Groups for Adolescent Girls
What word comes to mind when you think about your adolescence?
Hmmm… well, how about… YUCK!
I remember it well, but not fondly.
So much pressure to fit in, so many mood swings, so much self-doubt.
It’s painful to go back there – to the insecurity, the frenemies, the pressure around grades, the body changes, the unrequited crush feelings, the sense that everyone in the world is looking at that huge zit right in the center of my forehead.
Imagine those struggles magnified by a thousand.
Social media has upped the ante – creating a ton of angst and worry for our adolescent girls. They can’t pick up their phones without seeing a picture of a hang-out they weren’t invited to or a celebrity with an impossible-to-attain, airbrushed body in a bikini.
Striving to be perfect in a society that has unrealistic expectations for girls is like being on a hamster wheel with no exit ramp. It’s no way to live. Pressure all the time, with no relief.
It’s easy for adolescent girls to feel alone. They naturally separate from their parents and look to their friends for approval. They are working hard to fit in, to be accepted, to be all these things that they think others want them to be.
Enough of that!
In my groups for adolescent girls, we celebrate each girl for the unique individual that she is.
We talk. We laugh. We share our uniqueness instead of hiding from it.
We discuss the struggles and the wins. We explore how to navigate difficult situations. We groan about grades.
We find our voices. We practice mindfulness to manage stress and anxiety. We empower each other to take risks and reach for our goals. We move. We do art. We create connections. We cheer each other on.
This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been leading adolescent groups for over 15 years as a teacher, a dancer, and a therapist. I am passionate about providing opportunities for girls to feel seen, heard, and understood by their peers. They need that!
Do you know a girl between 11 and 16 who feels anxious and alone? My adolescent group is the answer!
Fill out the form below, call me at (240) 316-4673, or email me at caryn@carynmalkustherapy.com, and let’s get her on the path to feeling more calm, confident, and connected in her life!
Reach out today!