Weekly Group Meetings
Next Steps: Alcohol/Drug Recovery Support for Adults
For adult men and women seeking the support of others to help them identify and work through the next steps of their personal program of recovery. While we respect 12 Step approaches, we are interested in helping those who are looking for an alternative to 12 step programs. We utilize an integration of evidence-based and theory-based interventions drawn from cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness practice, and practical application of emerging research in neuroscience. Our work is informed by practical application of interpersonal neurobiology and regulation theory. In a word, we emphasize the transformative power of self care, abstinence and seeking support in healthy relationships.
Mondays 7:00–8:30pm Fee: $40
Teen Multi-Issue Therapy Group
This multi-issue teen group for boys (14 to 18 years old) is aimed at strengthening self-confidence, personal responsibility, and skill building for emotional regulation. The group offers a safe space for working through issues of adjustment, anxiety, depression and social engagement and managing personal stress. The group is not treatment for substance abuse, however, alcohol and other drug use is addressed specific to the known risk factors of teenage substance use. The teenagers in this group typically have challenges with motivation, adjustment or other issues which may have resulted in family- school- or legal-based sanctions or consequences specific to truancy or compliance with probation. They may also present with matters related to screen time with phones, gaming and/or other internet uses.
Participants in the group may concurrently meet with me for individual and/or family therapy sessions scheduled at other times during the week. Several of the members are former group participants who no longer see me individually but are interested in continuing therapy in a group setting. Individual and/or Family therapy may be scheduled as needed.
Saturdays Noon–1pm Fee: $40
Groups for parents Seeking Support
The parent groups which I facilitate are not Tough Love, Al-Anon or any other kind of formalized programmed event. Parents in my groups feel safe enough in the group to give and receive feedback and find genuine support from parents who face similar challenges with their adolescent or adult children. Parents learn crucial skills for setting boundaries and identifying their own strategies for personal self-care, family boundaries, rules, guidelines and expectations. Over the past 20 years the “Parent Group” evolved into two separate groups which are outlined below:
Alpha Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month and is comprised of parents of teens or young adults who are experiencing high risk use of alcohol and/or other drugs and/or other challenges related to anxiety, depression, motivation, school failure, etc. These parents are looking for structural and strategic interventions for managing and addressing behavioral changes specific to healthy routines for family life, school performance and social engagement. Parents in this group may have recently enrolled their son or daughter in an outpatient or inpatient treatment program for substance use disorder, or perhaps a boarding school or wilderness based program. Parents in this group may also be seeking strategic support for how to implement more healthy use of cell phones, social media, electronic and web-based games and/or other issues that can be related to adjustment and maturation.
First Wednesday of each month 7:00–8:30pm $40
Omega Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month and is comprised of parents of adult children (ages ranging from 20 to 40 or 50) who have struggles with long term chronic, co-occurring problems with mental health and/or addiction, which are further complicated by issues of employment, housing, disability, etc. These parents are seeking the support of other parents who have learned how to support strategic efforts of independence without getting stuck in patterns of rescuing or facilitating patterns of dependence. Some parents in this group have experience with formal arrangements such as SSI/disability, and/or programs which assist with and/or provide housing or employment.
Second Wednesday of each month 7:00–8:30pm $40
Monthly Men’s Group
The first group which I ran like this was in 1993 when my office was located on Lake City Way. The group is decidedly not topic oriented but it absolutely embraces just about every topic imaginable when you gather six to eight men together and make it safe to talk about the real things that you’re dealing with in personal, family, work and existential life. Men in this group may range in age from 30 to 70s plus! We talk openly and honestly about the things that we want or desire, as well as the things that seemingly keep us from realizing those dreams or goals. In this group we see life as a learning journey and we make a serious effort to support any and all efforts towards taking responsibility for the progress we make.
Third Wednesday of each month 7:00–8:30pm Fee: $40
““From personal therapy sessions with Michael and from men’s groups that Michael runs, I have obtained the advice and guidance I need to confront the challenges of life as a single father of two young children. I recommend Michael to anyone who is confronted with serious life issues and who seeks the service of a truly exceptional therapist.””
““I just wanted to thank you for pointing me in the direction of your Monday night group. I really have a good time and learn a lot from everyone there. It is just a great group of people who seem to take recovery seriously and also can laugh at themselves at the same time. I found in this group what I hoped I would out of AA.”
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““I had nearly given up hope of ever living a life free from dependence on alcohol when I met Michael. He was able to help me understand myself in ways no other counselor, rehab or program ever had. With his help I’ve been sober over 10 years now.””
““Michael helped us find an addiction treatment center for our son. It is a heart breaking, lonely, stressful time for parents, and Michael was calm and professional. Once our son was safely in treatment, Michael invited us to his family group. We were welcomed by the other families and the group is directed by Michael. It was so reassuring to have a safe place to discuss our son and our worries. And nice to have input from other parents and share our experience with them. Because of the stigma of mental health and addiction, we were very cautious to open up to anyone- family or friends, about our son’s addiction. It was such a relief to be among friends and find support! Thank you Michael for offering this group, it is so appreciated.””
““The group members change and stay the same each month we have been fortunate enough to attend. My husband and I have found the sessions to be educational and a good place “to lick the wounds” of our family disease from mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction. Our son has struggled as far back as we can remember and he is now almost forty years old. The group helps us with making a path to right a wrong and not become totally defeated. Michael Galloway’s knowledge and experience with a great deal of kindness keeps providing tools to give us strength to keep seeing the positives in our lives! Mental illness, drugs and alcohol still suck!””
““Micheal has been our son’s counselor for several years. Our son has complex neurological and addiction conditions which exacerbate one other. Michael is gifted in so many ways, but perhaps the most impressive is the way he can connect and build trust and rapport people who struggle with dual diagnosis issues. Michael is so approachable and has given our son tools to use in addressing the multiple challenges that he faces. Michael has keen awareness of our son’s struggles and has been able to think outside the box in finding solutions that work for our son. Michael also meets with our family and has helped us to navigate the challenges that our son’s mental health and chemical dependence issues bring. The groups that Michael runs in addition to the individual sessions are also very well run. Michael has a very skilled approach of making sure that everyone is honored and heard without putting people on the spot. Michael has found ways of helping us form new connections with our son using healthy boundaries and goal setting. He uses creativity to help each person find supporting community resources beyond his own practice. He is someone you want on your team. I can’t say enough of what he has done for our family.””