Group psychotherapy offers the opportunity for you to process emotional or social challenges in a supportive environment with other clients who are experiencing the same kinds of challenges. Groups are led by experienced psychotherapists. Many of our groups focus on LGBTQ and HIV related concerns; additional groups focus on other issues and are not necessarily aimed at a particular community. Group therapy is available to both existing medical patients and non-patients, however certain groups may have other eligibility requirements or restrictions. See full listing below.

There are two main ways to learn more about groups, find out about openings, and begin the screening process (Note: for certain groups, the facilitator may ask you to complete an additional screening before joining the group.):

1. Current medical patients can request an in-person screening when at the health center for a medical appointment. Just let your provider know that you would like to speak with a Behavioral Health Specialist who is part of your care team.

2. Non-patients of the health center can get information about groups and schedule a screening by calling Kevin Waldorf-Cruz at 202-745-6176.  

Group psychotherapy is provided at 1525 and MRC.

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Current group offerings: 

LGBT-Specific Groups

Transpectrum

Transpectrum psychotherapy group is intended to serve as a safe and confidential space to support individuals who identify as transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender-expansive or even those who are just beginning to explore their gender identity journey. Group members are encouraged to discuss their experiences, share their ideas, and extend and receive support through various presenting concerns/issues/problems. Topics of process have included, but are not limited to: coming out, hormone therapy and surgery readiness, family of origin issues, navigating relationships, transitioning while in the workplace, addiction and recovery, and the overall impact of transitioning while also addressing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. An initial screening appointment with the group facilitator is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: Nicole Armstead-Williams, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Umoja: Uniting Black Folx of Black Trans Experience

Umoja psychotherapy group serves as a safe space to support the full spectrum of persons of black trans experience. Group members are encouraged to discuss their experiences, share their ideas and extend and receive support through issues that disproportionately impact the mental health of this community. Issues to explore include, but are not limited to: intersectionality of identifying as black and trans, racism and historical adversity, stigma and internalized shame, stereotypes about suicide, cultural factors, family and the black religious experience, trauma and minority stress. While exploring these issues, participants will carve an intentional space to celebrate the journey of transition, to honor the resilient narratives of black trans people, exemplify healthy models of black love and relationships and share self-care and stress reduction techniques, in an effort to affirm that black trans lives matter and black mental health matters. An initial screening appointment with the group facilitator is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: Nicole Armstead, MSW, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Umoja Flyer

Sexual Compulsion for Gay Men

This group focuses on out-of-control sexual behavior, sexual compulsion issues, love addiction and love avoidance. Group members must make a commitment to a minimum of 12 sessions. An initial screening appointment with the group facilitator is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: Randy Pumphrey, LPC, BCC

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Man in the Mirror

Man in the Mirror is designed to be a safe space for gay men to talk about one’s relationship with food, their body, and recovery. This is a process group for frank discussions about disordered eating/eating disorders and the specifics of how gay male culture may be influencing behaviors. Group participants can expect non-judgmental support and compassion from a trained clinician and is open to anyone identifying as a gay male. Psycho-education, individual check-ins and connection to additional treatment are also catered to the specific needs of each group member. Please note this is not a weight loss or dieting support group, but rather a space to develop healthy ways to understand and cope with eating disorders, distorted body image and ED behaviors (restriction, over exercise, binge eating, purging, etc.). All participants should be in care with a medical provider. Group meets on Tuesdays at 4:30-6 PM beginning October 6, 2020 – pre-screens are required to attend group. Please contact Chad Wheeler at 202-207-2386 or cwheeler@whitman-walker.org. Watch a short video below to learn more about the group and meet Chad, the facilitator!

Group Facilitator: Chad Wheeler

Location: Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Gay Men’s Mood Disorder Group

This ongoing psychotherapy group is open to gay men who are experiencing symptoms of major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, social anxiety or adjustment disorders. This group focuses on strengthening coping strategies and self-compassion for people with mood disorders. Group members must make a commitment to a minimum of 12 sessions. This group is accepting new members at this time and an initial screening appointment is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: James Johnson, LPC

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Gay and Bisexual Men’s Anxiety and Depression Group

This ongoing psychotherapy group is for gay and bisexual men coping with the effects of HIV and chronic or acute stress in their lives. This group offers a supportive environment to support and process mood disorders and the effects of stress on the mind and body. The group is open to HIV+ gay men with mood disorders, adjustment issues or other chronic stress. Mindfulness, mind-body relaxation, breathing and other stress reduction techniques will be utilized throughout each session.

Group Facilitator: Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Freedom from Eating Disorders

Freedom from Eating Disorders is designed to be a safe space to talk about one’s relationship with food, their body, and recovery. This is a process group for frank discussions about disordered eating/eating disorders/negative body image and following one’s path to wellness. Members can display a variety of symptoms, such as restricting food, binging where large quantities of food is consumed in a short period of time, purging behaviors using diuretics, laxatives, over exercising, and/or vomiting. Group participants can expect non-judgmental support and compassion from two trained clinicians and is open to anyone in the LGBTQ community.

Please note this is not a weight loss or dieting support group, but rather a space to develop healthy ways to understand and cope with eating disorders and ED behaviors (restriction, over exercise, binge eating, purging, etc.).

All participants must be in treatment with a medical provider and ideally, also seeing an individual therapist. Groups meet on Tuesdays at 4:30-6 PM  – pre-screens are required to attend the group.

Please contact Jen Bindeman at 202-939-7666 or jbindeman@whitman-walker.org

Group Facilitator: Jen Bindeman, LICSW, LCSW-C, LMSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Freedom From Eating Disorders Flyer

HIV-Specific Groups

Women’s HIV Psychotherapy Group

This ongoing psychotherapy group is for women living with HIV who are also managing a mood disorder such as depression, anxiety or bi-polar disorder. This group specifically addresses the interaction between mental health concerns and HIV from a woman’s perspective. Group topics include: relationships, intimacy, anger management, addiction, self-esteem, aging and managing HIV, as well as strategies for sharing one’s status with intimate partners and loved ones.

Group Facilitator: James Johnson, LPC

Location: Max Robinson Center. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Thriving with HIV

This group is designed for people who have lived with HIV for more than 10 years. The group addresses issues of being a long time survivor of HIV and aims to help members improve their quality of life. Some topics include aging with HIV, managing multiple medical conditions, dealing with intimacy and coping with loss.

Group Facilitator: David Facenda, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

General Psychotherapy Groups

Eat and Engage with Jen Bindeman and Emily Gerlach

Eat and Engage is a group is an opportunity to use a lunch hour and improve one’s relationship with food and eating over your lunch break. We will work on strategies to find greater peace with eating and to learn to trust your body to tell you when it is hungry and when it is full. This group is ideal for people who have struggled with an eating disorder or disordered eating and want a supportive environment to eat in with one and another and re-discover the fun in eating. Please note this is not a weight loss or dieting support group, but rather an hour to spend with others who share your struggles and to support each other and learn new ways of thinking about food and your health. Come ready to share what you are eating with the group each week. This group is led by Jen Bindeman, LICSW, LCSW-C, LMSW, and Emily Gerlach, MS, RDN, LD and will meet virtually on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 PM. Please contact Jen at jbindeman@whitman-walker.org or call at 202-939-7666 to be enrolled.

Group Facilitator: Jen Bindeman, LICSW, LCSW-C, LMSW and Emily Gerlach, MS, RDN, LD

Location: Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This will be a closed, 8-12 week group with 80-minute sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The group is for people between 18-29, with motivation to change, who would either benefit from learning and practicing CBT skills like identifying/labeling thoughts, understanding thought distortion, cognitive restructuring, goal setting, problem solving and behavioral activation, or have a specific goal in mind they would like to develop a treatment plan to address.

Group Facilitator:Dr. Matt Salmon

Location: Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Healing Life's Losses With Chad Wheeler

Healing Life's Losses  is an ongoing process group for anyone experiencing the death/loss of a loved one. There is not a wrong way to grieve. This group is designed to provide a safe space to grieve, talk about the process, and the many stages of grief. Psycho-education will be incorporated into how we think about grief using a scientific and holistic lens with a focus on mindful meditation. This group is to learn from and support others as we explore the many ways we can grieve and heal. Group meets Monday nights from 6PM-7:15PM. Please contact Chad Wheeler at 202-207-2386 or cwheeler@whitman-walker.org.

Group Facilitator: Chad Wheeler

Location: Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Stress Reduction for Overcoming Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia

This is an ongoing psychotherapy for individuals coping with the effects of chronic or acute stress in their lives. This group offers a supportive environment to connect with others, process mood disorders and the effects of stress on the mind and body. The group is open to anyone with mood disorders, adjustment issues or other chronic stress. Mindfulness, mind-body relaxation, breathing and other stress reduction techniques will be utilized throughout each session. An initial screening appointment is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Understanding Your Use With Chad Wheeler and Monica Fuentes Carbonetto

Understanding Your Use is a group at Whitman Walker Health that is designed to be a first step in thinking about/receiving addiction treatment at WW. This group is designed as a safe space to talk about participants relationship with substance use and the behaviors they may wish to change (Abstinence based/WWAS) or reduce (Harm Reduction). Psycho-education on identifying potential addictive behaviors within yourself and treatment options either in Whitman Walkers Addiction Services/Harm reduction, or , we can refer to other programs within the community. Participants will discover tools through DBT skills; learn about the disease of addiction, self‐asses where they are in the stages of change and readiness for treatment. Group is open to anyone and meets on Wednesdays from1PM- 2:15 PM and pre‐screens are required to attend group. Next group begins Sept 16, 2020. Please contact Chad Wheeler at 202-207-2386 or cwheeler@whitman-walker.org.

Group Facilitator: Chad Wheeler and Monica Fuentes Carbonetto

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Basic Skills Training Group

This 12 week group offers participants the opportunity to learn 1-2 basic skills from each of the four DBT modules (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness) and serves as an introduction to DBT skills in general as opposed to the longer 28-week DBT Group. The goal is for client’s to learn skills and practice them in their everyday life to help manage difficult emotions and damaging behaviors. The group is structured like a workshop where the group leaders teach, assign and review homework. While there is some sharing that takes place, group participation is focused on how to most effectively utilize and practice new ways of coping. Group members may be required to have access to other mental health support for the duration of group membership. An initial screening appointment is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitators: Camille Adams, LICSW and Kevin Waldorf-Cruz, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group

This approximately 28 week group focuses on teaching participants how to manage difficult emotions, suicidal thoughts, self-harming and other impulsive or damaging behaviors and improve relationships. The group members are introduced to four modules of specific skills (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness). The group is run more like a workshop where the group leaders teach the skills, assign homework for clients to practice using the skills in their everyday lives and review the assigned work regularly. Although sharing is part of the group experience, the sharing is focused on practicing the skills in daily lives or in group with an emphasis on ways of enhancing mastery. The group members are required to have access to an individual therapist for the duration of group membership. An initial screening appointment is necessary for admission.

Group Facilitator: Dorin Captari-Scirri, NCC, LPC

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Art Heals: Creative Strategies for Stress Reduction and Self-Care

This is an ongoing art therapy group for individuals coping with the effects of a chronic health condition, mood disorder and acute stress in their lives. The group seeks to offer a supportive and non-judgmental space where participants can explore a variety of stress management strategies that incorporate the art-making process. Some interventions may include supportive talk-therapy, art psychotherapy, mindfulness and other stress reduction techniques.

Group Facilitator: James Johnson, LPC

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

Inclusive Psychotherapy

This psychotherapy group is open to all clients of WWH who are experiencing mood dysphoria with anxious or depressed symptoms. The group is inclusive of all people regardless of gender, race, HIV status or sexual orientation. An initial screening interview with the facilitator is required prior to admission to the group.

Group Facilitator: Lisa Zimmerman, LICSW

Location: Whitman-Walker at 1525. Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.