GROUPS

These groups for 11-14 year olds and 15-18 year olds are part of CGC’s Gender, Diversity, & Resilience Program, and are a safe space for transgender and gender diverse youth to explore identity issues and build resilience. Topics addressed include gender dysphoria, navigating school and family relationships, intersectional identities, and distress tolerance skills. Groups meet separately by age group.

Please call 203-324-6127 for more information.

This group is designed for caregivers of transgender and non-binary youth of all ages. This group runs for 12 weeks and provides support and education on issues related to gender diversity, dysphoria, identity and intervention options in a safe and judgmental free environment to exploring caregiver beliefs and values related to your child’s experiences.

Day/Time: Thursdays 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM via ZOOM

This is a group for kids of all genders in 7^th and 8^th grade looking for a safe space to share different perspectives, get support, give/receive encouragement and learn different skills. This unstructured environment will allow people to increase their level of self-awareness and learn how to relate to others. Members are welcome and encouraged to bring topics of their choice. Some examples include: challenges with peer and/or family relationships, fitting in, new expectations, coping skills, conflict resolution, self-expression, boundary setting, self-esteem, gratitude, compassion, identity, academic stress and challenges with transitions. Group will be conducted through talk, writing, play and/or creative outlets depending on the needs of the members.

Day/Time: Mondays 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM, IN PERSON

This group for 14 to 18 year olds provides a safe therapeutic environment in order to build coping skills to combat social anxiety and to change unhelpful patterns of thinking. Topics covered include: challenging your self-critical voice, exploring the impact of anxiety on functioning, and expanding your toolbox of skills when it comes to managing anxiety.

Day/Time: Mondays 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM via ZOOM

This group is meant to provide parents with a safe and supportive environment to explore topics related to their child’s treatment. Themes may include issues related to school, adjusting to parenting roles, managing behaviors at home or stigma related to engaging in therapy and mental health services.

Day/Time:  Mondays 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM via ZOOM

This group provides a safe and therapeutic environment for children ages 5 to 7 to practice skills to benefit their behaviors and develop additional skills through the use of play, games, and activities in a group setting. During their experience, each child will be able to explore and express their emotions with support from a positive social group environment.  Each week children will add to their “Tool Box” and utilize these helpful tools during everyday difficulties. The overall objective is to improve participants’ use of coping skills and emotion regulation through group therapy. Topics that will be addressed include: understanding and responding to intense emotions, managing impulses, and utilizing their tool box effectively.

Day/Time: Tuesdays 5:00 PM – 5:45 pm, IN PERSON

This interpersonal group provides children in 4^th ,5^th  and 6^th grade ( ages 10-12) a therapeutic setting in which to discuss challenges related to school, family, friends, and more. The overall objective is to help group members feel more confident in their abilities to manage strong emotions and difficult situations. This group therapy format provides members with the opportunity to practice identifying and communicating their emotional and relational needs in a safe and supportive environment.

Day/Time: Mondays 5:00 PM – 5:45 pm via ZOOM

This group provides a neurodiversity affirming space for autistic 9-12 year olds to learn about autism, connect with others with similar experiences, and learn skills for navigating school, family, and social situations. Group members are encouraged to embrace authentic movement, speech, and communication strategies in a safe, supportive environment.

Day/Time:  Thursdays 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM via ZOOM

Bring your lunch, and join us and other caregivers in a time to make art.  This group provides a safe environment for parents and caregivers to use art in a therapeutic manner that supports their own well-being along with the ability to incorporate art making/creativity within their home for themselves and with their children. Parents will develop the skills to use art in order to manage and cope with stress and in doing so, learn strategies to use with their children. No prior art experience is needed, as this group will provide a space to learn about materials, and ways express oneself through art to build an alternative form of communication.

DAY/TIME: To be determined

This is a weekly in-person group designed to support children in exploring and developing interception – the ability to identify and understand what’s happening inside our bodies. Participants are youth ages 9-11. Through movement and play, participants will learn to tune into and interpret their internal signals, promoting self-awareness, emotional regulation, and well-being. Group meetings will include structured, interactive activities to promote relationship building, teamwork skill development, and social confidence.

*This group is intentionally designed to support children who may prefer nonspeaking methods of communication and interaction, however, all communication styles are welcomed.*

Day/Time: Wednesdays 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM, IN PERSON

This virtual group is intended for parents of autistic and ADHD youth. It’s an inclusive space where parents can learn about autism and ADHD from a neurodiversity perspective, and explore effective strategies and accommodations for home, school, and social settings that respect and affirm their child’s unique neurological makeup. Participants will explore fostering healthy identity development and equip parents with tools to support their children in their journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

Day/Time: Mondays 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM via ZOOM

This group provides a neurodiversity affirming space for autistic and ADHD 14-17 year olds in which members share and explore their passions, interests, and identities, fostering connections with similar neurotype peers. Group members are encouraged to embrace authentic movement, speech, and communication strategies in a safe, supportive environment.

Day/Time: Wednesdays 5:30 PM – 6:20 PM via ZOOM

This is a group for fathers who want to create close and loving relationships with their pre-school aged child/ren. Over an 8 week period, father-child pairs will learn play-based activities and develop individualized strategies for improving attachment and regulation. Clinicians will introduce play-based activities that help fathers to better understand and respond to their children’s developmental needs. The intention will be to promote joy and attachment in the interest of healthy growth.

Day/Time: Tuesdays 4 pm- 5 pm

This is a support space for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-17 rooted in using plants to celebrate the inherent  diversity of the natural world. Our therapeutic horticulture group is 12 sessions running from spring to summer. Group members will participate in plant projects and gain an increased understanding of their necessity in their communities (including discussions of race, gender, sexuality, and neurodivergence), and the naturalness of queerness.

Time/Day: Wednesdays 6:30 pm-7:30 pm