The world can be a scary place, especially for kids.  Between navigating the warfare that is pre-teen social dynamics while also, somehow, turning into the person one is meant to become, it’s easy to get lost.  Add to that the brain’s natural tendency to convince us that all of our biggest problems and struggles are only ours, that we are somehow uniquely broken, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.  While I can’t take away the problems that lead to all of these big emotions I can give them a road map to help them navigate it though the Turning Point Program.

This is a space where kids learn, first and foremost, that they are not alone.  That in and of itself is one of the most powerful things I have seen group therapy do.  Nothing normalizes one’s emotional experience more effectively than hearing your thoughts and feelings being expressed by another person who is going through the same thing.  That’s why the tween group is so powerful- kids get to hear from and see others struggling with all of the same things and know that they are not alone, that they can work together to get through these challenges, and that there is hope (no matter how hopeless they feel).  By building a robust list of easily accessible coping tools they learn, practice, and get good at by the time they are ready to graduate they leave equipped to handle all the challenges they face with resilience, strength, and even a little bit of joy.

In addition to serving as therapist I also act as clinical supervisor of the minors program where I get to put my many years of experience to good use by advising my team on everything from handling tricky behaviors to navigating school systems to help kids get in-class support when needed to supporting parents in their struggles to communicate with and connect to their kids.  I love being able to act as advisor, confidant, and cheerleader to my co-workers and have come to value this role almost as much as I love being a therapist.

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