As part of the Counseling Program at Amherst Junior High School and Nord Middle School, we are offering a variety of groups to the students this year. A group is anywhere from 3 to 9 students who all share the same concern or program. These groups do not deal with the treatment of psychological disorders. Small group counseling focuses on a particular problem which may be personal, education, social, or vocational. The groups are preventative, short-term, supportive, and developmental. They help the children find a way to cope with stresses, and teach them skills that they can use in everyday life. All groups are completely optional for students.
Groups are held once a week, during a regular school day period, and usually during a study hall time. There will be six to eight group sessions. Please note that we treat all information with strictest confidentiality and the highest respect. Below is a listing of the groups for this upcoming school year (groups are subject to change).
Girls Circle: Structured support group for girls which integrates relationship theory, resiliency practices, and skills training. Designed to increase positive connection, strengths, and competence in girls.
Boys Council: Strengths-based group approach to promote boys' and young men's safe and healthy passage through pre-teen and adolescent years.
Mindfulness Group: An opportunity for children to calm their minds, become more aware in order to work through their anxieties and school stressors.
Study Skills & Organization Group/Open Table Format: Focus' on improving academic success through goal-setting, study skills, and test-taking strategies. Provides opportunity for academic skill-building and a time for sharing and relating to peers on a social level.
If your child would like to be involved in a group, or if you want your child to participate, please contact a guidance counselor for more information.
