I am SO EXCITED to have been interviewed on the Launching Your Daughter podcast last week. If you aren't familiar with this podcast, you should be! Nicole Burgess, LMFT is the host, and she interviews experts in the field who specialize in supporting and empowering tween and teen girls.
Nicole invited me on her show for episode 30, so we could discuss how and why groups work when empowering girls. I run several groups for girls, and feel incredibly passionate about both group work and girl empowerment! So why do groups work? Here are a few of the main benefits.
- Connection! This is arguably the biggest factor in groups being successful. Research says that just feeling connected to others in a similar situation boosts self esteem and decreases feelings of anxiety and depression.
- "Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives." - Bessel Van Der Kolk
- Realizing you are not alone. This was one of the main reasons behind starting my groups. I hear so frequently with individual clients things like: "I'm the only one who feels this way," "None of my friends struggle with this," "There's something wrong with me." Something magical happens when a group starts and they realize they actually aren't alone, and that there's nothing wrong with any of them.
- More people = more fun in learning skills! When working on building self-esteem, increasing confidence, and managing intense emotions, I love to use expressive arts. And that is always more fun with lots of people. We might watch video clips, or make collages, or listen to music, or do an art project. The girls have an opportunity to learn from each other, and build connections through the use of these fun skill-building activities.
- Great practice for real life. Groups often mimic real life and provide a safe space to practice things like confidence, assertiveness, and social skills. For example, for the girl who struggles with finding her voice and being assertive, group would be a great opportunity to practice learning and using those skills. Or for the girl who struggles with accepting a compliment (as most girls do), she will have an opportunity to practice accepting compliments through activities built to master this skill.
Wondering if a group might help empower your tween or teen daughter? Enter your email below and I'll contact you to figure out the next best steps!