Groups at the Brookline Center

Brookline Community Mental Health Center
Group Therapy Program
2011-2012

Adult Group Psychotherapy Program

CO-ED Groups 

Young Adult Group 
An ongoing psychotherapy group for men and women ages 18-24 who are working on the transition into adulthood. Group members will work on developing and strengthening interpersonal relationships, as well as offer mutual support around issues of anxiety, depression and other life stressors. A commitment to attending the group on a weekly basis is required for membership.

Thursday 6-7:30pm
Melissa Glynn-Hyman, LICSW


CO-Ed Adult Group
An ongoing psychotherapy group for individuals ages 25 through 35. Group members struggle with depression and anxiety, as well as difficulties with relationships, family, employment and school.

Wednesday 6-7:30pm
Ray Feller, Psy.D.


Difficulties Maintaining Meaningful Relationships
An ongoing psychotherapy group ages 30 through 45. Members are working and have a fair amount of insight into their difficulties. They are struggling with depression and anxiety. The group focus is often on difficulties in building and maintaining meaningful connections with family, friends and at work.

Tuesday 7:45-9:15pm
Marian Menkel, LICSW


Exploring Intimacy Issues
An ongoing psychotherapy group for men and women, in their late 20's through 60's frequently functioning well in their work lives, but struggling with intimacy, relationships, some social isolation and self-esteem issues.

Wednesday 5-6:15pm
Brenda Kraus, LICSW


Psychotherapy Group I
Ongoing weekly psychotherapy group ages 45 and older, addressing a range of developmental challenges. Emphasis is placed on awareness of one's feelings and meanings underlying one's actions and impulses. Discussions frequently address concerns such as intimacy in relating, assertiveness and self-expression, the role and impact of work and financial realities, management of medical care, and relationships with parents, friends, siblings, and aging family members.

Friday 10:30-12pm
Jay Schonberg, Psy.D


Support/Psychotherapy Group I
An ongoing psychotherapy group ages 35 through 60's. Group members use the group to understand themselves better, improve self-esteem and work on relationships and communication skills. The group is structured to make use of both process and content material. 

Tuesday 7-8:30pm
Annie Ide, LICSW

 

Support/Activity Group for Adult's with Persistent Mental Illness
An ongoing group for adult's ranging in ages 40 to 70 years old.  Members engage in current event discussions, process feelings and get support. In addition, activities such as music, games and social events will be offered.  Members live independently with some structure in their lives and maintain outpatient treatment.  

Wednesday 4:30-6pm
M. Dezieck, OTR/L (617) 626-9537

 

Psychotherapy Group for People with a History of Psychotic Symptoms
A long-term support and psychotherapy group for individuals who have been hospitalized and diagnosed with a psychotic disorder at some point yet have made significant recovery. With the help of individual psychotherapy and medication, our group members maintain stability while going to college, graduate school or working. Ranging in age from early 20s to mid 60s, our members are creative and insightful individuals. Goals of the group include developing coping strategies for symptoms and life stressors, decreasing isolation, promoting greater independence and self-understanding, and improving relationships. 

Tuesday 12-1:30pm
Marty Wisler, LICSW


Next Steps
An ongoing psychotherapy/educational group for men and women from 30 to 60.  Our group members may have symptoms of depression or anxiety, have experienced a setback in their lives, and/or attempting to move forward.  This group is also appropriate for people who may be unemployed or stepping down from a hospitalization or day treatment program.  Group will draw from principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy including the understanding and importance of living in the present moment, identifying what we value, and deciding what actions we are willing to take in order to reach our goals. Members are required to be in individual therapy.

Wednesday 10:30am-12pm
Gabriel Soden, PhD.

 

Mind Body Adult Group
An ongoing group for adults of all ages interested in improving their wellbeing, changing addictive behaviors, letting go of negative self-perceptions, releasing stress, and cultivating happiness. We will explore the ancient traditions and modern science of gentle yoga, and Tai-Chi movement-breath, while allowing the opportunity for sharing and open discussion in a safe and supportive environment.

Thursday6-7:30pm
Roxana Albut Sahlean, LMHC

 

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Group (Offered Sept.-June)
This is a time-limited group for grandparents who are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Members have the opportunity to talk with others who understand the joys and challenges of raising grandchildren. Common themes addressed in the groups include: family relationships, legal and financial issues, advocacy, and finding time for self-care.

Tuesday 10:30-12pm
Lisa Bibuld, M.A.

 

Women's Groups

Women's Group
An ongoing psychotherapy group for women ages 25-35 years old focusing on managing stress, improving self-esteem, and building transferable skills to enhance interpersonal relationships, growth and self-awareness.

Tuesday 6:00-7:30pm
Susie Shayegani, LCSW


Mid-Life Women's Support/Psychotherapy Group
An ongoing group for members ages 40 to 60. The group supports women who struggle with anxiety and depression, social isolation, and difficulties forming meaningful relationships. The focus is self-awareness and self- understanding, validating experiences, increasing self-esteem, improving assertiveness skills and creating healthy relationships.

Thursday 7:00-8:30pm
Betsy Morris-Rosen, LICSW


Older Women's Support/Psychotherapy Group
An ongoing psychotherapy group for women ages 50 to late 60's who may be experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. Members often use the group to explore issues that surround their life experiences and relationships.

Tuesday 2-3:30pm
Connie Doe, RNCS

 

Relationship Success and Life Transitions for Older Women
An ongoing group for women ages 55 years and older. Group members struggle with issues related to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and life changes such as retirement and loss.  The group focus is on interpersonal interactions for relationship success as well as support for life transitions.

Thursday 7:30-9:00pm
Melissa Glynn-Hyman, LICSW

 

Trauma Recovery
This 24-week group offers an opportunity to practice mindfulness, meditation, body awareness and self-soothing techniques. Members will learn grounding skilss, identify triggers, practice self-care and make safe connections within themselves and among others. Trauma histories are not discussed in this group.

Thursday 7:30-9:00 pm
Annie Ide, LICSW & Roxana Albut Sahlean, LMHC

 

Workshop for Women
Based on Abby Seixas' book Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman's Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life, this group makes use of discussion and activities to learn six core practices that can create less stress and more balance in client's daily lives. Contact Andrea Johnson, LICSW directly at ext. 155


Men's Groups

Men's Psychotherapy Group
Ongoing weekly psychotherapy group for men ages 35 and older. The group will look at managing developmental challenges & identity relating to the workplace, families and friendships. Emphasis is placed on reflecting inwardly on thoughts and feelings underlying one's actions, and outwardly on similarities and differences with one's fellow group members' experience. The group provides an accepting and encouraging environment for addressing group members' goals for change.      

Group I -Tuesday 7:45-9:15pm

Group II -Thursday 6-7:30pm
Jay Schonberg, Psy.D

 

Men's Support/Psychotherapy Group III
Ongoing psychotherapy group for men ages 25 and older with longstanding issues related to depression, anxiety, isolation, and bipolar disorder. Group members use the group to update each other on their weekly successes and challenges related to their goals of increased symptoms management, and increased social and community interactions.

Tuesday 2:30-4pm
Zach Beck-Goss, LCSW

 

Former Athlete Group
A 10-week support and psychotherapy group for former athletes who are no longer able to compete in competitive sports in the way they woud like. Members will be ages 22 and older who are struggling with the loss of sports in their life due to a variety of reasons including physical, psychological and emotional factors. Goals of the group will include coping with loss regarding identity and self-esteem and developing successful ways to transition away from competitive sports.

Wednesday 6-7:30pm
Matthew Krouner, Psy.D.

 

Insurances Accepted

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Tufts Health Plan

Harvard Pilgrim

Aetna

Fallon Community Health Plan

Medicare

Medicaid/Mass Health

Chickering

Neighborhood Health Plan

Other Insurance (please inquire)

 

Referrals and Inquiries

(617) 277-8107 ext. 241
Email: annie.ide@brooklinecenter.org


Child/Adolescent Groups

For information or referrals please contact:

Lizzy Green, LCSW at (617) 277-8107 x256

ADHD Boys Groups
These therapeutic groups for boys focus on attentional issues, impulsivity, and social skills development.  Through both structured and unstructured play activities, group members learn to address challenges associated with ADHD, gaining skills to better control impulses, negotiate conflict, communicate effectively, and tolerate frustration. 

Co-ed Adolescent Group
This is a group for teenagers as they transition through their last years in high school. Topics include school challenges, family, relationships, depression, anxiety, what to do after high school, and friendship. The group is very supportive and active. The participants foster positive relationships and get to know themselves and each other. This is an ongoing group, so students are welcome to think about joining at any time during the year.

Boys Social Skill Group (6th-8th grade)
The focus of this group is the development and reinforcement of social and friendship skills.  This group is run on a relational/behavioral model, where participants learn social skills through modeling by co-leaders (and other participants) and are regularly reinforced for pro-social behaviors within the group.  There is also an emphasis placed on learning and practicing mindfulness skills when applicable.

Adolescent Boys Group (9th-10th grade)
This group is for adolescent boys who would like to develop better friendships and peer relationships.  In an atmosphere that is relaxed and welcoming, the leaders work with group members to foster improved social skills, decrease social anxiety and enhance self -confidence.  The group is largely discussion based however activities are utilized to stimulate discussion and member interaction.  The group provides an enjoyable environment for adolescents to explore relationships, ideas and concerns. 

Social Skill Groups
The social skill groups offer a curriculum based program that focuses on developing social thinking and communication in order to improve self-awareness, understanding social cues, perspective taking, conversational skills, cooperation and negotiation skills, and peer interaction. Groups begin October 19th and will run for 25 weeks.  Individual parent meetings and periodic group parent education and support meetings will also be conducted through out the year.

United Way Groups - "Surviving Sisterhood"
These lunchtime groups held in various schools will focus on helping girls to nurture their friendships, while also learning to navigate the conflicts that can arise that are unique to girls.

Groups for Girls Adopted from Asia
These groups focus on nurturing resiliency in girls adopted from Asia.  These groups provide the girls with an opportunity to make connections between group members as they explore experiences and commonalities. 

Transracial Asian Adoptees
This group will focus on nurturing resiliency in Transracial Asian Adoptees.  The group will provide the girls with an opportunity to make connections between group members as they explore experiences and commonalities.

For more information about Child and Adolescent Group Therapy please contact:

Lizzy Green, LCSW
Child Group Coordinator
(617) 277-8107 x256