There are 3 different social skills groups targeting children at different age ranges because social needs vary at different developmental periods.

6 to 8-year-old group: We offer an 8-week group to help introduce the basics of social skills to these children. Some of the skills that are emphasized are needs to share, early work on understanding others feelings, and making positive choices.

9 to12-year-old group: An 8-week group that targets self esteem and social skills. Children learn to decrease negative thinking and increase their positive self talk. Members also learn specific skills such as assertiveness, active listening, relaxation strategies, problem solving, and other coping skills. Children learn these skills through groups discussions and role playing techniques which keep them interested and engaged while helping them bond with the other kids.

13 to 14-year-old group: An 8-week group that sees the early teen years as a unique time where identity is building and kids are developing a greater sense of self. Members are helped to look closely at themselves and their friendships and attitudes while increasing their bond to one another. The group creates a supportive and friendly atmosphere for younger teens looking to explore their relationships with others and develop a healthier sense of themselves.

In This Together: A parent support group designed for caretakers of children of all ages. Navigating our roles as parents can feel overwhelming, especially now. Connecting with your village and a professional therapist can help you to hone your skills and remind you that you have support. Together we can learn to regulate stress and improve self-care while providing guidance and encouragement for our children.

Healthy Eating: This is a forum for people who have a complicated relationship with food, which could range from unhealthy habits to disordered eating. We use the principles of Intuitive Eating (authored by Evelyn Tribole, RDN, CEDRD-S and Elyse Resch, RDN, CEDRD-S, FAND) as a guide, and we define “healthy” as a diet of well-balanced, nutritionally sound foods that sustain our bodies, fuel our brain activity, and give us the energy for daily living responsibilities, as well as doing the things we love and fostering the relationships that are important to us. We come together to discuss the challenges we face, the goals we have for ourselves, and the support we can provide each other on our path toward healthy eating.

Advanced social skills group (ages are varied): This group runs one time per year, usually in the summer, and focuses on enhancing social skills while helping kids to understand group dynamics. Children in this group have either completed one of the basic social skills groups or have participated in a social skills group outside of the practice that has taught the basics of social skills.

Teen group for ages 15-18: This group is ongoing once a week. Here, teens have the opportunity to discover themselves with their peers. They learn social and coping skills and empower each other to make healthier decisions. Teens in this group find that being among their peers leads to a more open and expressive environment. This leads to a group experience where they have opportunities to offer direction and to help one another while feeling secure and comfortable with the group process. Teen groups offer the ability for members to process their own day-to-day experiences with those they feel they can relate to.

Expressive arts group: A group designed to help children express emotions and gain social confidence in the context of art therapy. The group introduces many concepts related to increasing social competence while offering artistic and creative means to express oneself. It is a suitable alternative for children who may find that social skills groups are not an exact match for them. In this group art is a vehicle for self-expression–and comfortably opens the door to social discussions and learning. The group is 8 weeks long; ages vary by group.

Young Adult Group: A group that helps with the challenges involved during the transition from the teen years into young adulthood. Some people struggle with finer points of self-care, budgeting, and gainful employment. Others may be overwhelmed just trying to decide what comes next. Some have plans for further education or training that don’t go as expected. The challenges we face individually are less daunting with the support of peers.

Transitioning Relationships: As we grow and change, so do our relationships. This group focuses on how to maintain close relationships with family, friends, and partners while expressing important aspects of our identity. Topics addressed include self-love, what makes a good friend, healthy partnerships versus codependency, effective communication with parents, boundary-setting, and how to let go of outgrown relationships. We are LGBTQ+-friendly, and all are welcome.

The Resilience Builder Program® (RBP).  RBP is a cognitive behavioral group therapy program for youth in grades 3 through 8. Adaptable for both younger and older youth, the curriculum promotes resilience and social competence by teaching skills and protective factors associated with resilience. The program is flexible and customizable. It includes 12 to 15 sessions per unit, allowing the leader to choose those sessions relevant to the needs of the members and the setting in which the groups are held. The program focuses on skills that encompass resilience and are transdiagnostic, meaning that they can be applied to a number of psychological and adjustment difficulties. The RBP has five components, including interactive-didactic (discussing and practicing the social and resilience skills of the day), free play/behavioral rehearsal (play situation for real-life skills practice), relaxation and self-regulation, generalization, and parental involvement.