Learning Skills for Managing Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety can be devastating in so many ways. However, learning to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression is possible. This group is designed to help individuals learn basic coping skills for anxiety. You will learn how to do specific breathing techniques and progressive relaxation to combat anxiety and regain a sense of control in your life. This group is also a great opportunity to build relationships with people struggling with similar difficulties. As fellow travelers dealing with anxiety and depression you do not have to go alone on this journey of healing!

This group focuses on helping people learn to better control symptoms of anxiety and depression by learning skills such as:

• Being present in the moment – One of the key focuses of this group is to teach you how to gain better control of wandering, negative thoughts and worry by being fully present in the here and now. You will learn breathing techniques and other skills to help you pay attention to your thoughts, process those thoughts, and redirect thoughts and emotions in a constructive way. These breathing and focus techniques are used along with other skills such as progressive relaxation and visualization, to help you gain control over your symptoms.
• Progressive relaxation – Stress affects you physically as well as emotionally. You will learn exercises that allow you to control stress by reducing tension in your body. This is done by focusing your thoughts towards areas of tension, and learning to willfully relax those areas of your body.
• Visualization – During times of stress, it’s helpful to refocus our thoughts towards the positive. Visualization is about taking yourself to a place of peace and safety within your thoughts. This helps you to organize your thoughts, learn to manage those thoughts, reflect on what’s true, and focus on positives and gratitude in the midst of depression and anxiety.
• Therapeutic art and Sand Tray – Learning to express your thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner is a great way to relax and release negative emotions safely. Art and sand tray techniques are wonderful tools for helping people find a creative outlet for negative emotions, and focus on something that brings them satisfaction and enjoyment.
• Processing Emotions – When we can process our emotions we have a greater ability to cope with them. When we build relationships with others we are no longer disconnected. The absence of safe spaces to do both of these can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression. In a group, participants can establish a space where feelings can be safely explored and talked about so that healing and change can occur.

This group is designed to supplement individual counseling. You must be receiving regular counseling either with Michael Lillie or another licensed therapist in Washington State. If you are seeing another therapist other than Michael Lillie, you must be willing to sign a release of information (ROI) in order to provide continuity of care during the time spent in the group.

Group counseling is here to enhance your recovery while offering tools for success and support that goes beyond your time in session. This is a great way to break up the workweek and deal with stress.

This group meets every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 beginning in the Fall and is ongoing and open to enrollment.