Group Therapy for Substance Use Disorders

The West End Clinic offers diverse modalities for group therapy and are held at the West End Clinic, located at Massachusetts General Hospital. Please be aware that the we also offers Day and Evening Intensive Outpatient Programs.

How to Enroll in Group Therapy

Any patient interested in enrolling in group therapy at the West End Clinic, must complete a new patient evaluation prior to enrolling. For more questions, please contact the Psychiatric Access Line at ptriage@partners.org or call 617-724-7792.

Available Groups

Opiate Maintenance Groups

These groups are integrated model groups that provide an opportunity for on-going support, skill-building and psycho-education for patients who have been prescribed Suboxone®. Group work is focused upon reinforcing abstinence and encourages communication and problem-solving around stressors. Opiate Maintenance Groups are offered at varying intervals during the week with rolling admission.

Opioid Recovery Group

Group Leader: Karsten Kueppenbender, MD
Time: Mondays, 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Group Leader: Nalan Ward, MD
Time: Fridays, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Buprenorphine Medication Management Group

Group Leaders: Karsten Kueppenbender, MD, and Jennifer Blewett, LICSW
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Process group, mixed gender for adults who are focused on maintaining abstinence from opiates and reducing their use of other substances of abuse. The purpose of the group is to support and sustain patients' commitment to abstinence from heroin and pills and support their recovery.

Weekly toxicology monitoring on Mondays and Tuesdays. Attendance of the group on Wednesdays is required to receive a prescription for buprenorphine/naloxone.

Relapse Prevention-based Groups

Relapse Prevention is a foundation group designed to support individuals with substance abuse or dependence histories who are in early recovery. The focus is on psycho-education and skills to reduce the risk of relapse and improve coping. The group will explore critical relapse prevention skills, with a focus on learning to manage triggers, feelings and identify and challenge distorted thinking patterns. Participants will develop a greater network of recovery resources to aid in relapse prevention.

Evening Relapse Prevention Group

Group Leader: Toby Lynch, PhD, and Allison Labbe, PhD
Time: Tuesdays 3:00 pm - 4:00pm

This time managed group provides opportunities for peer support and guidance. Participants seeking support for abstinence are welcome and can join at any point in the group.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Group

Group Leader: Frank Dibert, PhD
Time: Tuesdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

The goals of this group are to develop awareness of depressive-related triggers and habitual reactions and learn ways to create a pause in this seemingly automatic process. It also helps foster and support a kind, compassionate approach toward ourselves and one’s depression and build a lifestyle that supports mindfulness practice, emotional well-being and recovery.

Readiness Programming

Our Readiness Group welcomes members who would like support during the early stages of recovery. Topics covered include reducing the use of substances or abstinence. The group facilitates engagement with additional addictions programming and assists with treatment referrals and recommendations.

Readiness Group

Group Leader: Jennifer Blewett, LICSW
Time: Thursdays, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Integrated Skills Groups

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group

Time: Mondays, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

This group will be focused on pursuing a fulfilling life for people at any stage of recovery, whether you are using substances or not. ACT is a present-moment focused therapy that can help you identify your values and learn ways to move toward your values in everyday life. ACT also focuses on how we try to escape from discomfort (e.g. painful emotions, thoughts, sensations) by using substances and other problematic behaviors and how doing so gets in the way of truly living.

Men Overcoming Trauma and Substance Use Group

Group Leader: Toby Lynch, PhD
Time: Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

This group is open to male patients dealing with both post-traumatic stress and substance use/dependence. Prospective group members should be in recovery from substance use/dependence or motivated to reduce their alcohol or other substance intake. This group is present-focused, meaning group members do not disclose details about their trauma in session.

Women’s Recovery Group

Group Leader: Georgia Stathopoulou, PhD
Time: Wednesdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

This group focuses on the unique concerns of women who are building skills in recovery. Women in this group will learn specific skills and strategies to prevent relapse and promote recovery. In this group, we will explore topics such as the effect of substances on women’s health, managing triggers and high-risk situations, coping with stress and the effect of intimate partners on recovery.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Groups

These groups are semi-structured and process-oriented. They are useful for individuals who are looking for a setting in which to talk about their history with recovery, difficult life experiences, feelings in a safe confidential environment and to get support from others.

Finding Balance in Recovery

Group Leader: Karsten Kueppenbender, MD
Time: Wednesdays, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

This group is comprised of individuals who have completed other treatment through the West End Clinic (IOP, Relapse Prevention, etc.) and are looking for continued group support for ongoing recovery. This is an abstinence-based, open discussion group with topics related to developing a balanced, sober lifestyle. Discussion topics include developing sober coping skills for stressful situations, managing interpersonal relationships, recognizing urges and thoughts of use and coping with such in a sober manner.

Long-term Substance Abuse Recovery

Group Leader: Marc Bolduc, LICSW, CADC II, CGP
Time: Wednesdays, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

This is an open-ended, mixed gender group for people in recovery. The group provides a supportive structure and interactional opportunities that will allow members to exercise power, make decisions and develop intentions that support envisioned hopes and goals. ‎We explore the psychological and environmental forces that have contributed to members' substance use.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program

Individuals may use self-destructive behaviors to cope with intense negative emotions. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides skills and training that can help people gain more control over negative emotional states and reduce the need for drugs or alcohol. DBT teaches four different sets of skills: core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group for Substance Use

Group Leaders: Allison Labbe, PhD, and Toby Lynch, PhD
Time: Fridays, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Structured therapy designed specifically for patients with borderline personality disorder and related symptoms, who have no previous DBT skills training. This group is designed to assist patients in their use of DBT skills and principles.