Cultivating Minds - Teen Edition #5

 How can a Teen Group help?

I hope you have been following this email subscription/blog for strategies to help your teen overcome anxiety.  At the end of each entry, you may have noticed a space to contact me for more support.  Typically, parents reach out to me for individual therapy so their teen can talk through their problems and learn coping strategies.  But did you know we also offer GROUP therapy?  

Group therapy works differently than individual in that there are multiple individuals present to work through their problems and learn coping strategies.  These groups typically meet every week or every other week.  

There are several advantages to utilizing a group therapy process:

• Shared concerns, feelings of not being alone in their problems

• Feel heard and supported by peers, not just by the therapist

• Safe environment to practice new coping skills with peers

• Build confidence in practicing skills within own age group before practicing in larger social settings

One of the things I hear a lot from parents is that their child isn't comfortable speaking in front of others and prefers an individual setting. We honor those preferences, however you may want to consider requesting your child "try out" a few sessions of group to see if group might actually be helpful and doable.

Here's a few more facts around our Teen Groups:

• Focused on high school age teens

• Meet 6-10 weeks

• Teens must join within first 2 group sessions then plan to attend throughout duration

• Sessions are 1.5 hours in length

• Often include activities including creative, active, and practice

If you are concerned about your teen and would be interested in support through one of our Teen Groups, click below.

Find Out More

 If you believe your teen needs immediate assistance please contact us:

Contact Us

Upcoming Editions:

Meet our new therapist

Cultivating Minds - Teen Edition #3

Does your teen seem to be overly aware of their health concerns or mental health concerns?  Perhaps they already have a medical condition but are constantly worried about increased symptoms or even symptoms that might be related to other conditions?  Are they afraid to go places for fear their anxiety will be too much, or that their diabetes will be too much to handle?  Maybe they automatically go to web searches on their symptoms that might be a cold or a headache but they begin to believe they have a serious illness.  Do they complain of headaches, stomach aches, or are constantly evaluating their body?

 Here’s how you can help!

1. Validate the fear/worries- your child is experiencing anxiety that is causing a reaction in them in which they truly BELIEVE something is happening to them.

2. Help them to think of alternatives to the worst case scenario.

3. Reassure them they can handle this and you are there to support.

4. Model and practice calm breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and other calming activities to decrease level of anxiety.

These techniques will help to challenge the worry and increase your teen’s ability to tolerate the anxiety. Your teen can live a full life, including spending time with friends and family as well as going to school and other events.  If your child continues to struggle, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.  You can also contact us.

More tools for helping teens with anxiety to come!

If you think your teen might be interested in joining one of our support groups, please complete this form so we can contact you about our next group.

Be sure to join our email list so you don’t miss out on future posts!

Questions or concerns? Email Melissa at melissa@cultivating.live

Upcoming:

 Social Anxiety

 How groups can help teens overcome anxiety

IG: #melissamcgeelpc, #teen.strategies

Cultivating Minds - Teen Edition #2

There's a lot of pressure on our teens as they start a new school year.  Do you hear any of these concerns from your teen?

Will school feel like it used to before COVID? 

How am I going to sit in classes all day when I was able to do my work when I wanted at home, even doing it in the middle of the night if I wanted? 

I have no idea what I actually learned last year, will I be able to keep up this year? 

What if I failed classes, will I be sitting with younger classmates and be embarrassed? 

I haven't had to be in large crowds in over a year.  Can I handle the cafeteria and the halls? 

What if I panic?  I will be so embarrassed if I have an anxiety attack!   

I don't have any friends at this school, what if no one likes me?

Transitioning back into school can be tough!  As a parent, you can help process their concerns by not immediately trying to fix the problem. Here's some steps that can help:

Validate: learn about and accept their feelings

Allow feelings: let them feel their feelings rather than shoving them away/avoiding or pushing down inside

Ask what they need:

"Would you like to space to process their emotions or would like you to be around for support?"

"Would like some ideas/other perspective for solving the problem?"

Transition: assist in moving to a positive activity

If you are concerned about your teen and would be interested in support with via Teen Group, please be sure you are subscribed to our newsletter for more details to come.  You can also let us know you are interested by clicking here. If you believe your teen needs immediate assistance please contact us.

 

Upcoming:

Teens worried about health

Social Anxiety

IG: #melissamcgeelpc, #teen.strategies