Onsite Classes and Activities

Cooking: Nourishing Boy and Mind

Recovery from mental illness and addiction is not just a mental and emotional journey—it's also deeply physical. What we eat has a profound impact on how we feel, think, and heal. Our cooking class is designed specifically for individuals in recovery from mental health challenges and substance use disorders, offering an opportunity to reconnect with food as a source of nourishment, healing, and empowerment.

Why Cooking Matters in Recovery:

• Healing from the Inside Out: Good nutrition plays a vital role in stabilizing mood, boosting energy, and supporting the brain’s recovery from the damaging effects of addiction. Cooking healthy, balanced meals can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve cognitive function, and enhance overall well-being.

• A New Relationship with Food: For many in recovery, food can become either a source of stress or comfort. Our class focuses on building a healthy relationship with food, emphasizing mindful eating, self-care, and the joy of preparing meals with intention. You'll learn to savor each step of the cooking process while developing a stronger sense of control over your diet and health.

• Community & Support: Recovery can often feel isolating, but cooking together creates a sense of community and connection. In this class, you’ll bond with others who are on similar journeys, sharing stories, experiences, and the healing power of food in a supportive, non-judgmental space.

What to Expect:

• Simple, Wholesome Recipes: Each class features easy-to-follow recipes made with whole, nourishing ingredients that promote physical and mental health. From mood-boosting meals to snacks that support recovery, you’ll leave with practical skills and new favorites to incorporate into your daily life.

• Hands-On Learning: Cooking is a sensory experience that engages the mind and body, helping to build confidence and reduce stress. In each session, you’ll get hands-on practice with cooking techniques that make meal prep enjoyable and accessible—even if you’re new to the kitchen.

• Holistic Nutrition Guidance: Alongside the cooking instruction, we provide nutrition education that focuses on how specific foods can aid in recovery, balance your mood, and support long-term mental health.

Game Hour: Connect, and Heal

Recovery from mental illness and addiction is a challenging journey, but it doesn’t have to be all hard work. Our Game Hour is a space for laughter, relaxation, and connection—an opportunity to take a break from the intensity of recovery while engaging in fun, therapeutic activities that promote healing and well-being.

Why Games Matter in Recovery:

• Boosting Mental Health Through Play: Games are more than just entertainment—they’re powerful tools for mental health. Engaging in light-hearted play can reduce stress, combat feelings of isolation, and even improve cognitive functioning. Playing games stimulates the brain, helping to rebuild focus, attention, and problem-solving skills often impacted by addiction and mental illness.

• Connection Without Pressure: Social isolation is common in both mental health struggles and addiction recovery. Game Hour offers a relaxed, non-judgmental environment where you can connect with others in a playful setting. Whether it's cooperative board games or friendly competition, you’ll have the chance to strengthen social bonds, improve communication skills, and enjoy a sense of camaraderie without the pressure of deep conversations.

• Emotional Regulation: Games provide a safe, structured space to practice managing emotions. Whether handling frustration from a tricky puzzle or celebrating a win, participants can experience and navigate emotions in real-time, learning how to handle them in a healthier way. This can be especially helpful for those in recovery from addiction, where emotional regulation is key to long-term success.

What to Expect:

• Variety of Games: Each Game Hour features a mix of board games, card games, and group activities designed to promote fun, creativity, and teamwork. Whether you enjoy strategy games, word puzzles, or trivia, there’s something for everyone.

• Stress-Free Fun: Our goal is simple: to have fun and unwind. There’s no pressure to perform or compete unless you want to! This time is about letting go, laughing, and experiencing joy in a positive, supportive environment.

• A Space to Recharge: Taking time to play can actually recharge your mind, giving you a break from the emotional work of recovery while helping you return to your journey with renewed energy and focus.

AA Meetings: A Path to Sobriety and Mental Wellness

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings offer more than just a space for individuals to share their stories—they provide a lifeline for those struggling with addiction, offering support, accountability, and hope. Our AA meetings are specifically designed to foster healing not only from alcohol dependency but also from the mental health challenges that often accompany addiction.

Why AA is Crucial for Recovery:

• A Safe Space for Healing: Recovery from alcohol addiction can feel isolating, but AA meetings provide a welcoming, safe space to share experiences without judgment. Many people battling addiction also face mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, which can make the road to sobriety even more difficult. AA offers a community of individuals who understand these struggles and are committed to supporting one another through them.

• Peer Support & Accountability: One of the most powerful aspects of AA is the sense of shared experience and mutual support. In our meetings, you’ll connect with others who have walked similar paths—people who understand the challenges of addiction and mental illness firsthand. This support helps to build accountability, motivation, and a sense of belonging, all of which are critical for long-term recovery.

• Mental Health and Sobriety: Addiction and mental health often go hand-in-hand, and recovery requires addressing both. AA meetings are a place to explore not only the steps toward sobriety but also the impact of mental health on addiction. With a focus on holistic recovery, our meetings encourage open discussions about how to cope with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues while maintaining sobriety.

What You’ll Find at Our Meetings:

• 12-Step Support: Our meetings follow the 12-Step program, a proven method for overcoming alcohol addiction. These steps provide a structured path toward recovery, emphasizing personal responsibility, spiritual growth, and the importance of a higher power (however you define it).

• Shared Experience: Whether you are newly sober or have been on this journey for years, you’ll find a group of people who understand your struggles. The power of shared experience can help you feel less alone and more capable of facing the challenges ahead.

• Mental Health Integration: In addition to focusing on sobriety, our meetings also acknowledge the importance of mental health in recovery. Participants are encouraged to share how their mental health affects their sobriety journey, and to offer and receive support for both challenges.

Emotion Regulation Meetings: Finding Balance in Recovery

Managing emotions is a critical part of healing from both mental illness and addiction. Our Emotion Regulation Meetings are designed to help individuals in recovery develop the tools and strategies needed to understand, process, and manage their emotions in healthy ways. By gaining control over emotional responses, participants are empowered to make better decisions, reduce stress, and avoid relapse.

The Importance of Emotion Regulation in Recovery:

• Building Emotional Resilience: Emotions can often feel overwhelming, especially for those recovering from addiction or managing mental health conditions. Unchecked emotions can lead to impulsive decisions, substance use, or withdrawal from healthy coping mechanisms. Our meetings focus on building emotional resilience—helping you recognize emotional triggers and respond to them with calm, thoughtful actions instead of destructive habits.

• Understanding Emotional Triggers: Mental illness and addiction often create cycles of emotional pain that can be difficult to break. In these meetings, we explore the root causes of emotional triggers, from past traumas to everyday stressors, and develop personalized strategies for handling them in constructive ways. This understanding is key to preventing relapse and promoting long-term recovery.

• Integrating Recovery and Mental Health: Many individuals in recovery struggle with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges that can intensify emotional distress. These meetings provide a space to explore how emotions are interconnected with both addiction and mental health, offering practical tools for managing complex emotional landscapes while staying committed to sobriety.

What You’ll Learn:

• Healthy Coping Mechanisms: In our meetings, we introduce a variety of coping techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, and cognitive restructuring. These tools help you to pause, assess your emotions, and choose responses that support your recovery rather than undermine it.

• Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial when managing emotions. You'll learn how to express your feelings in a constructive way, whether you're dealing with conflict, expressing needs, or simply navigating day-to-day interactions. This skill is particularly valuable in rebuilding relationships that may have been strained by addiction or mental health struggles.

• Developing Emotional Awareness: A core part of emotion regulation is learning to recognize emotions as they arise. Our meetings teach you to identify and name your emotions, allowing you to better understand their influence on your behavior. This awareness is a key step in taking control of your emotional responses and fostering emotional balance.

What to Expect:

• Guided Group Discussions: Our meetings provide a safe, open environment where you can share your experiences, listen to others, and gain insight into how emotions impact your recovery. Through guided discussions, you’ll learn from both peers and facilitators about different ways to manage emotions in recovery.

• Supportive Community: You’ll find a supportive group of people who understand the unique emotional challenges of addiction and mental illness. Whether you’re learning to manage anger, anxiety, guilt, or sadness, you won’t have to do it alone.

• Real-Life Application: The goal of these meetings is to equip you with strategies that can be used in everyday life. Whether it's handling stress at work, managing relationships, or navigating triggers that threaten your sobriety, you'll leave each session with practical tools to apply immediately.

Substance Abuse Meetings: A Safe Place for Recovery and Healing

Substance abuse can affect every aspect of life, creating challenges not only with addiction but also with mental health. Our Substance Abuse Meetings are designed to support individuals on the path to recovery, offering a compassionate space to address both addiction and the mental health struggles that often accompany it. These meetings focus on holistic healing, providing tools and peer support to help you regain control of your life.

Why Substance Abuse Meetings Are Essential:

• Addressing Dual Recovery: Many people facing substance abuse also battle mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Recovery is more than just overcoming physical dependency—it involves healing the mind and emotions as well. Our meetings take a dual-recovery approach, addressing both the addiction and the mental health issues that often fuel it.

• Breaking the Cycle: Substance abuse and mental illness often create a vicious cycle, where one issue worsens the other. Our meetings help participants identify and break these cycles by providing insight into how substance use affects mental health and vice versa. You'll learn how to cope with emotional pain without turning to substances, and how to heal your mind while staying committed to sobriety.

• Building a Foundation for Long-Term Sobriety: Recovery from addiction isn’t just about stopping substance use—it’s about building a healthier, more fulfilling life. Our meetings help you develop coping strategies, improve self-awareness, and find the emotional strength to navigate challenges without relapsing. By focusing on the root causes of addiction and mental health issues, we help you build a strong foundation for lasting recovery.

What to Expect:

• Open, Honest Dialogue: In our substance abuse meetings, you’ll have the opportunity to share your experiences, listen to others, and learn from the collective wisdom of the group. These conversations can help you gain new perspectives on your recovery journey, and provide a safe place to talk about the challenges of addiction and mental illness without fear of judgment.

• Tools for Recovery: Each meeting introduces practical strategies to help you stay sober and manage your mental health. From learning how to handle triggers and cravings, to managing stress and emotions in a healthy way, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to support your recovery outside the meeting room.

• Peer Support: Recovery is a journey that no one should walk alone. In these meetings, you’ll find a community of people who understand what you’re going through, providing mutual support, encouragement, and accountability. Whether you’re early in your recovery or have been on the path for some time, connecting with others who share similar struggles can be a powerful source of strength.

Why These Meetings Are Different:

Our substance abuse meetings go beyond addressing addiction alone—we integrate mental health into every aspect of recovery. Whether you're dealing with trauma, stress, anxiety, or other emotional challenges, we provide the tools and support you need to heal on multiple levels. By focusing on both mental health and sobriety, we aim to offer a more complete and compassionate approach to recovery.

Nature Walks: Healing through Connection to the Outdoors

Spending time in nature has a powerful impact on mental health and recovery from addiction. Our Nature Meetings are designed to help individuals in recovery reconnect with the natural world, finding healing, peace, and strength through outdoor experiences. By combining the restorative power of nature with community support, these meetings offer a unique approach to recovery and mental wellness.

The Power of Nature in Recovery:

• Nature as a Healing Environment: The natural world provides a soothing, non-judgmental space where individuals can find respite from the stresses of recovery and mental health struggles. Studies have shown that time spent in nature reduces anxiety, improves mood, and fosters a sense of calm—all essential components for those healing from addiction and mental illness. Nature allows you to step outside of daily pressures and reconnect with a sense of peace and presence.

• Reducing Stress and Building Resilience: For those facing the challenges of addiction and mental health issues, stress can be a major trigger. Our Nature Meetings provide a space to reduce stress through mindful outdoor activities, helping you build emotional resilience and practice being in the moment. Whether hiking, walking, or simply sitting in a peaceful natural setting, these experiences can strengthen your ability to manage stress in daily life.

• Cultivating Mindfulness and Awareness: Nature has a way of grounding us in the present moment. These meetings encourage mindfulness—learning to observe your surroundings, notice sensations, and tune into the sights and sounds of the natural world. This mindfulness can be a powerful tool in recovery, helping you stay present and reduce cravings, anxiety, or negative thinking patterns.

What You’ll Experience:

• Guided Outdoor Activities: Each Nature Meeting includes guided activities that range from nature walks and hikes to mindfulness exercises and reflective journaling in natural settings. These activities are designed to help you engage with your surroundings and use nature as a resource for emotional healing.

• Connection with Others: Recovery can feel isolating, but in nature, you’re never alone. Our meetings offer opportunities to connect with others in recovery in a calm, peaceful environment. Sharing time outdoors fosters a sense of community and belonging, helping to ease feelings of loneliness and support your journey toward sobriety and mental wellness.

• Nature as a Metaphor for Growth: In nature, we see the cycles of growth, resilience, and renewal. These meetings provide a space to reflect on your own recovery journey, drawing inspiration from the natural world’s ability to adapt and thrive in the face of challenges. Whether you’re just beginning recovery or further along the path, nature can serve as a source of encouragement and strength.

Benefits of Nature-Based Healing:

• Emotional Release and Clarity: The peacefulness of nature can help you process difficult emotions, allowing space for reflection and release. Many participants find that time spent outdoors helps them gain clarity and perspective on their recovery, mental health, and overall well-being.

• Physical and Mental Wellness: Engaging in outdoor activities not only supports mental health but also provides physical benefits. Exercise in nature, whether through walking, hiking, or light stretching, can enhance your mood, boost energy levels, and improve overall physical health, which is critical for those in recovery.

• A Break from Daily Stressors: Nature Meetings offer a break from the distractions and stressors of everyday life. By stepping into a natural setting, you give yourself permission to disconnect from the hustle and reconnect with your inner self in a peaceful, supportive environment.

Mindful Meetings: Cultivating Presence in Recovery

In the fast-paced and often overwhelming world of recovery, learning to slow down and cultivate presence is key to healing both mind and body. Our Mindful Meetings are designed to help individuals facing mental illness and addiction develop mindfulness practices that foster self-awareness, emotional balance, and resilience. Through mindfulness, participants can reconnect with themselves and gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the recovery process.

Why Mindfulness Matters in Recovery:

• Grounding in the Present: For many in recovery, the weight of the past or fear of the future can overshadow the present moment. Mindfulness brings attention to the here and now, helping to reduce anxiety and stress while fostering a sense of calm and acceptance. These meetings help you focus on being fully present, rather than getting caught up in cravings, regrets, or worries.

• Building Emotional Awareness: Addiction and mental illness often lead to disconnection from our emotions. Mindful Meetings guide you in observing and acknowledging your feelings without judgment, allowing you to understand emotional triggers and patterns that may influence relapse or negative behaviors. This awareness is essential in developing healthier coping strategies and breaking cycles of self-destructive behavior.

• Enhancing Self-Compassion: Recovery can be an emotionally taxing process, filled with moments of self-doubt and guilt. Mindfulness encourages a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to yourself. In these meetings, you’ll learn to cultivate self-compassion, which is critical for long-term recovery and mental wellness, allowing you to move forward with kindness rather than criticism.

What You’ll Learn and Experience:

• Mindful Practices for Everyday Life: Each meeting introduces simple yet powerful mindfulness techniques that can be used in daily life. Whether it’s mindful breathing, body awareness, or focused attention exercises, these practices help you stay grounded, reduce stress, and manage emotional ups and downs.

• Observing Thoughts Without Reacting: One of the core benefits of mindfulness is learning to observe your thoughts without automatically reacting to them. This skill is especially valuable for those in recovery from addiction, as it helps you recognize urges, cravings, or negative thinking patterns and respond to them with intention rather than impulse.

• Creating Space for Healing: Mindful Meetings provide a structured space where you can slow down, reflect, and connect with yourself. By intentionally creating this space, you give yourself the opportunity to process emotions, quiet your mind, and tap into a deeper sense of peace.

Supportive Environment for Growth:

• Non-Judgmental Community: Our Mindful Meetings foster a supportive, non-judgmental community where participants can share their experiences, struggles, and successes in incorporating mindfulness into recovery. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or have been practicing for some time, you’ll find a space where your journey is honored and respected.

• Group Reflection: Beyond the mindfulness exercises, we offer space for group discussions and reflections. These conversations allow participants to share how mindfulness has impacted their recovery, exchange insights, and offer mutual support as everyone navigates the path to healing.

How Mindfulness Supports Recovery and Mental Health:

• Reducing Stress and Cravings: Mindfulness is an effective tool for managing the stress and cravings that often accompany recovery. By practicing mindful awareness, you can learn to observe and detach from cravings without feeling overwhelmed by them, making it easier to maintain sobriety.

• Improving Focus and Clarity: Addiction and mental health issues can cloud judgment and focus. Mindful practices help improve concentration and mental clarity, allowing you to make better decisions and stay focused on your recovery goals.

• Fostering Long-Term Change: Recovery is not just about short-term sobriety; it’s about creating lasting change. Mindfulness equips you with tools that can support long-term healing, helping you stay present and resilient through the ups and downs of recovery and mental health management.