Support Groups
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Please note: our support groups do not meet medical necessity requirements to be reimbursed by insurance.
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Want to sign up for a group but have financial restrictions? We offer 2 low fee spots for each group on a first come first served basis.
NEW GROUP - NOW ENROLLING!
The Poop Group for Parents:
Constipation Conversations
in Partnership with
The Constipation Gurus
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For parents of school-aged kids (4 & up) who are dealing with constipation, enuresis, encopresis and/or bedwetting.
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Morning Group:
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Beginning February 23rd - April 14th
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Evening Group:
Wednesdays, 7:30 PM - 8:15 PM
Beginning February 26th - April 23rd (No meeting April 16th)
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Online group
Parents of constipated kids: you are not alone! SO MANY kids deal with constipation and complications like encopresis, enuresis and bed-wetting. This might be one of the most stressful and complex pieces of your family life, and because it isn't easy to talk about in casual parent conversations, also one of the loneliest.
The Poop Group offers a compassionate and confidential space to connect with a small group of parents navigating this stinky situation, led by Anney Barrett, LMHC, a licensed therapist and Constipation Gurus parent. Sessions will offer supportive conversations, informational resources and skill-building for self-regulation and for family communication when the household stress level is high. One or both of the Constipation Gurus, Jessica O'Connell, MBA, RD, LD and Annette Thomas, MSPT will attend a group session as a guest to answer questions and provide insight based on their experiences with hundreds of parents and kids.
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Sign up for a late morning group on Mondays beginning February 23rd OR evening group that meets on Wednesdays beginning February 26th.
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Participant minimum 4, maximum 7.
Led by Anney Barrett, LMHC
Cost: $350
NEW GROUP - NOW ENROLLING!
Polyvagal Working Group
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For adults who want to learn about the nervous system through polyvagal theory.
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Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:30 PM
Beginning March 5th, 2025
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Online group
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Get to know your nervous system! This 8-week support group will guide you through exercises to help you learn more deeply about how your body responds to threat & safety.
We will focus on learning ways to shift out of survival responses and increase your ability to invite in safety and connection, all through the lens of the nervous system. Take a polyvagal approach to self-understanding and share in this exploration with others.
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Participant minimum 5, maximum 10.
Led by Vicky Brandt, LMHC
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Cost: $350
A FEW SPOTS LEFT!
Dungeons & Dragons Therapy Group
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For adults with DnD experience who want to explore a therapeutic campaign with a therapist as the DM.
Mondays, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Beginning February 3rd, 2025
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In person in our Somerville office
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The Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) Therapy Group is an opportunity for 3-6 participants on a weekly basis to explore an individualized campaign using the DnD 5th Edition structure to foster coping skills and develop interpersonal skills that can aid in everyday life.
Topics to be explored through this individualized, collaborative and therapeutic gaming process will include:
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how to increase self-confidence and self-worth
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opportunities to practice and improve assertive and kind communication
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ways to develop and practice boundary setting while building and fostering sympathy/empathy
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exploring one's sense of self/identity
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exploring the intersection of DnD with expressive arts therapy
The process of personal growth starts at character creation via a consultation with Lou to learn more about personal expectations and compatibility with other members. From there, the group will make time to create characters and set expectations and in subsequent sessions play out a campaign with clinical intention. In sessions, clinical intention will include a brief check-in, immersive/therapeutic gameplay and some time to process the session with the guidance of a clinically trained expressive arts therapist with DnD experience as a game master and player.
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This 11 week group will explore the following:
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Week 1 (session zero): We develop characters, set personal and group goals, establish group norms and setting for the journey.
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Week 2-10: The heroes (a.k.a. the clients) set off on their journey to face their challenges and personal goals through exploration, role play and gaming spectrum combat.
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Week 11: The hero(es) face the obstacle to their goal(s), come to a therapeutic/gaming spectrum conclusion and debrief about the group experience.
Goals of group:
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Increase self-confidence and self-worth
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Practice and improve assertive and kind communication
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Develop and practice boundary setting
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Build/foster sympathy/empathy
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Explore sense of self/identity formation
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Develop creative coping skills through DnD and expressive arts therapy​
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Dates of the sessions:
February 3rd
February 10th
February 24th
March 3th
March 10th
March 17th
March 24th
March 31st
April 7th
April 14th
April 28th
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Participant minimum 3, maximum 6.
Led by Lou Lim, LMHC, REAT
Cost: $60 per group
Now Enrolling for Module 3!
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training - Thursday Group
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For adults who want to learn DBT skills.
Thursdays, 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Start date: March 6th, 2025
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In person in our Somerville office
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This group willrun in segments of 8 weeks starting this fall. This model enables you to go in depth with each component of DBT within 24 weeks*.
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In this group we will spend 8 weeks covering each of the modules including Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness. The start of each 8-week segment will introduce a core skill within the core module of Mindfulness. If interested, you can sign up for all 8-week segments or focus on one aspect based on your availability and interest.
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Within each 8-week period you will have opportunities to discuss the skills, receive feedback and support from peers on the use and practice of these skills. The book that will be used is DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha M. Linehan (2nd Edition) and is recommended you acquire prior to the group starting.
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No previous knowledge of DBT is required, some knowledge is encouraged.
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Module 1 (Beginning October 10th): Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance
Module 2 (Beginning December 12th): Emotion Regulations
Module 3 (Beginning March 6th): Interpersonal Effectiveness meets for the following dates:
March 6,13, 20, 27,
April 3,10, (missing 17th), 24
May 1
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Participant minimum 6, maximum 9.
Led by Vera Bednar,
LMHC, C-DBT, RYT-200
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Cost: $350
Now Enrolling for Module 2!
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training - Tuesday Group
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For adults who want to learn DBT skills
Tuesdays, 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Start date: March 18th, 2025​
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Online group
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This 24 week group will go through all 4 modules of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness with rolling admission at the start of each new module every 8 weeks.
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Each session starts with a mindfulness practice and homework review, then 1-3 skills are introduced every week, all while utilizing music and expressive therapy techniques to help reinforce and retain the skills. The book that will be used is DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha M. Linehan (2nd edition).
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No previous knowledge of DBT is required and participants are able to choose which module(s) they would like to commit to, however it is recommended to complete each module at least 1-2x in order to master the skills.
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Please note that all participants are required to be engaged in individual therapy, either at this practice or with another provider.
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Module 1: Mindfulness/Distress Tolerance - Start date January 14th, 2025
Module 2: Mindfulness/Emotion Regulation - Start date March 18th, 2025
Module 3: Mindfulness/Interpersonal Effectiveness - Start date TBD
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Participant minimum 6, maximum 10.​
Led by Kim Johnson,
LMHC, MT-BC
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Cost: $350
A FEW SPOTS LEFT!
Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Support Group
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For transgender and gender nonconforming-identifying adults who seek a safe, affirming, private support group.
Bi-weekly on Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM
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In person in our Somerville office
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Right off the success of our trans support group earlier this year, we are pleased to offer a long-term bi-weekly support group beginning this June.
The number of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the Somerville and Greater Boston community is increasing year after year. An intimate group focused on relationship building, resource sharing and emotional and physical support would provide an additional layer of support for the local transgender and gender nonconforming community.
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In this group we will build community and discuss topics of interest in a mutually-beneficial setting. Many transgender and gender nonconfirming people are cut off from traditional avenues for community during and after social and medical transition. This group will hopefully help transgender and gender nonconforming individuals foster community connections and build the groundwork for connections for future potential mutual aid.
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Typically members remain in this group for several years, and we ask for an up-front commitment of 3 months.
Participant minimum 6, maximum 8.
Led by Alanah Hodges, LCSW
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Cost: $35 per group
GROUP FULL!
Men's Interpersonal Group
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For male identifying adults who are between the ages of 24-39.
Mondays, 6:30 - 7:45 PM
Beginning October 14th, 2024
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In person in our Somerville office​
Group therapy offers participant’s a chance to connect with others, learn more about themselves and build community in a mutually supportive setting. Participating in a group often gives people the opportunity for self-growth as they explore new ways of being themselves and interacting with others.
Men are increasingly found to have fewer connections in their lives, and it can be hard to face life transitions, personal struggles and difficult choices without a community that understands you. The goal for this group is to give men a time and place to utilize one another for support and connection, during a time when it is increasingly rare to do so.
The Men’s Interpersonal Group will explore topics chosen by participants, such as life-transitions, relationships, mental health, anxiety and understanding our relationships with masculinity. This is a space intended for a diverse group of men of all racial/ethnic backgrounds and sexual identities.
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Typically members remain in this group for several years, and we ask for an up-front commitment of 3 months.
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Participant minimum 4, maximum 8.
