The Center is pleased to offer different groups that are available within our Outpatient Department. For more information about our current group list, please contact our Access Center at (908) 253-3165. We accept Medicaid, Medicare and most third party insurances and a sliding scale is available upon request.

Addiction / Recovery

• Fresh Start Recovery Group: The fresh start recovery group is for individuals dealing with co-occurring substance use and/or mental health concerns to feel as though they can start fresh in their lives and learn healthy coping skills to deal with stressors. Individuals will learn how to recognize triggers for unhealthy behavior and increase ways to positively manage them. Created within a safe environment, group members are free to discuss feelings, relationships and challenges they may be experiencing as well as successes.
• Relapse Prevention 1: The purpose of the group is to offer members a sense of self-efficacy and stability in their ongoing level of functioning in the community. Studies have shown that people can learn to recognize and manage their symptoms and reduce the chances that they will relapse. If they do relapse, the symptoms may be less severe. Actions you can take before symptoms become severe can help lessen the effect of symptoms on your day-to-day life. Self-management can help you identify these early warning signs and create a plan to help with difficult situations.
• Relapse Prevention 2: The purpose of the group is to offer a supportive environment as members strive to make healthy life transitions. Members may be experiencing challenges with ongoing psychiatric symptoms, poor ADLS, medication noncompliance, and lack of social supports. Members will explore how symptoms impact daily living, and build coping skills using CBT and DBT techniques. Members will be encouraged to exchange mutual support in an effort to prevent relapse while moving forward with life goals.

Anxiety / Depression

• Anxiety Skills: This group is 12 week open group which clients can repeat twice. The group is skill based, and loosely based on The Anxiety & Worry Workbook; The Cognitive Behavioral Solution by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck (2012). Group members will learn how to define anxiety, different components of anxiety identify triggers and try coping skills in group such as deep breathing, mindfulness and cognitive restructuring. The Anxiety Skills Group is offered through telehealth at this time on Tuesdays at 4:30pm.
• Solutions: This is structured format group for the recovery from depression. In this group, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques and psychoeducation are utilized. This group takes into account the barriers in the environment that contribute to clients’ challenges and encourages clients to seek practical solutions. This group operates on using group process through leader guidance, peer support, and feedback to positively influence goal achievement. The Solutions Group is offered through telehealth at this time on Thursdays at 5pm.
• Strength and Support: This group will provide a supportive environment for members to explore how depression has impacted their lives. Members are encouraged to share their personal experiences while exchanging support with peers. The facilitator will provide educational materials about depression and will explore coping skills from various treatment modalities, including Strengths Based, CBT, and DBT. Group discussions will focus on helping members attain a balanced life and achieve personal goals.

Healthy Relationships: Most people want healthy relationships in their lives, but defining a healthy relationship can be difficult and often we have little to compare our relationships too. This group provides a safe place to discuss relationships; what makes them healthy and unhealthy, balancing power in a relationship and learning that healthy relationships are based on equality and mutual respect, not fear, threats or violence. The Healthy Relationships Group is offered through telehealth at this time on Wednesdays at 7pm.

• Groups
  These two groups grew out of the I Am Myself group that was established prior to COVID-19 which was an adult LGBTQ+ support group. The support groups utilize the evidence-based curriculum/activities from “Group Counseling LGBTQI Persons” by Kristopher M. Goodrich and Melissa Luke.
  • Support with PRIDE – Adults (1^st and 3^rd Thursday of the Month) – Open to the public
  • Support with PRIDE – Youth (2^nd and 4^th Friday of the Month) – Open to the public
  • Life is More Than Labels – an adult co-occurring LGBT+ group to assist with relapse prevention strategies, self-exploration and to foster connection/social supports with others in the community.
• Individual and Family Counseling
  Individual and Family counseling services are available to those in the LGBTQ+ community. We regularly support those exploring their gender and/or sexual identity. We provide case coordination with primary care/endocrinologists as well as counseling to assist clients seeking hormone therapy via WPATH standards. Counseling is aimed to be affirmative of the individual highlighting their needs, identity, and personal strengths.  Contact our ACCESS Center for additional information at 908-253-3165.

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (Bridgeway PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.