Program Spotlight: Substance Abuse Mental Illness Group
Amanda Constantino, MSW, LSW, LCDCIII, is not only our organization’s Outpatient Team Lead — She also is the leader of our SAMI Group!
As one of CAT’s most recent initiatives aimed at addressing the complex intersection of substance use and mental health disorders, the Substance Abuse Mental Illness (SAMI) Group offers holistic outpatient support utilizing mindfulness and self-compassion-based programming to support individuals in recovery seeking ongoing mental health treatment.
Through two-hour weekly care sessions, participants engage in an education-based curriculum within a supportive group setting, fostering connections with peers facing similar challenges.
Research underscores the importance of integrated treatment approaches like the SAMI Group; It improving outcomes for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, highlighting the significance of holistic, compassionate care in the journey toward healing and recovery.
Get to know more about our SAMI Group and it’s dedicated leader, Amanda, by reading her responses to the following questions below!
How do support groups help?
Amanda: Support groups give clients the chance to hear other people’s perspectives on the topic at hand. They also give clients the opportunity to sit back and listen to people who have similar experiences and how they are handling that experience. The beauty of support groups is that clients can ask for feedback or support from other group members or just share their thoughts and feelings without receiving feedback.
What is the typical make-up of a SAMI Group?
Amanda: A SAMI group is made up of clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders who want to learn better ways to cope with their current problems.
What motivated you to become a group leader?
Amanda: I love the way groups run together. I love how group members utilize each other with their experience, strength, and hope, as well as with their struggles.
It was not one thing that motivated me to become a group leader; it was so many things! It was building rapport and watching clients light up when they shared about themselves and offered feedback to others.
How do you foster a sense of community and camaraderie among group members?
Amanda: I believe building rapport with group members fosters a sense of community and allows the clients to feel comfortable in the group setting. I also show them my humanity and that I am here to help them through their journey. I allow them the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about the topic.
What do you enjoy in your spare time?
Amanda: I love to play pickleball at the Rec Center, and read in my free time!
Interested in joining the SAMI Group?
The first step in enrolling in this Outpatient support opportunity is getting in touch with our compassionate Access (admissions) team utilizing the contact information below.
To get started, call us at (513) 381-6672 or click here to submit a confidential contact request.