Group Psychotherapy
Group therapy is one of my greatest passions as a clinician. Early on in my training I realized that psychotherapy groups are a treasure of healing and connection, and a unique opportunity for the discovery of self and other.
In a psychotherapy group we can experience ourselves; exploring how others influence us, how we influence them, how we react and express ourselves, and when we choose to withdraw and disengage. The group offers a unique opportunity to discover who we are “in real time” with others who can witness and support our discoveries. With the guidance of a psychotherapist, a group typically meets once a week for 60-90 minutes. Most groups have 5-12 members. While the idea of joining a group might sound foreign or even intimidating, groups offer a powerful avenue for growth.
When someone decides to join an interpersonal therapy group they may hope to:
Increase self-esteem and internal strength
Practice communicating thoughts, feelings, and needs directly
Understand and harness the power of emotions
Learn more effective coping skills for anxiety: quitting people pleasing, becoming less controlling (or easily controlled), no longer relying on drugs or alcohol to manage stress or discomfort, reducing self-criticism, and increasing compassion for self and others.
Learn to relate better to others and to feel better about themselves
Create and maintain close, and meaningful, relationships
Better understand themselves and their relational patterns
Communicate clearly and with greater ease
Trust more fully in themselves and in others
Although group psychotherapy is a wonderful treatment modality on its own, many patients choose to engage in individual and group psychotherapy in conjunction. Before joining one of my groups, I will meet with you for 2-4 individual sessions to explore this option together and see if one of the groups I offer would serve your unique needs.
Dr. Avivi’s Groups
Current Groups
Tuesdays 3:30–4:30 PM - Weekly process group for Mount Sinai psychiatry residents.
Tuesdays 5:30–7:00 PM - Interpersonal Psychodynamic Relationship Group: Open to NY, NJ, and CT residents. The group meets online for most sessions and meets in person once a month, typically on the last Tuesday of the month.
Fridays 4:00–5:30 PM - Monthly student experiential group. Open to current members only at this time. Co-leading with Dr. Aziza Belcher Platt.
Wednesdays 8:30–10 PM - Weekly Experiential Student group. Open to current students of EGPS Training Program. Co-leading with Dr. Aziza Belcher Platt.
Thursdays 9:30–10:45 AM - Biweekly virtual consultation group. Co-leading with Gabriela Portas. Open to those in clinical practice.
Fridays 1:00–2:00 PM - Monthly supervision group. Open to current employees and trainees of CDP.
Past Groups
Columbia Day Program (CUMC): Weekly psychodynamic process oriented group, weekly Mindfulness group, weekly LGBTQIA+ support group, weekly DBT groups, weekly CBT groups, and weekly ACT groups.
CITPD (Mount Sinai West): Tri-weekly psychodynamic process group with adult population, weekly DBT group, weekly Art Therapy group.
Coney Island Outpatient Clinic: Weekly Art Therapy Group, Weekly psychodynamic Process group
Dr. Avivi has also run in-patient process, art, and skills groups in in-patient settings at Zucker Hillside hospital, Kings County Hospital Center, NYSPI ED Research Unit, and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Future Groups
My colleagues and I are often offering skills groups (DBT, CBT, ACT), short term topic groups (trauma focused, dating, mindfulness), and Supervision groups. Additional psychodynamic interpersonal groups might also open in the near future. Please contact me to inquire about such groups.