Date: 07/06/2023
Title: Middle School Boys Group at Child & Teen Counseling
00:00:02 Speaker 2
Hi, I'm Ralph, and I co hostThe middle school boys group here at Child & Teen Counseling and Wood and Hills. The Middle School Boys group helps boys generally from ages eleven to 14 with emotional challenges that they may face as they grow from boys into young men. The middle school boys group happen every Tuesday at 06:00 p.m. I'm about to show you where it all happens. Follow me.
Come on in. Hey, Francesco.
00:00:38 Speaker 4
Ralph. Hey, how are you?
00:00:41 Speaker 1
Good.
00:00:41 Speaker 2
How are you?
00:00:42 Speaker 1
Good.
00:00:42 Speaker 2
So this is Francesco.
00:00:44 Speaker 3
He founded the Middle School Boys Group.
00:00:45 Speaker 2
And he currently co facilitates it with me.
00:00:48 Speaker 3
Francesco, can you talk a little bit.
00:00:50 Speaker 2
About what the boys are dealing with in these groups?
00:00:52 Speaker 4
Sure.
00:00:53 Speaker 5
We have some boys dealing with issues related to social skills, being able to build them up.
We have some kids dealing with emotional.
00:01:01 Speaker 4
Regulation, whether that's related to anxiety and.
00:01:04 Speaker 5
Fear, sadness or anger. And we also have a lot of.
00:01:09 Speaker 4
Students who are dealing with bullying. So we talk about that a lot in group.
00:01:13 Speaker 3
And what do we do in group.
00:01:14 Speaker 2
That really helps them get through these issues?
00:01:17 Speaker 4
Sure.
00:01:17 Speaker 5
So part of what we do in group is we focus on the process, we talk about these things, we allow everyone
the space to sort of come.
00:01:25 Speaker 4
With what's been bothering them at school.
00:01:28 Speaker 5
As well as the things that are.
00:01:29 Speaker 4
Going well, because that allows us to.
00:01:31 Speaker 5
Approach these problems from a very strength based place. Right.
00:01:34 Speaker 4
Also, we do a lot of activities. They can be very therapeutic based, or.
00:01:39 Speaker 5
We do some gameplay which allows us to sort of work with the kids.
00:01:43 Speaker 4
In their zone but still build on.
00:01:45 Speaker 5
These skills, whether it is working through teamwork or anger, placing anger in the.
00:01:51 Speaker 4
Proper place, things like that.
00:01:53 Speaker 2
Okay, well, thank you very much. If you're interested or know someone who.
00:01:57 Speaker 3
Can benefit, please visit our Middle School Boys Group page on Childteamcounseling.org.
Hope to see you soon.
00:02:04 Speaker 1
Bye. Seven.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOY'S GROUP
“One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience but needs some practice to be a good one.”
- Charles Dudley Warner
The Middle School Boy’s Group is Child & Teen Counseling’s group therapy for boys aged 11-14. This age presents its own set of challenges every boy must confront. In a group therapy setting boys have the opportunity to learn not just from the therapists, but also from each other.
Here are a few of the things group therapy can help with:
- Making friends
- Navigating masculinity
- Building emotional maturity
- Refining social skills
- Accountability
- Understanding depression and anxiety
- Conflict resolution
- Flexibility and teamwork
- Creative problem solving
- Personal insight
- Assertiveness
- And many others…
This group is not just about education and support, but also fun! The Middle School Boys Group supports young men with the skills they need to break down barriers, build friendships and have positive interactions with parents, siblings, teachers, and everyone else. Group therapy can provide validation, empowerment and a unique experience of growth alongside their peers. Through games, discussions, and exercises, group therapy provides young men the ability to master their emotions in real time in the context of an authentic social experience.
As preteens/new teens move into a distinctly social period of life, having the opportunity to share their life with peers in a therapy setting gives them an immeasurable advantage when the trials and tribulations of High School arrive. Furthermore, with practice from their time in the group, boys are much more prepared for meeting life’s future obstacles with strength and resilience.
Growing into an adult is a challenging process for young men, and each year new challenges arise. The Middle School boy’s Group helps them explore difficult questions and build toward a better understanding of themselves.
Child & Teen Counseling’s Peter Merrell and John Garrison host the Middle School Boy’s Group every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm. The price is $30/session. Get in touch with them here for more information. To find out more about the team, check out our staff page here.
More About Group Therapy
Want to read more about all the benefits of group therapy? Here’s our Clinical Director Kent Toussaint talking about it on his weekly Facebook segment, Tips On Teens. Check out the site of our sister organization Teen Therapy Center for the full archive.