Group Therapy Offerings Descriptions
Addiction and Mental Health
  • Thursday’s from 3:00pm-4:00pm
  • Closed group for all ages
  • Type of Group: Virtual
  • Focuses: Mental health, Substance use, Education
  • Description: Group members learn how mental health and substance use are correlated. Members will learn the psychoeducation of the bio psychosocial model for both mental health and addiction, as well as immerse themselves with a group full of support, guidance, and feedback. Members will also learn about coping skills to help assist with symptoms.
Anxiety Management
  • Tuesday’s from 2:00pm-3:00pm
  • Open group for all ages
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Anxiety, Coping, Support
  • Description: This group is one that focuses on anxiety management techniques and coping strategies from different counseling modalities. Participants are invited to try different techniques to discover what works best for them. The group also gives and receives support on these modalities from other group members.
Adjusting Expectations to New Standards (ends May 23)
  • Monday’s from 4:00pm-5:00pm
  • Closed group for ages 20-40 with an 8 week commitment
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Sharing of experiences, support, self-identity
  • Description: Are you not where you thought you’d be by this time in your life? Do you feel you’re not living up to society’s expectations? Come join a group of other adults (ages 20-40) as we learn about the origins of these expectations and support each other’s experiences. By exploring how to let go of these expectations, we will discover how to live a life true to ourselves.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
  • Monday’s from 8:30am-9:30am and Tuesday’s from 4:00pm-5:00pm
  • Closed group for all ages
  • Type of Group: Virtual
  • Focuses: Mindfulness, coping strategies
  • Description: Do you experience intense emotions? Do you feel impulsive at times? Are there relationship struggles ruling your life? Feeling overwhelmed is common at this time of year. In this group, you will learn coping skills to get you through a crisis without making things worse. This group is a class-like setting and requires you to complete assigned weekly homework in preparation for the group. If you’re interested in more information, please call the Gavia office at 585.371.6464
Depression Management
  • Thursday’s from 11:00am-12:00pm
  • Open Group running for 12 weeks
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses:
  • Description: Depressive symptoms and the behaviors which maintain them very often lead us away from the things we value and toward patterns of avoidance and operating on autopilot. Depression Management takes a different approach to help you learn how to operate more mindfully, with more compassion aligned with what you value rather than on autopilot. The group will utilize The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression highlighting acceptance commitment therapy, self-compassion and applied neuroscience strategies for reducing depressive symptoms.
Emotional Support Through Song & Lyric
  • Thursday’s from 6:00pm-7:00pm
  • Open group for younger adults
  • Type of Group: In-person preferred
  • Focuses: Songs, themes
  • Description: In this group, we will listen to and analyze songs based around a theme for each week. We will explore common themes and support each other’s experiences and song choices. The group is for younger adults looking to connect with others over music!
Exploring Relationship Challenges
  • Every other Tuesday from 4:00pm-5:00pm
  • Open group for women only with a minimum of 4 week commitment
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Empowerment, self-worth, understanding, shame
  • Description: This group will provide a safe, judgment free environment where women in all phases of their relationship will empower one another as they grow in their belief that they are deserving of a life without fear or emotional manipulation. Through a series of interactive exercises, the participants will identify all forms of abuse and learn to recognize the insidious patterns of the abusive personality so that they can begin to let go of shame and answer the question of “how did I end up here”. Safety planning will be incorporated as necessary into the discussion as we learn about the cycle of domestic violence. The group will explore the impact of codependency and utilize mindfulness to break free from the guilt of walking away. The primary objective of this group is for women to leave each meeting with a deeper understanding of what true love looks and feels like
Grief and Loss
  • Wednesday’s from 5:00pm-6:00pm
  • Open group for all ages
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Support, stages through grief and loss
  • Description: Have you experienced loss? Do you feel overwhelmed by your emotions? Do you feel misunderstood by others? Everyone grieves and heals in their own unique way. This group will provide you with a safe, compassionate space to process your grief with others who also understand loss. If you’re interested in more information, please call the Gavia office at 585.371.6464
Journaling: A Tool for Coping with Emotions
  • Tuesday’s from 9:00am-10:30am
  • Closed group with an 8 week commitment
  • Type of Group: Virtual
  • Focuses: Writing, resolution of pain
  • Description: This group will involve learning to make your own journal. In that journal, the client will write or create art. Each round will involve a new topic discussed and agreed upon by the members of the group. The facilitator will create prompts around these topics and time in session will be spent answering these topics via journaling. The group will discuss the topic at the end of each session.
LGBTQ Support
  • Monday’s from 4:00pm-5:00pm
  • Closed group with an 8 week commitment
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Experiences, Support, Acceptance
  • Description: Clients who identify as part of the LGBTQ community that are seeking support and a safe space to fully express themselves in a positive and non-judgemental environment. While belonging to the LGBTQ community can be a source of strength, it can also bring challenges in some, or all aspects of one’s life. For those who identify as LGBTQ, it’s important to recognize how your experience of sexual orientation and/or gender identity relates to your mental health, as well as learning new and healthy ways to cope with these challenges. There will be an opportunity to share personal experiences in a healthy group setting. This group is intended to help individuals in learning to love and accept themselves for who they truly are, while also receiving support from their peers and facilitating therapist
Relaxation Through Music
  • Wednesday’s from 11:00am-12:00pm
  • Open group for all ages
  • Type of Group: In-person
  • Focuses: Relaxation, music, coping strategies
  • Description: Are you looking for simple techniques to help you relax? Do you like music? This group will introduce ways you can use music to incorporate relaxation into your daily life. We will learn breathing techniques, active music listening skills, and other music-based relaxation strategies
Setting Boundaries
  • Monday’s from 9:00am-11:30am
  • Open group with minimum 6 week commitment
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Boundaries, Self-worth, Caring for oneself
  • Description: This group aims to help members explore what boundaries are (personal, interpersonal, emotional, physical, etc.), when their boundaries have been overstepped, the emotions that come along with boundaries and how this can change over time. Additionally, it explores the concepts of people pleasing, and developing an understanding of how to step into spaces with conviction and void of fear. This group aims to increase feelings of self-worth and development of the idea of what it truly means to care for oneself. This group will use art at times, as well as talk, writing, and discussion. New members should meet with group facilitator for 15 minutes prior to the session to address any concerns and go over group rules and guidelines.
Talk it Out
  • Tuesday’s from 5:00pm-6:00pm
  • Open group for men only
  • Type of Group: Hybrid
  • Focuses: Processing, Authenticity, Reflection
  • Descriptions: Talk it Out is a small, confidential group for men who meet weekly for six weeks. It’s a place to be one’s authentic self without fear, deception, or judgment. Each week, members will discuss and process the diverse experiences from their lives. The hope is that each group member can not only see their individual reflections, but also experience seeing their reflection in others. Talk it Out is not a spiritual group, though spiritual things certainly can take place. It’s a therapy group, where men can heal parts of their psyche, and become sharper, wiser, and more well-rounded as people.

Mission Statement

Gavia is the name of the Genus for the Loon, a bird that is native to North America. Loons are the bird that holds it's breath the longest and dives the deepest. Our mission at Gavia LifeCare Center is to equip therapists and clients with the skills they need to hold their breath and take a deep dive to improve their quality of life on a daily basis.