Psychiatry Services

Psychosis Group Therapy

Symptom Management Group

Wednesdays, 3–4 pm

This group is for patients with a chronic illness, such as schizoaffective, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. The focus is symptom identification and management using both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in a recovery process. The goal is to help patients better manage symptoms, improve functioning, and develop social skills. This is a good transition group for people leaving the Community Reintegration Program or other Intensive Outpatient Program.

Contact: Robert Marvin, MD, 312.413.1718, rmarvin@psych.uic.edu

SMART (Symptom Management and Recovery Therapy) (Fee for service)

Mondays, 2–3 pm

This is an open group for adults within the first five years of onset of psychosis. The SMART group is grounded in strengths-based care, supporting individuals as they identify and achieve personal recovery goals and collaborating to actively develop resilience, coping and self-help strategies, and skills to manage symptoms of psychosis

Contact: Clare Tessman, APN, 312.996.6664, dtessman@psych.uic.edu

Tobacco Cessation Support Group  (Free)

Mondays, 12:30–1:30 pm
Tuesdays, 2:30–3:30 pm

This is an open group for any adults who are interested in tobacco cessation or currently in the process.  This group setting will help facilitate discussions on coping mechanisms for cravings, treatment options and finding the appropriate resources to create a successful quit-smoking plan.

Contact:  Shiyun Kim, PharmD, 312.996.6110 ext. #7, shiyunk@uic.edu

Health and Wellness Peer Support Group (Free)

Second Monday of the month, 2–3 pm

This group is open and offered at no charge. The underlying philosophy of this group is grounded in peer support and health-and-wellness decision making tools to support a healthy lifestyle. As part of the group experience, participants will engage in a collaborative effort in sustaining health and wellness. Topics that will be explored include health-and-wellness goal setting, managing stress, diet, exercise, sleep, relationships and support network, reframing negative thinking patterns by using the 3C's (Catch It, Check It, Change It), and spirituality, as it relates to health and wellness.

Contact: Cheryl Farney CRSS, 312.355.3593, cfarney@psych.uic.edu     

WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) (Free)

Monday 1 – 2 pm

WRAP is a closed group that is available to UIC Psychiatry adult clients and the community at large. WRAP is a tool for persons in recovery from mental illness to use to bolster their recovery process and improve their understanding of their own being during times of illness and wellness. WRAP is an eight-week, evidence-based group that provides participants with wellness tools to help them define "me well" and to create a daily maintenance plan. WRAP also helps develop action plans for triggers that interfere with daily life, during early warning signs, and for crisis and post-crisis situations.

Contact: Cheryl Farney, CRSS to enroll for the WRAP 8 week sessions, 312.355.3593, cfarney@psych.uic.edu