By: Kim Farris, LPC, LADC
The Behavioral Health department at Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) currently offers a variety of group sessions that cover a wide array of topics. These sessions are facilitated by highly trained professionals that are passionate about the subject matter of the group. OKCIC’s staff lead these groups when they see a need and work hard to ensure support and services are being provided to patients. All groups are held either virtually or in-person and last for about one hour.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Angela Lockhart, LPC, and Kim Farris, LADC, LPC, co-facilitate this group, which is a meeting for patients walking the road of recovery, and connecting Native American cultural teachings for health and wellness. Participants will learn about the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of oneself and how to bring balance to their lives. This group focuses on the four directions and provides guidance to those fighting for freedom from the grips of substance abuse. Lockhart facilitates the Thursday session, which consists of videos and Native American teachings that revolve around the 12 steps. Farris facilitates the group on Tuesdays, which consists of a session similar to a talking circle to allow members to process the teachings they received from Lockhart’s previous session. During this time together individuals may share vision boards with one another and discuss individual journeys in recovery.
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Gina Poisson, LPC, facilitates a grief group, which is designed for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. A member of this group can expect Poisson’s warm and compassionate nature to provide them support as they adjust to a new normal with the absence of their loved one. The take home message from this group is “You are not alone.” It can feel as though the whole world stops after losing a loved one while everything else keeps on moving. In this group, participants will find support from others going through something similar by sharing common experiences.
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Alicia Barber, LADC, LPC, hosts this group and it is for mothers only. As a medical family therapist for OKCIC’s Pink Team, Barber recognized that the “baby blues” are a very common condition that many mothers experience. Postpartum depression, a common complication in pregnancy, impacts up to 15% of new mothers in Oklahoma. Perinatal anxiety, a spectrum of symptoms that can occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period, affects 15-20% of new mothers. The impacts of perinatal mood issues on the family can include, but are not limited to, poor emotional regulation, impaired cognitive functioning and attachment concerns for the infant. This group offers an opportunity for mothers to come together, offer support to one another through shared experience and hold space to address some of the common issues facing families during the postpartum period.
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Wanda Branton hosts this group, which is for patients over the age of 18. Family Circle is a group designed to support the family members of individuals struggling with substance use disorders. In this group the family learns how to communicate, maintain boundaries and self care in a holistic way. Branton teaches members of this group how to care for their mind, body and spirit with a specific curriculum in which she received individualized training.
Transgender and Two-Spirit Support Group
Second and fourth Tuesday every month at 3:00 p.m.
Charlie Moore, LPC and Nolan Lawless, LPC, co-facilitate this group, which is for adult patients over the age of 18. The Transgender and Two-Spirit Support Group is designed to support adult patients who are transgender, two-spirit or questioning. The focus on the group is to provide support, advocacy and to teach resilience with an emphasis on mental health and wellness.
OKCIC’s Peer Recovery Specialist and intern will be collaborating on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups offered to adult patients currently on the wait-list for counseling. Due to the increase in counseling requests, Behavioral Health has developed a virtual five week CBT course to kick-start the counseling experience. This course will teach patients to live more aware and be skillful with thoughts, feelings and reactions.
Another group currently under development is for LBGTQ+ support. There will be two separate support groups offered that are geared for both adults ages 18+ and adolescents ages 12-17. Please check OKCIC’s Behavioral Health Facebook page and website for more information regarding these groups.
Behavioral Health staff take pride in the services they are able to provide patients. It is a true honor to be of service to such amazing individuals on their journey to better health. Behavioral Health is always adapting and adding new services as needed, so please check www.okcic.com or call (405) 948-4900 ext. 610 for the most current information.
