All-Day Saturday Group Times: 9:30 - 3:00
Morning session: 9:30 - 11:45
Discussion of the cognitive/rational therapy solutions.
No one is called on or made the center of attention. You speak when you want to speak and there is no pressure to say anything until you feel ready and volunteer to do so.
Lunch Break:
Bring a sack lunch or you can eat anywhere, inside or outside the facilities
Afternoon session: 12:15 - 3:00
This is the behavioral portion of therapy, when we put what we're learning (cognitively) together with our actions. This is always done methodically -- one step at a time. You are the one in charge of this.
It is likely, that as the program moves forward, the ending time may be later.
During the Week:
Getting together for social purposes during the week will be encouraged, as will doing behavioral experiments with other group members -- when you are ready to do them. All of this is your choice. The group is very active socially -- on Sundays and the weeknights -- and learning to feel comfortable and enjoy being around other people is a big part of the program. The people who participate most at the activities keep the momentum going as they are in the process of overcoming social anxiety.
We have several young people interning here for future careers, and they assist us with the out-of-clinic social events and behavioral experiments.
Group members also ask other members for direct assistance on strategies they are working on. For example, a woman who was working on slowing herself down (talking, thinking, etc.) asked the other group members to mention it to her when she started talking too quickly. They did, and she was able to make much faster progress in learning to automatically slow down. Each member feels free to ask for help for the things they find most difficult. The group is always supportive and encouraging, and this makes a bigger positive difference than you may think.
If you are fully motivated and want to get as much out of the program as you can, keep in mind that it is daily cognitive and behavioral work that helps us get better. But you will have help, support, and physical assistance with all parts of getting better.