Adult Program Overview
There are currently two ongoing adult group programs that meet in West Los Angeles. Members discuss difficult or troubling events in their lives as well as effective ways they have learned to cope with situations. One of the biggest advantages that a group has over individual treatment is the opportunity to hear how others have dealt with similar situations. It can also be extremely helpful to have the support of others when difficult times arise. We use a variety of approaches, including just talking about problems, role-playing, video-taping, computer animation, going out, and other exercises designed to make treatment more effective
Why meet in a restaurant? It wasn’t always this way. I’ve run the adult group since the mid 90’s. Initially it occurred in my office and we went out to eat about once every four groups. They always looked forward to that part. I was consistently struck at how useful it was. When I moved my office from the CSMC area, I maintained a satellite office in Brentwood; however the group still wanted to go out to eat. When my lease renewal came up, I asked them if they might prefer meeting in a retaurant rather than the office. Since it is a social skills program, the level of confidential information passed during group is quite low, plus I always monitored to see that no one was right next to where we sat.
They give us the back room area to meet. If the music is a little too loud, they turn it down for us, there is a silent TV mounted up high for the group members to ignore. And the food is quite reasonably priced, so many of the group members have their dinner.
