TACKLING ANXIETY SKILLS GROUPS FOR ADULTS

Skills groups are the future of the mental health profession.

It is through these groups that people can acquire practical tools to manage their anxiety in a warm, friendly, and supportive setting. There is something comforting about knowing that you are not alone in your struggles. People leave the group feeling confident and empowered to deal with their challenges, while feeling validated by the support of others. Typically, skills groups run about 12 weeks, with the potential to continue if group members are interested.

PARENTING GROUPS

Support, compassion, and collaboration are just as important as learning new skills.

Parenting a child who has intense emotions can feel overwhelming. Many parents have read some of the best self help books on the market, watched videos about how to magically transform their child, and are now at their wit’s end because nothing seems to have resulted in significant progress. I think there is something to be said for having support while one is trying to learn new techniques. Parenting is one of the hardest tasks a person can do well, because little humans are complex and not easily subdued. However, the goal of my parenting groups is not simply to modify your child's behavior. It is to help you improve the quality of your relationship with your child. Through knowing and understanding others, we are more likely to gain their trust, and this can be just as true of parents and children as it is for any other relationship. So, come and get a new perspective on parenting that will change not only her child's behavior, but the bond between you and your child.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 101

Emotional intelligence is the insight that we have about how to make friends, navigate relationships, and handle situations that come up in our daily lives.

What is emotional intelligence, you ask? Why is this a topic for a group? While it is true that we live in a world where intelligence is highly valued, we place value only on the kind of intelligence that leads to good grades, college admissions, and high achievement. Emotional intelligence, however, often takes a backseat but is just as valuable, if not more so in the quality of our daily lives. While most people possess adequate emotional intelligence, we may have less than we think. Or perhaps we establish patterns early on, but never consider whether these patterns are affecting the quality of our interpersonal interactions and relationships.

I believe that we all have the power to become more flexible, more sociable, and more adept at dealing with tricky interactions. Do you have difficulty making conversation with people who you don't know very well? Do you have relationships that seem to be stagnant or on the decline? Is your relationship with your romantic partner or spouse in jeopardy? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then this group may be a good fit for you. This group runs for about 12 weeks, with the potential to continue is group members are interested.