Therapeutic Activities and Groups

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Therapy comes in many forms. We have a long list of programs built to ensure your time at Abbott House is full of social interaction, community and activity.

Recreation and Leisure Activities

Our Recreation and Leisure Activities program is a balance of social, cognitive, spiritual, sensory and physical activities. Recreation and Leisure Services are offered daily to help promote socialization and interaction amongst peers. Examples include daily supervised walking groups, women’s/men’s groups, cooking class, afternoon tea, bingo, relaxation, parties, open creativity, karaoke, chair exercise, etc. Community-based outings are offered every month and shopping outings are scheduled weekly.

Therapeutic & Skills Training Groups

Our person-centered approach will help you help yourself to achieve your individual goals. Residents actively participate in creating their individualized treatment plan which will assist individual in setting appropriate, attainable goals. The following descriptions are some of the therapeutic programs that are part of the rehabilitative groups offered at Abbott House.

Feelings Group

Feelings Group is a support group that meets once a week for approximately thirty-minutes. In this group, residents are able to voice emotional difficulties through group discussions and projects and serve as a support system for one another.

Skills Training Modules

These evidenced-based programs are designed to help residents improve their overall level of functioning when used as an adjunct to other treatment modalities. It is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of illness, symptoms and treatment compliance, enhance social skills, develop meaningful interaction and become part of a support system, develop healthy coping skills, and increase independence.

Wellness Group

This group incorporates SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Eight Dimensions of Wellness in an encouraging atmosphere to support an individual’s sense of well-being. SAMHSA defines wellness not as the absence of disease, illness, or stress, but the presence of purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment and happiness. The Wellness Group seeks to help create everyday habits that may help improve quality of life.

Smoking Cessation Group

This weekly group combines the components of psychoeducation and support groups. It provides a safe place to share experiences and hear contributions in a confidential and non-judgmental setting with others who have had similar experiences with smoking. This group is designed to provide education to people who are thinking about quitting/cutting down on their smoking and to provide additional support to these individuals. Residents are encouraged to attend this group to learn helpful strategies for harm-reduction and lasting cessation.

Recovery Uncovered

This group is designed to empower residents on their unique journey toward recovery. Recovery can look very different from one person to the next; this group is specifically geared toward residents who desire to leave Abbott House once they have gained the tools needed to be a productive member of the community. The content of the group is designed to motivate participants to think about what recovery means to them. In the group, topics include managing wellness, combating stigma, self-advocacy, assuming control, finding a niche, and others. The group emphasizes what each participant can do to move towards recovery, how markers of recovery can be measured, and how to involve care providers.

Mind-Body Connection

The goal of this weekly group is for members to learn how to incorporate healthful practices into their daily routine. Studies substantiate how mental wellness and physical wellness are heavily correlated. This group provides residents with a safe place to set intentions, practice mindfulness and learn about various lifestyle choices that positively impact one’s mental and physical health. This group is designed to educate residents about healthy practices within a group setting so members can learn from one another and encourages individuals to experiment with these practices independently on their journey of recovery.

Socialization Group

At times, we all feel misunderstood or like nobody can relate. From time to time, we all need help understanding our relationships with others; whether it's a roommate, family member, friend, social cues, a provider, or rules. Our socialization group will help residents understand the various perspectives of other individuals, the importance of developing meaningful relationships and assertive communication skills.

Mindful Music

Mindful Music is a group that embodies the ideas behind music therapy to help residents find alternative coping skills for dealing with stress, anxiety, depression. It is perfect for anyone wanting a mood booster. By using both creative and receptive processes, residents learn different ways of utilizing music to help with cognitive health, physical health, and emotional well-being. An example of a creative process is lyric writing; some examples of receptive processes are visualizing the music, drawing your feelings, and musical meditation. Music is a powerful tool that can either enhance, alter, or create emotions by using beats or lyrics that may relate to the situation at hand.

Healing Yoga (Light)

This gentle yoga group is practiced while sitting in a chair or using a chair for support. Yoga can help relieve stress and decrease anxiety and depression. Yoga has health benefits including improved balance, flexibility, strength and lung capacity (especially helpful for those who smoke). In this group, residents learn poses that can be practiced independently. We can all use more exercise and coping skills! This group accommodates all levels of fitness and all residents are welcome to join.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group

DBT consists of 1 hour of Skills Training Group Session once a week, a 30-minute individual session with the group facilitator once a week, and developing a personal Diary Card and utilizing it every day to track residents' identified issues and skills. The general goal of DBT is to learn and refine skills needed to change Behavioral, Emotional, and Thinking patterns that cause the resident misery and/or distress. DBT Skills include the following: Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Mindfulness Training. Each of these skills is presented as a module of training.