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
At Child & Teen Counseling we’re getting ready for a new season of the Middle School Boys Group which starts in May. This group offers a safe and non-judgmental environment for boys to ask questions, share their thoughts, and connect with peers who may be experiencing similar feelings. Facilitators John Garrison and Ian Lock are dedicated to creating a space where boys can openly express themselves and learn valuable communication skills.
Ever start a conversation and get two minutes in and think to yourself, “um, I don’t know where to go from here.” That happens every day to us, but that’s part of what this group helps with: social skills and learning how to connect with peers.
At MSBG guys get help learning how to adjust to the social norms and responsibilities of middle school where suddenly you have a locker, six classes, and a bunch of other new things to deal with.
The MSBG also helps guys “normalize” their feelings and become more self aware. Don’t know what that means? Everyone’s anxious about being liked, fitting in, etc. In the group we learn how to take control over those feelings by talking about it. There’s a lot of power in realizing: you’re not alone! It’s not just you having these thoughts.
At the Middle School Boys Group, guys see they’re not the only ones who have those questions which this age might bring up. And you’re allowed to ask those questions in an environment that’s safe where guys can talk about stuff they might not actually feel comfortable discussing with their parents or friends. No one is going to say “ew, you think that?” John and Ian not only to ensure that it’s a safe space, but teach kids how to make that space for themselves.
From enhancing social skills to adapting to new responsibilities and social norms, our group is here to empower and guide you through it all. Get in touch with us here to learn more.
Child & Teen Counseling’s John Garrison and Ian Lock 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.
