Life for middle school-aged children is busy. The stakes have been raised in school, and the work is more challenging, they have to put in more work to build and maintain friendships, their bodies are changing, and they are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. It is also typical for this age group to experience peer pressure, bullying, and possibly the disappointment of failure or rejection for the first time if they did not make the team or was not selected for that part in the play they tried out for. These are the main reasons why we tend to see an increase in depression and anxiety diagnoses for children in this age group. To help the middle school-aged child with these issues, we have one-on-one, and small group supports that lead them through learning about their emotional well-being and strategies to help them cope with the negative emotions and experiences. Our programs also assist with the following:
Social Skills
Coping with Anxiety
Decreasing Impulsivity
Anger Management
Building Self-Esteem
Organization
Time Management
Homework/Study Skills
Reading Development
Future Planning
One-on-One Sessions
One-on-one sessions are 60-minutes long, which includes 45-minutes of instruction and learning activities and concludes with a 15-minute wrap-up with the student and parent. The wrap-up is used to share progress, explain new techniques, and the areas of focus for the upcoming week. Students will be expected to complete tasks and activities in between sessions to help them master new skills. If interested in signing up for a consultation or would like more info, please fill out the form below.
Small Groups & Workshops
Throughout the year, we host a variety of small groups and workshops for children in middle school. To get the latest information, please sign up for updates below.
Groups
Club Tomodachi – Tomodachi means friend in Japanese! Club Tomodachi is our group for 13-17-year-old students who love anime, manga, and video games but need some help with social skills and self-esteem development. This group meets weekly, and each week we focus on a new ability while also celebrating our favorite shows, game, and art.
Dates: This group will begin again Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at 6:30 pm
Workshops
Effective Communication for Middle Schoolers
This workshop helps students in middle school learn the importance of communication and some tips for expressing themselves in a positive manner. The discussion will also cover dealing with conflict and communicating when frustrated and upset.
Identifying & Managing Emotions
There is a lot of talk about coping skills and regulating emotions, but can this be done if you don’t fully understand what it is you are feeling? This interactive workshop helps students in middle school identify different emotions and develop a system for managing each type.
My Body is Changing for Girls (ages 9-15)
This interactive student and parent workshop focuses on growing up. Discussions about the different body changes occur and participants have the opportunity to make coping kits to help with some of the associated challenges and to become better prepared. **Class does not cover reproduction and focuses on body and hormone changes that occur.
My Body is Changing for Boys (ages 9-15)
This interactive student and parent workshop focuses on growing up. Discussions about the different body changes occur and participants have the opportunity to make coping kits to help with some of the associated challenges and to become better prepared. **Class does not cover reproduction and focuses on body and hormone changes that occur.
How to Prepare for Middle School
Starting middle school is exciting but it is different from elementary school and that can cause some anxiety. This workshop talks about some of the differences between elementary and middle school and shares tips on how to transition smoothly and stay organized during the process.