with the parts of you that feel overwhelmed by the news, the parts of you that crave a mental break, and the parts of you that already know how to allow calm into your body. You’ll honor all of these parts while finding balance. This is about bringing calm to your job, to your family, to your friends - everywhere you go.

⟶

The power of parallel play

This group embraces the beauty of being together while going inward. Think of it as the therapy equivalent of parallel play – you'll be in community with others who understand your experience, while Rani guides you, as a group, through somatic work. There's profound healing in knowing you're not alone in your overwhelm, even when you're primarily working with your own internal experience.

⟶

Meet your facilitator

Rani Gupta, LCSW

Hi there! I’m Rani, your facilitator for Stay Informed without Drowning. I’m a licensed clinical social worker who’s spent over a decade in the field of social work. In my time as a clinician I’ve gotten trained in several approaches, including somatic parts work and in somatic embodiment strategies. In my work, I merge the information I’ve learned through my formal education and training with the work of the thinkers, writers, and artists who have had an equal hand in my education, like Octavia Butler, Zoé Samudzi, Tanaïs, and more. I look forward to being with you as your facilitator!

This group is a very good fit if…

You enjoy, or are interested in, guided meditations and somatic exercises, and you appreciate some silence in virtual group settings

✓

You’re ready to invest your time and energy to your own healing and growth. You’re ready to commit to the 5 weekly sessions and block off your calendar for the scheduled session each week.

✓

You’re a self-aware, introspective, introverted BIPOC professional who’s been feeling overwhelmed by the news, and you want to be in the company of others but not talk too much

✓

You want to be in a group of fellow introspective, self-aware, introverted BIPOC professionals who are also interested in this specific type of group container

✓

This group isn’t a good fit if…

You’re looking for the type of group where talking out loud with each other is the format/focus of the group session

✕

You don’t like guided meditations and somatic exercises, or you don’t appreciate some silence in virtual group settings

✕

You are currently in crisis or were recently in crisis, and you need extra support between group sessions

✕

You either aren’t ready to commit to the 5 weekly sessions, and you want to bounce in and out of the group

✕

You want to use the group as a platform to express hateful or inflammatory rhetoric or engage in bad faith “debate”

✕

Upcoming groups

  • Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.

    Session 1: December 3rd

    Session 2: December 10th

    Session 3: December 17th

    Session 4: January 7th

    Session 5: January 14th

    (Please note that group won’t meet on December 24th or December 31st)

Frequently asked questions

Got questions? I’ve got answers.

  • This group is entirely virtual, so it will be online-only.

  • Unfortunately, I can’t admit folks into the group who don’t live in Oregon. Since I’m licensed in Oregon, I can only see clients who 1) currently reside within Oregon and 2) who are in Oregon at time of session.

  • The total cost of this group accounts for the 5 group sessions and the screening appointment. The total amount for this group is $500.

    This group isn’t covered by insurance. Payment is expected before the start of the 5 group sessions.

  • There may be instances where someone does a screening but isn’t an appropriate fit for the group. In these instances, I will let you know (nicely, of course!) and will do my best to get you referrals for other providers who might be a better fit.

  • It’ll be pretty simple! You’ll receive the intake paperwork and payment link, which you’ll need to complete before sessions start.

    Then, when group sessions start, you’ll just need to show up on time each week with:

    • Paper (can be a journal, notebook, or loose paper depending on your own preference)

    • A pen or pencil

    • Coloring pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters - basically, any type of colorful artistic tool that you already have at home that you can use to draw/write with

  • I’ll be upfront now: This isn’t going to fly! If you join this group, you are expected to attend all 5 sessions, unless, of course, there’s an emergency. This is to ensure the group has a safe container to do this work in, and safety is in part created by consistency. If you do happen to miss a session due to an unforeseen circumstance, please note there are no refunds.

    The schedule is also available here, and reiterated before group starts. Given this, you are expected to join all 5 sessions.

Schedule your screening now!

This is a chat with Rani to see if you’re a great fit for this group. I’m looking forward to speaking with you!