Depression Recovery Groups

About Us

Depression Recovery Groups is a service for those who have depression, bipolar disorder (especially type 2) or anxiety, which often overlaps with depression. It is a way for people who are living with these conditions to easily come together, support each other and learn about what they can do to improve the quality of their lives. It is a confidential place where you can meet with others without fear of being identified. The meetings are led by experts and include educational segments with the best researched and up-to-date, self-care tips.

Depression Recovery Groups is currently part of Human Performance Consultation, Inc. a management consulting company in Agoura Hills, California. Human Performance has been providing strategy, leadership development, organization development and performance management services to a variety of organizations since 2001.

Our Mission

The mission of Depression Recovery Groups is to help accelerate the full recovery of people who are living with depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety by providing self-help education and peer support that enhance the care of licensed healthcare practitioners.


	Vince Caimano, Ph.D. Founder and Support Group Leader Vince founded Depression Recovery Groups in order to effectively reach out to others who are suffering with depression issues. His personal history, education and training have led him on the voyage of creating this endeavor. Vince suffered his first bout of depression as a teenager. He suffered another two bouts in college, another in graduate school and several other bouts throughout his life. His last incapacitating bout required therapist visits three times a week and heavy dose of four different medications. Vince realized that his depression was growing worse with each episode despite that fact he was receiving excellent professional care. This realization led to great frustration for Vince leading him to declare “I am madder than hell and I am going to take it anymore.” He decided to turn his attention to learning all he could about depression and its treatment to see if he could reverse this disturbing personal trend. Read More »


	Jennifer Arthur, Support Group Leader Jennifer Arthur holds a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from Bowling Green State University. Her roles as a certified victim advocate as well as a certified childbirth educator and doula illustrate her dedication to helping others. Her areas of interest include victimology, juveniles as offenders, and female social issues within the criminal justice system.


	Alison Balter, Life Coach and Support Group Leader Alison Balter is a best-selling author and an internationally acclaimed public and motivational speaker. She is a certified life coach and she has worked with people on business and personal issues. She brings her real-life success to both her coaching practice and her public speaking, helping clients achieve their dreams, just as she has achieved her own. For additional information on Alison, please visit www.achieveyourdreamz.com


	Robin Cruz-Bradley, Support Group Leader Robin Cruz-Bradley holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychology from National University. She is currently preparing to take her California State Exam be become a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Robin is the Program Manager for a transitional housing project which teaches life skills to young un-emancipated foster youth – ages 16 to 18. These life skills will enable these children to achieve emancipation from the foster care system. In addition, she has mentored many children, teens and adults in her roles as a social worker and special education teacher. This past year she started a weekly Teens Connect Group in Camarillo, California. It is her goal to work directly in the field helping people learn to empower themselves to make healthier and better life choices. People do have the power to make tomorrow a better day!



	Cassandra Lee, Licensed Professional Counselor and Support Group Leader Cassandra Lee is a Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and a National Certified School Counselor. She is also a member of the Mississippi Counseling Association and the National School Counselor’s Association. Cassandra received her B.A. in Secondary English Education from the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi. She received her M.Ed. and EdS in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.


	Doctor Reverand Barry Mick, Support Group Leader Reverend Doctor Mick is highly qualilfied to help with depression. He has a rich understanding of depression within a wide context of faith and society. He earned a Master’s of Divinity degree, at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Mick went on to earn his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis. His doctoral project focused on the care of congregations as a whole, and care of individuals within the congregation. A very large part of care at that advanced level is dealing with depression. While serving as pastor of a faith community, he learned much more about the prevalence of depression in church and society. His deep pastoral concern for people, their total well-being of mind, body, and soul, led him into even deeper study of depression, its causes and cures.


	JP Paxton, Support Group Leader JP Paxton has clinical, academic, and personal experience with depression. Clinically, he is very familiar with mindfulness based psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition, his studies have been theories based, this includes strong academic background in mindfulness and CBT; as well as many other therapeutic modalities. He was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder when he was 17, two years after his best friend died. He has, without therapy or a psychiatrist, overcome depression. He still fights low-motivation, low-energy, and depressed mood, but he has built a large repertoire of compensatory strategies to keep himself motivated, focused, and energetic. While his techniques may not completely generalize, the insight, self-knowledge concepts, and understanding of depression will be used to benefit his work with individuals on the road to overcoming depression.



	Susan Spector, Support Group Leader Susan Spector holds a Masters of Arts in Human Development from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Masters in Library Science from San Jose State University. She has over 25 years experience in training and development as an administrator, facilitator and counselor. In these roles she has helped many individuals understand and cope with organizational change. Susan currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator at a homeless shelter for women and children in Prescott, Arizona. Here she uses her vast experience to help women identify and deal with the stress and trauma of homelessness.

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