Mondays 1–2pm Facilitated by Bill Plath

Thursdays 11am- 12pm Facilitated by Susan Raggo

Women meet to reduce social isolation and to build community relationships and explore creativity.

Wednesdays 2:30–3:30pm Facilitated by Deb Lucy

The Hearing Voices group offers a safe place where voices hearers can talk openly about their experiences, gain support, and learn skills to increase their control of their own lives. Participants will learn to use meditation and mindfulness to help develop skills to focus their attention on activities at hand and not the intrusive, disruptive thoughts in their heads.

Thursdays 9–10am Facilitated by Steve Longley
Every 1st Monday 9–10am Facilitated by Keili Trottier
Every 3rd Wednesday 3–4pm Facilitated by Vic Martini

These groups focus on networking among group members to share tools that help them to improve, manage, and maintain wellness. The group will emphasize the role of both skills and supports in sustaining wellness.

Wednesdays 11am-12pm Facilitated by Karen Ejeriefe

The group will support clients in learning and utilizing skills to manage their anxiety and depression symptoms.

Thursdays 2pm-3pm Facilitated by Steve Longley

The group will be held in the Northshire UCS conference room. The objective of the group is to develop skills that will help participants create more satisfying social relationships. Together, group members will explore non-conflictive ways of communicating as well as strategies for deepening engagement in their community.

Fridays 1–2:30pm Supervised by Victor Martini, LICSW and team

Based upon the principles of Open Dialogue and developed specifically for practitioners in Vermont, the meetings are facilitated by a group who have completed stringent training by members of the European team that originated the practice in Finland. The UCS team is trained to be interviewer/listeners, and reflector/listeners. These meetings are a way to help people develop a supportive network among close family members or significant friends. Meetings will be set up remotely – either in your own home or at the UCS main offices, via Zoom. In your home, we will provide tablets if needed, in order to make use of the technology. If you have ever felt like you were truly listened to, you will appreciate these network meetings. If you have never felt truly listened to, you will experience something different, refreshing and uniquely supportive. 

*Sessions must be scheduled individually.

Tuesdays 12:30–1:30pm Facilitated by Doris Russell, Ph.D

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) informed treatment is a cognitive-behavioral approach that emphasizes the role of mindfulness in its approach to treatment. Skill sets are designed to specifically assist individuals in better managing behavioral, emotional and cognitive instability.  

Tuesdays 9am–12pm Facilitated by Victor Martini, LICSW, and Taija LaFountain, and other support methods with Taija LaFountain and Keili Trottier

Through the use of Collaborative Network Approach (based on Open Dialogue, the Finnish evidence-based practice), clients will develop a healthy and supportive recovery network in the first portion. The second portion of IOP will utilize Tai Qi, a body-based approach to enhance mindfulness and relaxation through gentle movement.

Fridays 9am–12pm MBS facilitated by Rose Mylott and DBT facilitated by Doris Russell and Taija LaFountain

Participants will learn the principles of mindfulness-based sobriety (MBS) for comprehensive recovery planning using the MBS principles to set value-guided goals in order to lead a value-informed lifestyle. Participants will explore the six core principles of ACT and develop a life-changing mindset known as psychological flexibility to handle painful thoughts, feelings, triggers, urges, and cravings.

Participants will utilize a DBT-informed framework to learn and practice skills (mindfulness skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills, emotional regulation skills, distress tolerance) that enhance the ability to cope with painful thoughts and feelings such as anxiety, stress, and sadness.

Thursdays 9am–12pm Facilitated by JoAnne Larsen and Keili Trottier. Self-Esteem group facilitated  by Keili Trottier.

The Wellness Recovery Action Plan is designed to create a unique plan that is based on a person’s strengths, identifies early warning signs of mental health and/or substance abuse challenges, defines supports they can count on, and helps develop the skills to use for all of life’s challenges. When completed, each participant will have a meaningful crisis plan. The self-esteem group can help reduce substance use by teaching new ways to help manage negative thinking patterns.

Wednesday 4–5pm, in person Facilitated by Jill Egbert

Open to individuals in recovery. This group provides great resources for education and social support as people learn new ways to cope during recovery. 

Tuesday 3–4:30pm Facilitated by Brian Walsh

The Stages of Change group is a focused group for men and women who are in recovery. We will help clients learn to identify and explore the stages of change model utilized in the recovery process. While discussing and exploring the stages of change, clients learn how to identify what stage of change they are in, manage transition to another stage, and develop the ability to understand that each person enters and transitions through the various stages on an individual basis while receiving support in a group setting. We understand that recovery is a process, and we believe clients have the inherent potential for change. Using specific techniques to promote success, this group offers an evidenced-based approach to stage and process treatment.  

The group is Co-Educational and open to all. Maximum of 10 clients