Group Schedule

Meghan’s Place: Outpatient + Eating Disorder Therapy Group: GROUP CYCLE MAY-JULY 2023

GROUP DESCRIPTIONS: 

Symptom Management/ Recovery Tools: This group is an accountability group where you will report your symptoms and struggles throughout the week and make weekly goals to decrease these symptoms or focus on areas of struggle. Additionally, you will learn some coping skills and tools to help with urges and difficult emotions. 

Perfectionism: If you struggle with setting high standards for yourself and often have the thought that you are “not good enough,” this group could be helpful. We will explore using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, how to recognize perfectionism and how to challenge perfectionistic tendencies and thinking. 

Process Groups: In this group you will discuss recovery challenges and struggles with peers and process feelings, and experiences. This is a group that is helpful to process difficulties in recovery, garner support and normalize eating disorder experiences. IN ORDER TO JOIN THIS GROUP, YOU MUST HAVE EITHER A THERAPIST, DIETITIAN, PSYCHIATRIST OR MEDICAL DOCTOR that you are actively and regularly seeing, some exceptions can be made in rare circumstances. 

CBT/DBT Group/Snack: This group aims to give tools to identify and manage negative eating disorder thoughts as well as manage emotions which can be difficult to regulate. This group is ideal if you are wanting some tangible tools to manage thoughts and emotions that are related to the recovery process. It is a mix between psychoeducation, self-reflection and discussion. We will be utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy principles. We will eat snack and a group at the beginning of this group. 

Boundaries in Recovery: In order to recover from an eating disorder, boundaries are necessary. In this group you will learn healthy communication skills, how to effectively set healthy boundaries and prioritize your recovery. This is a mix between a discussion and psychoeducation group. 

Process Group: For People with/in Larger Bodies: In this group you will discuss recovery challenges and struggles with peers and process feelings, and experiences. This is a group that is helpful to process difficulties in recovery, garner support and normalize eating disorder experiences. IN ORDER TO JOIN THIS GROUP, YOU MUST HAVE EITHER A THERAPIST, DIETICAN OR MEDICAL DOCTOR, some exceptions can be made in rare circumstances.  This is a group for people who identify as being in a larger body and struggle with shame regarding that. This group is not a fit for people who are in the process of restoring weight.

Body Image in Recovery: A Process and Topics Group: This group is a process group specifically around body image. Each week, we will have a topic relating to body image that we will discuss and process as a group. Topics include: Early messages about our bodies and how they impacted us, societal impacts on how we see ourselves and many more. IN ORDER TO JOIN THIS GROUP, YOU MUST HAVE EITHER A THERAPIST, DIETITIAN, PSYCHIATRIST OR MEDICAL DOCTOR that you are actively and regularly seeing, some exceptions can be made in rare circumstances. This is different from a “general” process group as it is completely geared towards body image. This is for people who are weight-restored.

Dinner Group/ Discussion: As a group we will order take out. Additionally, after the meal we will discuss challenges and thoughts and various topics. This group is helpful to normalize eating in restaurants and outside of home. This is a good group if you are needing more accountability in your recovery.  There will be an additional $15-20 for meal purchase. 

Breakfast/Successful Strategies: You will bring your own meal (there will be specific guidelines) and eat with peers to normalize eating and have additional accountability. Additionally, we will discuss skills and methods to reduce slips and relapse behaviors.

Recovery Podcasts Group: Each week, we will discuss and listen to a podcast either in group or outside of group. The topics of the podcasts will range from body grief, joyful movement, eating disorder recovery challenges to name a few. This group will be a mix between self-reflection, discussion and processing.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________FAQ’s and Information:

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How many people are in the groups/ how many can I miss?

The groups which are held in-person will have a max of 6-7 people. Online groups will cap at 6-7  people. The exception to this is process groups- these will cap at 6 people.  If there are at least 5 people committed to a group, it will be held. If you are highly likely in the next two months to need residential treatment or PHP treatment, I ask you do not sign up- unless your team agrees to a trial. I do not allow new people to join groups after the second week. My hope is the same people all stay in the group for stability and consistency. You may miss ONE group and still join the cycle (missed group fee applies). If you need to miss more than one please talk with me. 

I have never attended group therapy, I am nervous!

It is super common to be nervous about group therapy. Since eating disorders are so shaming and isolating, peer therapy can be super helpful for recovery. The more you know your group members, hopefully the more comfortable you will become.

Can I join your groups if I am not your individual client?

Absolutely! You can join my groups regardless of who your individual therapist is. I do ask you inform and or discuss with your therapist.

Will insurance cover my groups?

Yes! I take a variety of insurance plans. Most will cover two groups in the same day, but some will not. Mostly all will cover multiple groups per week. If you have questions, I can help with that. Some insurance plans do have a copay. I also take private pay and my prices are lower than most groups in the area.

Can I take two groups or more in one day?

You absolutely can. There are some insurance plans that will cover multiple groups in a day and some that will not. 

Can anyone join groups?

Your treatment team must determine that you are appropriate for outpatient care for the next couple of months and you can make the commitment to attend groups regularly.

How many groups should I sign up for?

I usually encourage people who have stepped down from a higher level of care to attend about three groups weekly if feasible. If you are needing a higher level of care, I can do a two-month trial of groups, but that has to be allowed by your individual therapist and team. I would recommend more than three groups per week. If you are unsure what would be helpful, I can set up a short consultation. 

Are there any groups I should not take if I have already taken them?

The Boundaries in Recovery, CBT/DBT ,  and Perfectionism group are all curriculum-based, so it would be repetitive material if you have already taken these groups. If you think it will be helpful to repeat any of these groups, talk to me. 

Any COVID-19 precautions for in-person groups?

You are welcome to wear a mask if you would like. The CDC will be dropping mask requirements for healthcare settings (therapy) in April, so masks will be optional.