Research consistently shows that participating in group therapy with others who are in similar situations can lead to significantly improved emotional and behavioral functioning. We have specialized groups for teens on the autism spectrum to gain social skills, young adults dealing with psychosis, wives who have husbands on the autism spectrum, adults freeing themselves from pornography addiction, and others. Let us help you find a group that is specific to your needs.

Sometimes it feels like you are all alone with your challenges. Those around you often struggle to support or even understand what you are going through. Whether it is dealing with grief and loss, addiction, needing support as a spouse, or struggling with caregiver fatigue you will find those that get it in our groups. Use and contribute to the strength and healing power of group therapy.

Research has shown that teens benefit from the positive teen culture fostered in group therapy. Whether it is recovery from addiction, learning social skills or working through life’s challenges, relating to others in your age group going through similar experiences is validating and uplifting. Our teenage centered groups can often provide a lift on their own or are a great supplement to therapy. These groups are designed to help teens strengthen their connections in relationships, gain a sense of responsibility, increase motivation and provide direction in life.

The ASD wives support group provides support for women with husbands who have an autism spectrum or other disorders that impact a husbands ability to show empathy and provide emotional support. The group is both support and educational in nature. Licensed psychologist Rob Dindinger Ph.D. is an expert on autism spectrum and personality disorders that impact marital relationships. Wives learn to set boundaries, meet their own interpersonal needs and support the development of a healthy relationship with their spouse.

There are long hours when we battle a diagnosis, news of infidelity, a failed IVF, or any other sentence of human suffering that comes in the form of doubt, shame, rage, loss, or heartache. Where does our wealth of emotion go? How do we engage the power of words in ways that transform our knotted thoughts and irregular breaths? Some find prayer, others turn to substance. I have reached out to poetry.

I first reached out to poetry because it felt too cruel to inflict my pain onto my dear diary. With poetry, I found a safe freedom that provided something sacred and private. It was up to me to paint with plain words or obscure symbols in ways that honored the hurt and struggle, but protected me from what I was not yet ready to face or tell my world.

When I started to apply poetry to therapy, I saw first-hand how powerful it can be in a group setting. Aside from providing social support, clients were able to express their challenges that were hard to otherwise verbalize. Expressive writing space has been found to be a means of stress reduction through emotional release (Pennebaker & Chung, 2006). Narratives also provide opportunities for us to reframe the thoughts we are stuck on to experience clarity and lightness, make meaning, and find new strength from our suffering (Chung & Pennebaker, 2008; Csikszenthmihalyi, 1990; Wong, 1998).

The group name, Poet Tree Society, uses a tree as a metaphor for rooting down in order to rise up through poiesis. The beauty sprouts from the way we stabilize ourselves in our connections with others and with our inner-selves. Over time, the members in this encounter group will become fluent in a number of different poetic devices and develop their unique styles of writing. So, I invite you to plant this seed by giving your emotions the permission to dwell and have a dialogue with your own truths and wellbeing. And if you are willing, I hope you will share your words through writing or presenting as we cultivate a habit of nurturing our personal significance. It is my intention that in co-creating a sacred hour with the Poet Tree Society members, that we become more courageous in facing different difficult aspects of our past, present, and uncertain future.

Metaphors will be one of the gateway poetic devices to explore with the group. Overtime, members of this therapeutic group will become fluent in a number of different poetic devices or develop their unique use of symbolism in their writing. Every meeting, this group will do some poetry listening, reading, writing, and some reading aloud or sharing of their own work or that of others. There may even be opportunities of publishing. These activities are intended to create a sense of rituals and quality time for clients to process emotions associated with different themes at every meeting. Poet Tree Society will give emotions permission to dwell, and allow aesthetics to help one connect, or dialogue to one’s own spiritual faith. There will be poetry reading and writing every meeting. You can expect to gain appreciation for poetry, both of others’ as well as your very own creation! You don’t need to be a poet to join. The poet in you may already exist in your life experiences and stories. Whether they are sad or happy, simple or difficult, you will find this Poetry Group to be a safe space for you to make meaning and share your stories. The best art in any form is full of soul. Your work will help us all to cope with life’s realities, which include suffering and inequality. The themes we will focus on include the following:

• Personal Meaning
• Defining Memory/ Identity
• Personal Universe
• Unspeakable/ Difficult feelings like guilt, shame, and regrets.
• Dreams and Desires
• Celebration and Farewell

Getting in touch with your body and mind through movement and breath. Mindfulness is a form of yoga. Traditionally, yoga starts with the physical path and ends with the mindfulness path. This is because the mindfulness or meditative level is considered more difficult to obtain, while the physical aspect is considered easier as a way to begin. In this group, I will incorporate psycho-education, some beginner and intermediate hatha asanas (poses on your mat), some singing, breathwork, and relaxation practice. You can expect to be guided with different mind-body activities and cultivate mindfulness. This is an experiential therapy group that honors our individual timing. It also values silence. We recognize that not all clients are as ready to speak about their journey. Therefore, we welcome you to get on the mat and literally listen to your breath. This is a therapy group for you to learn to better appreciate who you are and respect where you are, mind & body. Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight; Empty and be full… ~ Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu-

This group is designed to help preteens and teens learn social skills to help them engage with the many social worlds they live in. Skills for making and keeping friends, managing social anxiety, reducing problematic social behavior, and specific social skills for home, school and community. Groups are designed to fit particular age groups so getting on the list for when we have enough kids in your child’s age group is important.

This group is designed to help parents who are trying to help their young adult on the autism spectrum launch successfully into adulthood.

This informative group teaches parents skills to parent children and teens who have a variety of problematic behaviors. Dr. Rob Dindinger, Phd. is an expert at helping parents set up structure while developing meaningful connections with their children. You will learn many tools to support your child/teen. Part of this group with be classroom like where parents will learn skills. The other part of this group will focus on providing group support for parents as they share their challenges and successes.