Group Therapy
“We do whatever the opposite of small talk is in here: we do big talk.”
We often describe group as a place where people ask how you are not to be polite, but because they truly want to know. If you are ready to get started, or you want to talk about whether group is right for you, click the button below to connect with Robert. If you're curious about what group is, what we do there, or whether group could be a good fit for you or someone you love, keep reading.
What IS Group? Frequently Asked Questions
Our weekly groups are a processing format: an unstructured form of group therapy where we simply talk about life: our patterns and behaviors, our relationships, our goals and challenges, and yes, our feelings. Group creates opportunities to both have a village and be a village; to give and get support, to explore autonomy and accountability, and to grow (we enjoy a good joke as well).
Is Group Just For Substance Use Recovery? Or Can Anyone Join?
It’s not just for substance use recovery and yes, anyone can join. While many of our group participants join as part of their journey through substance use disorder, you do not have to have a diagnosis in order to attend, and our processing groups are not limited or specific to substance use disorder.
Our discussions are led by whatever feelings and needs come up that week.
Requirements/Guidelines:
Group sessions run weekly (4-5 sessions per month, depending on the calendar) at a monthly subscription cost of $160 (regardless of attendance). Weekly attendance is strongly recommended as consistency and connection are what make group great, but we also know that life happens (it’s why we’re all here).
Is Group Right For Me?
We have never been more digitally connected but emotionally disconnected - both from one another and ourselves. Group creates opportunities for meaningful interaction to help us process our hardest feelings and worst days, so we can show up as our very best selves.
In addition to just being a place to go when life feels hard, group can be a great fit for people navigating:
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Relationship changes: everything from trying to show up in new relationships free from old patterns, to navigating divorce or an empty nest
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Recovery from substance use disorders
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Mental health and wellness: processing groups can be especially helpful for people navigating situational depression and unexpected life changes
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Grief and loss, in all its many forms
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Identity, self worth, and self-care
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Career change or loss
And just about anything else that is shaping the way you show up in your life.
What to Expect from Our Therapeutic Processing Group
While the informal style and communal feel of our groups is a departure from how many people imagine group therapy (or how they saw it on TV), saying yes can feel scary. It’s good to know what to expect.
How It Works
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We Operate With Integrity, Not Structure. There is no rigid agenda or lesson plan; members bring up whatever feelings, challenges (or wins!) they want to share that day. Some days we share more; some less.
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We Go Deep: The goal of group is to create a safe space to talk about the things that really matter to us. While humor sometimes helps us grease the wheels, we don’t shy away from saying hard things here - but we won’t push you to go beyond what feels right for you that day. Because…
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We Make it Safe. The group atmosphere we’ve established is distinctive because of the deep respect, care, and compassion our participants have for one another. It’s why group works so well, and it’s what we expect from all members.
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We’re Here to Help. Our experienced facilitators gently guide every discussion to help ensure that we not only share; we also learn and grow (and someone has to turn off the lights and lock the door).
Meet Our Facilitators
Director & Lead Facilitator
Robert Veeder
About Robert
My wife says that I never have a bad day. That’s of course not true, but I am a pretty incurable optimist. Maybe that should tell you how far I have come - and what is possible.
I laugh as often as I possibly can. I love watching old silent films, and I almost always have music playing: it’s a personal goal of mine to listen to as much music as possible while I am alive, and I love all of it - opera, bluegrass, jazz, funk, whatever. I’m a big fan of the Grateful Dead, and I try to catch Phish whenever I can. We have a sober jam about once a month at our house. It’s a blast and truly some of my favorite times to be alive.
I play a mean blues harmonica, but prefer pickin’ my banjo. I also play a squeeze box, and can bang out enough chords on our old piano to keep me dangerous. I am a self-taught piano player. I learned to play in prison, where I played for the prison’s gospel choir, which is frankly just as romantic as it sounds. I’m not a half-bad juggler, and I usually have a magic trick in my pocket for the kids. I approach every day with optimism and gratitude. I have devoted my life to helping other people find recovery and joy. Connect with me today and let's find out how to recover yours.
Qualifications
2019-present
New York State Certified Addiction Recovery Coach
2014 - 2020
Chemical Dependency Therapist, Rochester Regional Health
2003-present
Person in long-term recovery from multiple polysubstance use disorders and a very proud member of the global recovery community.
Co-Facilitator
Allison Burke
About Allison
Allison has been a professional writer and content creator for more than 15 years. Her personal work explores the emotional drivers behind human behavior and relationships with an emphasis on our most complicated relationship: the one we have with ourselves.
Allison is the founder of Magic Hour Healing, where she applies her clinical skills, training in narrative therapy, trauma healing, somatic healing, and her own life experience to guide and support people navigating grief, loss, trauma, abuse, divorce, and all the other changes that rock our foundations and shake up our souls.
She is the grateful mother and curator of two miraculous human beings, a world traveler, bookworm, feminist, activist, group fitness instructor, and fierce and loyal sister, niece, and friend. When she is not doing all of these things she can be found…just kidding, that never happens. You can read her personal essays at allisonlburke.com
Qualifications
2024 Certification in Narrative Therapy; Certification in Somatic Release Technique, Udemy
2002 Master's in Social Work
SUNY Albany
2001 Bachelor's in Social Work and Women's Studies
Niagara University
Located Inside
The Box Factory
6 N Main St
Second Floor
Suite
Fairport, NY 14450
Phone
585-285-0739
