PCS Groups

  • Relationship Enhancement Group

    Sundays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
    Angus Building

    Relationship Enhancement Group is a psychoeducational group aiming to provide an introduction to attachment theory, the basis for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).  With this information, group members should be able to identify their attachment styles and give thought to ways in which their attachment styles work together with their partners to create their negative cycle of interaction. 

    Facilitators: Hadas Ron-Zarki, LPC; Aliza Cooper, LMFT; Kira Arthur, LAC; Katie Beckham, LPC; Elizabeth Hanson, LAC; Clark Wheeler, LAC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

    Sunday
    (Start time varies between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm)

    Our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy(EAP) group meets offsite for 2 hours. In our fast paced world it can be difficult to slow down and be present. Due to their size, the horses will organically help you to slow down, be mindful, and present. The activities will engage you intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. The horses become a canvas onto which you project your reality. By becoming aware of both your non-interpretive observation and the story that follows, you become better informed about yourself and how you move through your world. Through this organic process you will begin, or deepen, your journey of self-discovery and awareness. You will be invited to consider new ways of being in, and engaging with, the world. The horses are able to meet each person, in the moment, without judgment. We ask that you do the same – meet yourself in the moment, without judgment and with curiosity. By looking through the lens of curiosity as you lean into your therapeutic process you can find growth and healing. Our equine staff are all rescue horses who have experienced various levels of trauma, abuse, neglect, and deprivation. They have wisdom beyond our human abilities. Come learn about yourself through our gifted herd. 

    The group session incorporates horses utilizing the Eagala* model of EAP. For more information on this model visit www.eagala.org. 

    Facilitator:  Shawn M. Rodrigues, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Emotional Regulation Group

    Mondays 7:00 am – 8:00 am
    Angus Building

    When we experience trauma, addiction or attachment issues, we often struggle with emotional regulation, tolerance and resiliency. We are taught (and sometimes not) about emotion from our caregivers. How was emotion modeled in your family? Was it over the top? Was it dismissed? Was there room for you to have an emotional experience? Did someone else take up too much emotional space? We are social animals with nervous systems designed to co-regulate with those around us. What did your nervous system “learn” about trust and safety?

    This group is designed to explore the mammalian response to emotional experience. We will look at the “why” of our emotional challenges and explore how our culture, brain structure, gut health, the vague nerve, trauma and instinct inform how we navigate the world. We will learn about our 4 brains and how they work together and at odds with each other. You will also gain a working knowledge of the window of tolerance model and why we may over react (fight and flight) and under react (freeze and collapse) to people/places/things in our environment. 

    Our goal is for you to have a better understanding of why you do what you do even if it feels illogical at times. Simply put, you are not crazy. You are just a “fancy mammal” with some dysfunctional coping skills that may have worked until they didn’t!

    Facilitator: Megan Lawson, LAC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Communications Group

    Monday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
    Miller Building

    Communication is at the core of our daily living, and the higher the stakes in terms of relationship, the greater the chance we can inadvertently dance into the “Demon Dialogues”. Whether we are talking about a significant other, close family member or close friend, the tendency can be to either go into a fight response (“Attack-Attack/Find the Bad Guy”), a fight/flight response (“The Protest Polka”) or a freeze response (“Freeze/Flee”). We end up “amygdala-hijacked”, deep into our “reptilian brain”, and find it difficult to get grounded and engage in a “Wise-Minded” exchange.

    Using the Awareness Wheel and Listening Cycle, this group assists in helping clients get out the “Demon Dialogue Dance” through the encouragement of vulnerability, assertiveness, curiosity, validation and empathy.

    Facilitator: Rachel Jensen, PsyD

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Mindfulness Group

    Monday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    Miller Building

    Mindfulness and meditation are vital components within recovery and healing. We are not only our thinking, we are the awareness behind the thinking and experience of our life. Deepening one’s relationship with this awareness and self is vastly improved when engaging in daily mindfulness or meditation. Mindfulness group will address how and why meditation and mindfulness are necessary aspects integrating one’s healing experience.

    Facilitator: Aliza Cooper, LMFT

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Psychodrama Group

    Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
    Miller Building

    “Psychodrama —meaning “psyche in action”—is an experiential group that helps us explore our inner and outer worlds through action vs talking.  Through enactment, participants explore issues and concerns in a safe environment with the help of the group.  The goal of psychodrama helps participants discover their inner truth, express emotions freely and establish authentic interactions with others.”  (paraphrased from Karen Carnabucci’s Practical Psychodrama)

    Facilitators: Soozi Bolte; Grayce Gusmano MMFT; Christine Toel, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Compulsivity Group

    Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 am to 8:30 am
    Angus Building

    Each of us experiences some form of out-of-control behavior, even if it is reflected in our over-control.  In this mixed gender group space is created to share your story of addictive, compulsive, and/or out of control behavior.  Each participant is encouraged to openly discuss those things hidden from others.  The process of directly confronting our secrets often provides opportunity for reducing shame.

    Facilitator: Marcus R. Earle, PhD.

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Borders and Boundaries Group

    Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
    Miller Building

    This group is designed to educate, encourage, and empower you to establish and maintain healthy boundaries. It will support you in exploring the ways you treat yourself, the ways you treat others, and the ways you allow others to treat you. Setting boundaries is an important part of establishing our identity, engaging in healthy relationships, and is a crucial aspect of mental health and wellbeing. In setting boundaries, we are prioritizing ourselves and what we need.

    Facilitator: Agustin Hubert, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Anger/Forgiveness Group

    Tuesday from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
    Angus Building

    The Anger/Forgiveness group focuses on 3 inter-related topics: Anger, apology and forgiveness.  Through videos, discussion, experiential exercises/interactions and group handouts, participants learn more about the important role that anger plays in our lives (protection) and how to manage this powerful emotion. They also learn the key role that a process of apology and/or forgiveness can play in their healing journeys, and how to move forward in that important work. A strong emphasis is on the balance of connection and protection, and on the difference between guilt and shame as related to these 3 topics. 

    Facilitator: Brian Case, PhD, LMFT

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Spirituality Group

    Wednesday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Miller Building

    This group gives us the opportunity to share diverse experiences of faith and unfaith in an experiential or discussion format that maximizes the integration of spirituality and therapy. It allows everyone to share lifestyle choices, inspirations and values in a welcoming setting to provide strength or renewed strength to all.

    Facilitator: Hadas Ron-Zarki, MA, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Codependency Group

    Thursday from 7:00 am to 8:30 am
    Angus Building

    A mixed gender group focusing less on claiming the label of codependency, but more on recognizing our learned behavior of ignoring or minimizing our own needs to focus on others.  Emphasis is placed on affirming self and identifying self-care.  The group provides each member an opportunity to check in and provide feedback to one another in an open forum.

    Facilitator:  Marcus R. Earle, PhD.

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Healthy Balance Group

    Thursday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
    Miller Building

    In this group, we explore more in-depth Marilyn Murray’s model for how we respond to challenging events in our lives, as well as how we can design our lives as a Healthy Balanced Person.  As children, we develop different “parts” of ourselves as we learn to adapt to our world.  By noticing and nurturing these “parts,” we can help ourselves meet our needs today in healthy ways as mature adults.  We also explore unhealthy strategies and ways of coping with our unmet needs that are often destructive, both to others and ourselves.  Lastly, this group reviews homework assignments that are due for the Concluding Workshop at the end of the ITP.

    Facilitator: Christine Toel, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Offense Cycle Group

    Thursday from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
    Miller Building

    This group focuses on the offense cycle (also, called an intimacy-blocking cycle) and the clarification process. We all engage in some form of maladaptive behavior that contributes to a lack of intimacy with self and others. This group is designed to help identify our offensive behaviors in order to break the cycle and set the stage for healthy intervention. Participants will be encouraged to recognize what is under the surface and how their behaviors impact others.

    Facilitator: Kari Johnson, PsyD

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • P3 (the “Power of Positivity and Play”)

    Thursday from 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm
    Angus Building

    The “P3” (the power of positivity and play) group is based on principles of positive psychology including the importance of recognizing and integrating core gifts/strengths and values in to one’s day to day life and relationships.  The importance of positivity and play as sources of fulfillment, well-being and overall balance in life are emphasized.  Group members engage in interactions in which they share and celebrate “their awesomeness” (successes, traits, talents/skills, etc.). 

    Humor and playful interactions/games are used to promote bonding among group participants, and to “push pause” on the difficult, often painful parts of therapy. The healing power of humor/laughter, the value of seeking out/creating experiences of healthy pleasure, the importance of self-love/validation, and the restorative impact of interactive “non-performance” play are the hallmarks of this interactive group.

    Facilitator: Brian Case, PhD., LMFT

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Courageous Living

    Friday from 7:00 am to 8:30 am
    Miller Building

    Courageous living is dedicated to increasing your ability to live your life as a healthy adult.  This group works on reducing shame and finding the courage it takes to be accepting and loving of ourselves.  In so doing, we will also be able to accept and love the important people in our lives and build emotionally intimate relationships.

    Facilitator: Doug Withrow, LMFT

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.

  • Wrap Up Group

    Fridays 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
    Miller Building

    A conclusion for Intensive Program participants with an experiential activity for clients to express gratitude to their fellow group members and reflect on their own progress. This group also includes a review of financial packets and program information, follow-up sessions, and other pertinent matters.  

    Facilitator: Katie Beckham, LPC

    Call (480) 947-5739 for more information.