Teen Girls Group Counseling

STRONG GIRLS:
SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-RESPECT GROUPS FOR TEEN GIRLS

The social world for teenage girls has become a more stressful and challenging environment than ever before. The rise in peer pressure, competitive conflicts, and unhealthy social/media messages are all likely contributors to national increases in anxiety, mood disorder and low self-esteem in girls. Strong Girls groups offer an educational and experiential approach to improving decision making, developing coping resources and increasing self-esteem.

Group Approach

· An educational approach incorporating a social and coping curriculum focused on improving social interaction, increasing self-esteem, and improving mood.

· Activities, initiatives, and games to allow for exploration and learning of more effective social and coping strategies.

· Feedback and sharing in an environment that is constructive and supportive.

· Art therapy and journaling designed to aid in understanding and expression of feelings and development of self-esteem and confidence.

Goals

· Increasing teenage girl’s ability to make safe and healthy choices.

· Increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, and the ability to accept oneself, be assertive, and overcome a variety of difficult situations.

· Developing skills to combat peer pressure.

· To gain mastery of effective coping strategies to address negative feelings and to promote healthy body image.

· Improve emotional regulation and reduce and control depressive symptoms and anxiety.

· Address problems associated with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, peer issues, and other problems.

Group Leader Christine Malm, MS, LCPC Christine Malm is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been working in the Human Services field for the past seven years. Christine received her Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology from Benedictine University. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from North Central College where she became a member of The National Honors Society in Psychology. Her research and publications are in negative body image in young adults and eating disorders. Christine is an experienced and adept family therapist and individual therapist working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has facilitated numerous groups for young teens and for parents of teenagers. Christine provides therapy to children, adults, and families and offers a comforting yet goal-oriented approach to helping her clients resolve issues. She incorporates research regarding effective treatment strategies in her work.  Christine is especially adept with the teen girl population as she has the unique ability to provide straightforward and honest feedback in a manner that is accepted and appreciated by her female teen clientele.