SOCIAL WORK GROUP PROGRAM AT BETH ISRAEL
DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
(2009-2010)
The Social Work Department offers a wide range and variety of group services, aimed at offering support
and skill-building strategies. Groups offer a unique way of helping individuals and their families cope
with various life events, challenges and illnesses. While most of our groups are specifically designed to
meet the needs of patients and family members of the medical center, some groups may be open to people
outside the medical center as well. If you are interested in a particular group, please call the individual
clinician listed to find out more details.
Types of Groups:


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Psychoeducation: Members learn about a specific life issue, disease or coping strategy.
Support: Members share a common concern and focus on supporting each other in coping and
adjusting to a central theme. Some of these groups are led by peers, while others are led
professionally.
Psychotherapy: Members take an in-depth look at thoughts, feelings and behaviors that prevent
them from creating a more satisfying life.
For general information about groups listed here and other groups in the community, please call the
Social Work Group Information and Referral line at 617-667-1830.
MEDICAL SUPPORT GROUPS – OUTPATIENT

Asperger’s Support Group
This psychoeducational group is designed for patients with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition
affecting communication and relationships. In a supportive environment encouraging
interactions, patients will enhance social skills, identify triggers to emotional upsets, and build
coping strategies.
This 8-12 week group runs once a year; day and time to be announced
Contact: Laura Morrissey, LICSW
(617) 667-2613

ALS – Clinical Connections
A monthly drop-in group for patients who come for outpatient appointments in the ALS
clinic. Join others in a supportive group environment that was inspired by a patient with
ALS. Local restaurateurs provide the food for patients and caregivers.
Monthly group
Contact: Lissa Kapust, LICSW

2nd Wednesdays of the month
(617) 667-5150
Chronic Pain Support Group
A psychoeducational group geared towards individuals living with chronic pain. Group members
will learn strategies to better understand and manage pain which is due to such conditions as
chronic neck and lower back pain, headaches, endometriosis, neuropathy and fibromyalgia.
8 week group
Contact: Mark Forrest, LICSW
Call for days and times
(617) 667-9685
MEDICAL SUPPORT GROUPS – OUTPATIENT (continued)
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Diabetes Support Group
A group for patients to discuss how their illness impacts different aspects of their lives (family,
employment, social and emotional). Patients will have the opportunity to share their experiences
and learn from one another how they can better take care of themselves and what makes it
difficult for them to do so.
8 week group
Contact: Mary Knuth, LICSW

Liver Transplant Group for Pre and Post Liver Transplant Patients
Drop-in support group that provides an opportunity for patients to meet one another and share
their experiences coping with different phases of chronic liver disease. Meets in the Farr 10
Solarium.
Ongoing group
Contacts: Maureen Doherty, LICSW
Amanda Reed, LICSW

Mondays, 5:30pm-6:45pm
(617) 667-9761
Wednesdays, 12:00-12:50pm
(617) 632-8818
(617) 632-9832
Ostomy Support Group
A group for patients in the community with concerns and questions around ostomy care. This
multipurpose group will be educational as well as providing professional and peer support. The
group will include guest speakers and support from wound/ostomy nursing and social work to
respond to the needs of the ostomate, as well as their family and friends.
Start Date: October 7, 2009 from 6-7:30PM
Contacts: Paula Hayes, RN, CWON
Thomas L. Geraty, Ph.D., LICSW
Shapiro 10 Conference Room
(617) 632-8185
(617) 667-3459
CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS - OUTPATIENT
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Breast Cancer Support Groups
A full program of breast cancer support groups enables women to participate in a group with
others who are in the same stage of the breast cancer experience.
- Women who are recently diagnosed or in first time treatment for breast cancer.
- Women who have completed active treatment
- Women who are living with metastatic cancer
Contact:
Hester Hill, LICSW
(617) 667-2661
Call for days and times

GYN Support Group
Helps women with GYN cancers cope with and adjust to this diagnosis.
Contact:

Hester Hill, LICSW
(617) 667-2661
Call for days and times
Melanoma Caregivers Support Group
Monthly group that provides support for caregivers of patients with melanoma. This group is
coordinated to meet at the same time as the Melanoma Patient Support Group at Dana-Farber.
Both groups are open to the public and sponsored by the Melanoma Foundation of New England.
Ongoing group meets last Thursday of the month, 5:30-7:00pm
Contact: Frank McCaffrey, LICSW
(617) 667-3525
CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS – OUTPATIENT - continued
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Oncology Caregiver’s Support Group
Weekly drop-in group that provides support and education for caregivers of oncology patients.
Meets in Feldberg 7 Solarium.
Ongoing group
Contacts: Linda Goorin, LICSW
Marcie Saganov, LICSW

Thursdays, 4:00-5:30pm
(617) 667-3442
(617) 667-9185
Prostate Cancer Support Groups
A full program of oncology support services for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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The Prostate Experience Group (for patients only)
The Erectile Dysfunction Group (for patients only)
Advanced Prostate Cancer (for patients and families)
A Physician/Clinician lecture is provided from 7:00-8:30 and is open to patients and their
spouses/care partners. Monthly lecture topic and group information is also available at
www.bostonpcwalk.org.
Group meets first Monday of each Month
Contact:
Frank McCaffrey, LICSW
Patient Coordinator: Stan Klein
Group Meetings: 6-7, Lecture 7-8:30pm
(617) 667-3525
(617) 625-4875
HIV SUPPORT GROUPS - OUTPATIENT

Experienced and Positive
HIV+ group sponsored through the AIDS Malignancy Research and Treatment Center. Group
for ongoing discussion and support for those affected by HIV related malignancy and or other
advanced HIV issues.
8-week commitment required.
Contact:
Amy Goldman, LICSW
Alternating Tuesdays, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
(617) 632-0778
MEDICAL SUPPORT GROUPS - INPATIENT
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Amputee Peer Support Program
A periodic group for patients and their families who are preparing for, or who have undergone, an
amputation. The group provides support, education and a place for discussion about the impact
of undergoing the loss of a limb by an amputee peer visitor. This group is open to both inpatients
and outpatients.
Call to check status of group
Contact: Elizabeth Simpson, LICSW
(617) 632-7941
Mix and Mingle
A drop-in support group for pregnant women admitted for pregnancy complications. This group
meets on Stoneman 6.
Thursdays, 11am-12pm
Contacts: Susan Remy, LICSW
(617) 667-0675
Kim Rosen, RN
MEDICAL SUPPORT GROUPS – INPATIENT .. continued
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The “Weight” is Over
A weekly drop-in support group for all transplant candidates and recipients who are trying to lose
weight. Join other patients for support and information and to learn the most effective strategies
for weight loss. Goals will be individualized and progress will be monitored by the health care
team. Meets in Transplant Institute Conference Room, 7th floor, Lowry building.
Ongoing group
Contacts: Noelle Dimitri, LICSW
Asha Kasareneni, MS, RD
Jim Rodrigue, Ph.D.
Wednesdays, 2-3pm
(617) 632-9700
ADDICTIONS GROUPS - OUTPATIENT
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Choices about Drugs and Alcohol
Choices about Drugs and Alcohol is a group for people who have questions about their use of
alcohol or drugs. The group offers patients the opportunity to examine the role that alcohol and
drugs play in their daily lives and to share their experiences with others who are dealing with
similar questions. As a result, group members are better able to identify the positive and negative
consequences of their substance use, and to make changes in their behavior.
Contact:
Deborah Judd, LICSW
Mondays, 5:00-6:15 pm
(617) 667-2012
PARENTING GROUPS- OUTPATIENT
These groups are free and open to the community
The Parent Connection of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center:
Provides new parents an opportunity to come together, with their babies (under 1 year of age) to talk
about the joys and challenges of parenting.
Daytime Groups for New Moms with babies under one year of age:
Chestnut Hill, (call for exact day and time) at Healthworks Fitness Center
Dedham, (Tuesdays from 10am-11:30am) at Dedham Health and Athletic Complex
Lexington, (Wednesdays from 10:30am-12pm) at Temple Isaiah
Evening Group for Working Moms in Needham:
On-going group
2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 7pm-8:30pm at ISIS Maternity in Needham
Gay and Lesbian Parents of Newborns in Jamaica Plain:
On-going group
Fridays, 11am-12:30pm at St. John’s Church in Jamaica Plain
For information and to register for all of these FREE groups, please contact Christine Sweeney,
LICSW; The BIDMC Parent Connection office @ 617-667-BABY (2229)
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS - OUTPATIENT
These groups are free and open to the community

Family-to-Family, Heart-to-Heart
A peer group support program for families of oncology patients.
Contact:
Hester Hill, LICSW
(617) 667-2661
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS – OUTPATIENT… continued

Call for days and times
Patient-to-Patient, Heart-to-Heart
A peer group support program for oncology patients.
Contact:
Hester Hill, LICSW
(617) 667-2661
Call for days and times
SUPPORT/PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL GROUPS - OUTPATIENT

Bereavement Support Groups
These 8 - 12 week groups run periodically throughout the year and are open to the public free of
charge. Registration with the group facilitator is required in advance. Bereavement support
groups offer an opportunity for individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one to learn
about the natural process of grieving and to benefit from the experience of being with others who
are coping with significant loss.
Call for days, times as well as referrals to other
bereavement groups
Contact: Annie Banks, LICSW

(617) 667-3435
Life-Style Change Group
A psychoeducational group supporting healthy life style changes. The focus of the group is on
the process of change, including struggles with motivation, ambivalence, resistance, setting and
achieving personal goals, reducing stress and taking better care of one self. Issues may include
changing diet and exercise patterns which will enable one to maintain healthy life style changes.
Members must be able to commit to the 6 sessions to truly benefit from the group.
6 sessions
Call for days and times
Contacts: Lou Soltys, LICSW

Reflections Group
An ongoing group for women in their 80’s. A supportive group for women to share common
thoughts, feelings and issues as they enter this intriguing phase of their lives.
Ongoing group:
Contact:
Martha Lipson, LICSW

(617) 667-6450
Fridays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
(617) 667-1150
Stress Management Group
This 8 week group is helpful to individuals with anxiety, panic, high blood pressure and stress
related medical complaints. The format combines psycho-education, experiential exercises, and
support. Members will learn breathing and relaxation exercise, basic cognitive behavioral
techniques, and mindfulness techniques.
Contact:
Judy Skolnick, LICSW
Tuesday evenings, 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm
(617) 667-8070
PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUPS - OUTPATIENT

Focused Adult Psychotherapy Group
Helps individuals who are struggling with self-esteem, having difficulties in achieving satisfying
relationships, dealing with the effect of medical and/or physical problems and experiencing
conflicts within the workplace. Members focus upon the parallel of their own relational
difficulties within the group as being reflective of their struggles outside the group.
An ongoing weekly group, run on 16-week cycles.
Contact:

Men’s Psychotherapy Group
This is an ongoing, weekly group for men of all ages who are struggling with issues in their
relationships, work and/or how they experience themselves. The group will focus on developing
and using the group relationships in a supportive environment to address the issues of anger,
shame and intimacy.
Contact:

Stephen O’Neill, LICSW
Richard Stuver, LICSW
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
(617) 667-6443
Social Discomfort/Relationships Group
For men and women between 30 and 60 years of age who want to become more comfortable in
social relationships. For higher functioning individuals, members use support as well as group
interactions to learn ways to build more comfortable and satisfying social relationships.
An ongoing weekly group
Contact:
Lynda Seletsky, LICSW

Tuesdays, 5:30-6:45pm
(617) 667-4873
Tuesdays, 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
(617) 667-9688
Women’s Psychotherapy Group
This group helps women address issues affecting their ability to maintain intimate relationships,
satisfying work, and personal well-being. Members address common issues of self-esteem, body
image, and the impact of difficulties in their family of origin on their current lives.
Ongoing group:
Contact:
Martha Lipson, LICSW
Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:15 p.m.
(617) 667-1150
TRAUMA GROUPS – OUTPATIENT
These groups, offered by the Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery, are
all offered free of charge.

Adult Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Psycho-educational group that focuses on increasing the survivor’s ability to live life more
effectively and with less chaos. It is a group for survivors who are currently in psychotherapy.
10 week psycho-educational group
Contact: Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery

(617) 667-8141
Domestic Violence Survivors Group
Provides psycho-educational and support groups to women who have been or are experiencing
partner violence. Please call the Safe Transitions number and indicate whether or not it is safe to
call back and/or leave a message.
Short-term, weekly group: 10 sessions
Contact:
Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery
Evenings
(617) 667-8141
TRAUMA GROUPS – OUTPATIENT …continued
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Journal Writing for Female Survivors of Trauma Group
A 10-week group for survivors with trauma-related issues. Through discussion and journal
writing exercises, participants will develop new skills to work on issues which may include trust,
relationships, body-image, self-esteem, shame and guilt.
Pre-requisite: participants should have an established therapist.
Call for questions, day, and time, and to schedule an intake
Contact: Erin McCoy, LICSW

(617) 667-3454
Rape Survivors Group
Provides participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to the rape experience and decrease
the sense of isolation and shame frequently experienced.
Short-term, weekly group: 12 Sessions.
Contact:
Center for Violence Prevention & Recovery
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Evenings
(617) 667-8141