Outpatient Groups

We are pleased to offer the following outpatient groups:

Aftercare: This group is for patients who are beginning to transition out of treatment. Motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered and solution-focused therapy are used to support patients’ healthy choices. Patients learn how to balance work, family, relationships, legal obligations, spirituality, and recreation with recovery.  This group meets once a week for 60 minutes.

Anger Management: This group is for people who struggle with anger and other strong emotions.  It uses cognitive behavioral therapy and SAMHSA’s Anger Management manual to help patients understand and manage their emotions, learn healthy ways to resolve conflict, and explore the relationship between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.  Patients are encouraged to develop healthy communication skills and practice using them so they can express their needs and feelings, and set boundaries without resorting to anger.  This group meets 60 min per day, two days per week.

Co-Occurring Disorders Step-Down and Dual Recovery: These groups are for patients with substance use and mental health disorders who are already engaged in mental health services outside of the UHS system. They teach patients how to identify triggers and high-risk situations, use thought-stopping techniques, enhance their coping skills, manage negative emotions, and develop a sober support network. Patients learn about the complex relationship between substance use and mental health and are encouraged to maintain engagement with their mental health services. The Co-Occurring Disorders Group meets for 60 per day, two days per week.  The Dual Recovery Group meets 60 minutes per day, three days per week. Please note, patients getting mental health treatment from the UHS Outpatient Mental Health Clinic can engage in co-occurring disorders treatment there.

Coping Skills: This group is for patients who need support with emotional and behavioral issues related to their substance use. It uses dialectical behavioral therapy techniques to teach patients how to cope with difficult emotions such as anger or sadness; improve self-esteem; build positive relationships; develop effective communication and problem-solving skills; use healthy stress management techniques; and manage cravings and triggers related to emotions. This group meets for 60 minutes per day, one day per week.

Criminal Thinking: This group is for patients with a current or past legal history. Motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and person-centered therapy are used to enhance patients’ coping skills, build self-esteem, manage stress, deal with anger and conflict, navigate difficult relationships, form sober support networks, build healthy relationships, and identify and change behaviors that may lead to relapse. This group meets once a week for 60 minutes.

DWI Group: This group is for patients with a recent or pending DWI charge. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy and educational materials to help patients learn about the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; understand the societal and legal consequences of driving under the influence; and prevent further impaired driving. The educational curriculum includes New York State statistics and laws, managing stress and emotions, how behavior is learned and changed, and understanding relapse and recidivism. This group meets for 60 per day, two days per week.

Expressive Therapy: This group uses motivational interviewing, creative arts, and a safe and supportive environment to help patients understand and process their addiction and give voice to their emotions.  Patients are encouraged to build self-awareness, enhance coping skills, and explore the connection between their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings as they work to meet their unique recovery goals.  This group meets for 60 minutes per day, one day per week.

Gender-Specific Group: We offer both men's and women’s aftercare groups. These groups use motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered and solution-focused therapy to help patients find positive solutions to the recovery-related problems they face. Common discussion topics include parenting in recovery, re-establishing trust in relationships, navigating social services, managing negative emotions, building a positive self-concept, understanding codependency, and changing behaviors. These groups meets for 60 minutes per day, one day per week.

Intensive Outpatient Services: Designed for patients with recent or active substance use, this group combines motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and person-centered and solution-focused therapy to help patients achieve their recovery goals. Patients learn emotional regulation and stress management tools, refusal skills, boundary-setting techniques, and strategies for forming support networks. They are taught life skills including job readiness. Educational topics include the disease of addiction, the relapse process, codependency, and the physical and psychological consequences of substance use. This group meets for 180 minutes per day, four days per week.

Recovery Life Skills: This group is intended to prevent disease progression in patients with mild substance use disorders. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy and components of the Matrix Model to help patients address the impact of their substance use. Patients learn about the short- and long-term physical and psychological consequences of substance use; the disease of addiction; triggers; the relapse process; relapse prevention; thought-stopping techniques; decision-making skills; and how to build healthy relationships. Tobacco cessation, holiday safety, and self-care are also discussed. This eight-week group meets for 60 minutes per day, one day per week.

Relationship Skills: This group is for patients who want to have healthier relationships.  It uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy to help patients explore past and current relationships, understand codependency, set boundaries, enhance coping skills, and build self-awareness.  This group meets for 60 minutes per day, one day per week.

Step-Down: This group is for patients who have achieved sobriety and wish to strengthen the skills necessary to maintain it. Motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and person-centered and solution-focused therapy help patients identify triggers and high-risk situations, recognize and address cognitive distortions, and manage negative emotions like guilt, shame, and embarrassment. Patients learn how to create a sober support network and effectively engage in 12-step programming, if they are interested in doing so.  This group meets for 60 minutes per day, two days per week.