Family Support Group

Every other month, Hanbleceya San Diego hosts a Multi-Family Support Group (MFSG) for the families of clients either in a Hanbleceya program or awaiting admission.  This primary purpose of this group is to provide a supportive environment in which to connect, interact with, and learn from other family members in a way that promotes understanding and healing.  Research consistently shows that social support is a significant factor in determining which families’ loved ones succeed in treatment.  By putting family members in contact with one another, this group provides a unique opportunity for education, guidance, and assistance with how to develop healthy ways of coping with a family member who is ill, how to best support your loved one’s recovery, and how to take care of yourself throughout the process.

Hanbleceya’s Multi-Family Support Group also serves to reinforce concepts and strategies addressed in family therapy as well as the contributions of outside support services such as Al-Anon or NAMI. In this way, the group functions as an ongoing repository of experience, ideas, and support, shared between people who have faced or are dealing with similar challenges and triumphs in their loved one’s journey toward mental health and independence.  Participation in this important part of your loved one’s therapy is a vital component to optimizing the impact of the treatment plan.

The San Diego MFSG is facilitated by Clinical Directors Hank Griffin, MFT and Dr. Karlyn Pleasants and attended by the full clinical staff who are available both before and after the meeting to answer questions.  The Group is held bi-monthly at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Deigo, 10 minutes from the Hanbleceya offices and the airport.  The hotel is housed on beautiful, tropical grounds and provides lovely accommodations.  Light appetizers are served prior to the prompt 6 PM start of the group and a buffet dinner is served at the end of the group at 7:30 PM.

Each MFSG is preceded by a community-wide outing the Friday beforehand. Families are encouraged to arrive in San Diego early enough to attend the outings, which begin at 1 PM. These fun outings provide a great opportunity for family, loved-ones and the rest of the Hanbleceya Community to socialize and actively participate together in a fun and cohesive setting. 

There are a total of six outings per year, scheduled for the Friday preceding the MFSG in February, April, June, August, October & December.  Following is a sample schedule of the outings for the next year:

• February: Bowling
• April: Community-wide Softball game
• June: Beach BBQ at La Jolla Shores
• August: Beach BBQ at La Jolla Shores
• October: Day trip to the town of Julian
• December: Hanbleceya Community Talent Show