Frequently Asked Questions

I am not a counselor. I am not providing counseling services. I am providing tools for adolescents to reduce stress and anxiety, to take care of their mind and body, to be freely creative, and to connect with others. You can read more about my certifications and experience as an educator here.

Absolutely! Shyness is a tough one. There are several variables leading to shyness such as: minimal social connections, limited interaction skills and fear of judgment. I created this curriculum with the foremost thought of safely and inclusion where social skills and confidence can be learned and practiced. My approach is small groups with no forced participation. There is the opportunity to learn and grow among peers her age without pressure. Participants will have a sense of control with plenty of opportunities to interact.

Over the course of each session, we learn and revisit topics on a regular basis. By the end of the session, each girl should make some progress with each of the following:

• Connection among peers
• Realization that she is  NOT alone in her thoughts and feelings
• Emotional acknowledgement and regulation strategies
• Anxiety reduction strategies
• Ability to focus on being present
• Finding freedom in creativity
• Noting pros/cons of social media
• Establishing and setting boundaries
• Experiencing healthy, fun movement
• Acknowledging personal strengths

Yes, participants often attend several sessions. Each session will have different activities and more opportunities to practice using tools learned previously.

When it is apparent to me that a participant needs the services of a one-on-one counselor, I provide counselor recommendations to the parents. My goal is to make sure all participants become their healthiest selves, and a counselor is an amazing resource.

As part of the curriculum, parents will be invited to attend one of the end meetings of the session. The girls will help decide what this looks like. Parents aren’t invited in the beginning, in order to foster peer interaction and authenticity.

As parents, we talk with our children about goals. Is your daughter showing signs of stress or anxiety? Is she lacking social connections? Would she benefit from exploring and learning news tools while connecting with others in a small group setting?

You can say to your daughter, “I just found out about a girls’ group you might enjoy and I’d like to encourage you think about participating.” Introduce some of the tools/topics presented in my sessions. Ask her questions. Ask if she’d like to feel less pressure. Ask if she’d like to build more friendships. Ask if she’d like to learn to relax more. Ask if she’d like to feel more comfortable. Ask if she likes to be creative. Ask her if she wants to meet other girls who feel some of the same things she does.

When she says yes to all these things, sign her up!

Our programs are held at:

Three Rivers Center for Relationship
115 NW Greeley Ave
Bend, OR 97701

I offer a 10% Early Bird discount if you enroll before the early bird deadline (typically one month prior to the session start date).  I also offer a 10% discount if a participant enrolls in a subsequent session.

Yes, in the future I intend to offer groups for boys, groups for a broader age range of girls, and groups for women as well. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to hear about future offerings!

Click on our “Register” link and complete the online form, which includes a photo release and liability release. Payment is due the first day of class. Please come ten minutes early to complete any additional paperwork and a start-of-session questionnaire.