Information For:

On-Campus Recovery Student Groups

The Early Recovery Group (EROB) is a weekly, one-hour meeting for Brown students who have made a commitment to try and abstain from one or more substances that are disruptive to their desired experience at Brown. EROB is facilitated by Jason Roderick, LICSW. 

  • Thursdays, noon-1pm, Maddock Alumni Center, Class of ‘33 Room

The Skills for Harm Reduction Group (SHR) (new in 2021) is a weekly, drop-in learning space that offers tools to increase well-being. Each week, the group explores a new skill that can help reduce harms associated with substance use, while increasing positive routines in life. This meeting invites people who use all pathways to recovery and substance use. Skills learned draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), body-based mindfulness, and other practices. SHR is facilitated by Taryn Wyron, LCSW.

  • Tuesdays, 7-8pm, Page-Robinson, Room 202

The Redefining Recovery Group (RR) (new in 2022) is a weekly, one-hour meeting for Brown Student who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color who want to develop healthier relationships to their substance use through self-discovery that includes safe space to discuss the ways in which racialized trauma contributes to substance use and deconstructs the historical white-ness of recovery spaces. RR is facilitated by Randi Dickerson, LCSW.

  • Mondays, 7-8pm, Brown Center for Students of Color, First Floor Classroom

These groups provide safe, private environments for discussion of matters related to recovery and substance use in general and to life as a college student at Brown in particular. The ultimate objective of the groups is to help students develop the social support necessary for sustained recovery from substance use disorder (based on their own recovery goals) so that they may continue their studies, graduate from college, and thrive in their lives post-graduation. 

Both groups are led by licensed social workers from outside of Brown with experience working with people with substance use disorders and people who use substances. The meetings are drop-in, and students can attend as many or as few meetings as fits their needs. There is no requirement that members be affiliated with any other recovery, twelve-step, or support group to participate. A student wishing to join one of these support groups is recommended to schedule a meeting with Dean Lindsay Garcia, but students can also just show up to one of the meetings. Recent Brown alumni and RISD students are also welcome to join these groups after meeting with the Dean.

The Skills for Harm Reduction Group was written up in the Brown Daily Herald (before it changed its name to SHR).

There are also a wide variety of support groups offered by Brown in support of students that students in recovery or who are substance-free for any reason might find helpful.

The Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life offers the Bereavement Group (facilitated by Chaplain of the University Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson) and the Gratitude Group (facilitated by Associate Chaplain of the University for the Protestant Community Rev. Del Demosthenes. These meetings are non-religious gathering spaces for reflection and support.

BWell Health Promotions offers Trauma & Healing: A Support Group for Survivors of Sexual and Relational Harm (facilitated by Randi Dickerson, LCSW): location, dates, and times TBD.

Other cross-departmental support groups include:

Neurodivergent/Neurodiversity Support Group (co-faciliated by Tanya Sullivan, DNP, APRN, CNP, of Health Services, and Jesús Rēmigiō, Psy.D., of Student Accessibility Services).