Family Therapy Age Groups
Acknowledging the need to further understand and explore your experiences are not a sign of weakness but a sign of courage and strength. I promote a safe and supportive environment for the discovery of core emotions that are often suppressed or are manifested as unhealthy behaviors and symptoms such as:
- ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder & Conduct Disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Maternal Mental Health
- Self-harming thoughts or actions
- Isolation from others
- Instigating conflict with loved ones
- Anger or Rage
- Substance use
Intimate and personal relationships can be very difficult to maintain. Often times, loved ones are the people most impacted by your actions. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which is a comprehensive theory grounded in love and attachment. The main areas of focus for EFT are:
- Maternal Mental Health
- Healing emotional distress
- Identifying and processing negative communication patterns
- Verbalizing emotional needs
- Re-discovering a secure bond of attachment within the relationship
When working with children from ages 6 to 12, the main areas of focus are on enhancing clients’ overall social and emotional skills such as:
- Identifying feelings and being able to express those feelings in a healthy manner
- Developing and utilizing coping skills (e.g. deep breathing, counting backwards, positive imagery, walking away, muscle relaxation, etc.) to reduce anxiety, frustration, and stress
- Developing problem-solving solutions
- Engaging in appropriate peer relationships (e.g. how to make friends & how to be a friend)
Teenagers are faced with many challenges as they develop their voice, identity, beliefs, morals, and purpose. When working with adolescents, I encourage clients to explore and express themselves freely in a safe space. Main areas of focus with this age group include:
- Development of one’s identity
- Developing coping skills and utilizing those skills effectively (e.g. deep breathing, counting backwards, positive imagery, walking away, muscle relaxation, etc.) to reduce anxiety, frustration, and stress
- Family conflict
- Feeling misunderstood or unheard
- Peer pressure to make unhealthy or unsafe decisions
- Living up to the expectations of others or self
- Educational stress with homework, exams, and college preparation
Group Therapy Services
Please call for more information: (818) 446-7488
Group Therapy is a unique and purposeful experience that allows individuals the ability to work on interpersonal relationships, problem-solving strategies, and growth within themselves. It provides a space where you can receive honest feedback, be challenged in a helpful manner, and can gain greater insight into your thoughts, feelings and actions. There are a variety of approaches to group work such as processing, educational, and task oriented. The type of group therapy provided at Given Guidance Counseling Services is a combination of processing and learning through psychoeducation. We provide in-person group counseling services in our office located in La Crescenta, California and serve communities surrounding areas of Los Angeles County.
Children: Ages 6 – 11
Group work at this young age is a great way for children to develop their social skills and emotional regulation based on peer interactions and support of a trained therapist. Children will gain awareness of their emotional processes, behaviors and responses, and ability or inability to relate with others. Together, the group will teach children calming strategies, problem-solving solutions, and positive peer interactions that can increase a child’s confidence and reduce feelings of worry and sadness. It is beneficial for all children to gain insight into their social and emotional development that will continue to enhance their overall mental health.
Adolescents: Ages 12 – 18
Many adolescents are resistant to group work because of peer pressure, judgement, and much more. Confidentiality and respect for one another is highly emphasized within Given Guidance Counseling Services. We ensure that group members are to honor their commitment (signed prior to starting the group), regarding their promise to maintain the private information that may be shared by their peers. Once comfort and rapport is established in an adolescent group setting, there are many benefits! Teenagers have daily challenges with social interactions, perception of self, judgements, media influences, and family conflict that can cause significant mental health concerns. Allowing adolescents to have a safe space to process their experiences, receive helpful feedback, and be guided by a trained therapist can help reduce and/or prevent the intensity of many symptoms such as depression, anxiety, defiance, loneliness and much more. For more information, please use our contact form.
