Groups and Programs

Recovery and Relapse Prevention Group
Aftercare for teens and young adults

The Recovery and Relapse Prevention group is intended for teens and young adults who have successfully completed a course of primary treatment for substance abuse. The group includes elements of experiential therapy, psychodrama, and cognitive therapy. The group is geared to addressing issues that teens face upon returning home, including:

•    how to manage high-risk and stressful situations
•    how to deal with old friends that are still stuck in unhealthy patterns
•    increasing motivation for school and positive accomplishments
•    communicating with parents and developing the skills to move through disagreements without relapsing into old behavior patterns
•    understanding the relapse process and the signs and triggers of relapse

The weekly recovery and relapse prevention group helps create a supportive community where students come in contact with others who are exuberant about life in recovery. Students learn to listen deeply and to encourage one another to continue taking steps towards positive change and self-empowerment

Click here to find out more about this group and Potomac Pathways Aftercare.

ADHD Support Group
for high school and college students with ADHD

For several years we’ve been working on learning more about the needs of teens with ADHD, and now, finally, we are providing a support structure just for high school and college students with ADHD. We provide a weekly support group for the students that helps to increase understanding of their learning differences while decreasing the sense of being stigmatized, less intelligent, or less capable than other students. Positive peer mentors in the group, who have learned to manage their ADHD-related issues with behavior, family and school—help the students to increase their sense of hope and self-esteem, and decrease feelings of depression. And by working on family issues in the peer group setting, the program helps to decrease anger and oppositional behavior at home. In addition, the students work on school related issues such as strategies for getting their homework done and getting organized.

We also meet with the parents and with the whole family together in order to: increase understanding of the treatment goals and the progressive treatment process; to help the family reach agreement about a short list of expectations, rewards and consequences. We also include drug testing for group members who may have some substance use or experimentation going on. Students with more serious substance abuse are not appropriate for this program, which focuses on the treatment of ADHD. For students with more serious substance abuse, we would begin with a psychosocial assessment, including a drug and alcohol assessment, and then recommend an appropriate level of care.

A typical program month includes:
•    Weekly ADHD support group with “Positive peer mentors”
•    Weekend Wellness Days—outdoor adventure activities
•    Combined individual/parent/ family sessions, weekly for the first month, then, as needed

Weekend Wellness Outdoor Adventure Days

Who says recovery has to be dull, conventional? Add some natural excitement to your life! Weekend Wellness high-adventure experiences are included in the Potomac Pathways Aftercare programs for every student. And for something truly unique–Potomac Pathways includes a series of wellness retreats just for students in recovery! Prepare yourself for kayaking, sailing, rock-climbing, high-ropes course activities, whitewater rafting and much more. With professional instructors guiding you, you can feel free to take a risk for your own personal empowerment! All-natural excitement in an environment of support, friendship and sobriety! WOW!

Weekend Wellness Saturday Afternoons

You can expect to experience deep relaxation and learn skills to continue with stress reduction at home. We provide the wellness professionals and services—yoga for overcoming addictions, meditation for reducing stress and managing challenging emotions, West African drumming, Native American ceremonies, and more! All this and healthy food!

Family Retreats

Coming soon—day-long retreats for the whole family that involve parents and kids in fun and adventurous activities with a goal in mind: moving through obstacles, dissolving barriers, and creating a more united family system. These retreats will be a combination of the wellness retreats and the adventure programs. They will combine activities for relaxation and stress reduction, along with some experiential outdoor programming. Group work will provide an opportunity to improve and increase family communication, deepen relationships, and learn from other families’ experiences.

 

Check the calendar for upcoming Weekend Wellness events!

 

High ropes course fun on Adventure Island: swinging out over
the Potomac near Riley's Lock