Other Group Offerings

Although the experience of anxiety is universal, at high levels it becomes a source of great suffering. Adolescence, which represents a small window of time in which numerous physical, cognitive, social, contextual, and developmental changes occur, is marked by increases in anxiety symptoms and disorders. This 12-week online group is rooted on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is the gold-standard treatment for anxiety disorders (generalized, social, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive) in adolescents. As such, the group’s aim will be to change adolescents’ inaccurate/unhelpful thoughts along with unhealthy behaviors that inadvertently maintain the anxiety. By the end of the group, adolescents will know how to revise anxious thinking and engage in healthy coping strategies. Sessions will occur Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The group fee is $105 per session. A registration fee of $130 is required and will be applied towards payment of the final group session. Prior to registering, families who are new to our practice must first participate in an intake session (60 minutes, $210 to determine fit and collaborate with Dr. Collado to develop a treatment plan. If returning families are interested in enrolling, Dr. Collado will meet with the adolescent and parent/guardian for 30 minutes (Cost = $130) to develop a treatment plan collaboratively.

For more information or if you would like to register, please contact our intake coordinator at 301-593-6554 x23 or email email at intake@alvordbaker.com.

The CBT for Anxiety Group is a 12-session, co-ed skills group for high schoolers with anxiety of any kind (e.g., generalized worry (“What if?” thinking), social or health anxiety, panic attacks, phobias). The focus of the group is on cognitive-behavioral strategies to reduce worry and avoidance. This primary strategy taught is exposure, which is gradually facing feared situations or outcomes. This is the gold-standard method of treating anxiety. Additional strategies, such as challenging anxious thought patterns and relaxation exercises will also be included. The group will be held online through telehealth video sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm. Group rates are $130 per session. We require a $130 registration fee, which will be applied towards payment of the final group session. Families new to our practice must first participate in an intake session (60 minutes, $300) to determine fit prior to registering for the group.

Enrollment is currently open and will begin as soon as the group fills (maximum of 6 group members). If you are interested in more information about the group, please email Dr. Michelle Gryczkowski at mgryczkowski@alvordbaker.com or leave a detailed message with your name and contact information at 301-593-6554, ext 56..

The Teen Mindfulness Group is an 8-week group therapy treatment for stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness means noticing your environment (both external and internal) in the present moment with curiosity and kindness. This experiential group will teach teens mindfulness skills to lower stress, regulate emotions, tolerate distress, manage impulses, build self-compassion, and improve well-being. The program is an adaptation of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for adults that has been modified for teenagers. MBSR is an effective, evidence-based intervention for stress, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and problems with sleep.

What teens can gain from participation in this group:

Become more fully present in the moment rather than worrying so much about the future or dwelling on regrets of the past

Reduce struggle with difficult experiences by learning to be less judgmental and more accepting

Learn to pay attention to life stressors and how to practice self-care and lower stress as needed

Practice mindfulness during group and get feedback from the instructor and from peers

Develop a formal mindfulness meditation practice and learn ways to incorporate mindfulness into activities throughout the day

Build resilience, balance, clarity, and wellness in daily life

The Teen Mindfulness Group will meet for 8 weeks via telehealth (using Zoom) on Tuesdays from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm starting in the fall 2020..

Group rates are $155 per 90-minute session. For families new to our practice, teens must first participate in an intake session prior to registering for the group. For more information or if you would like to register, please contact our intake coordinator at 301-593-6554 x23 or email at intake@alvordbaker.com.

CBT for Perfectionism group is a 12-week, co-ed skills group for high schoolers struggling with perfectionism in any area (e.g., academics, social interactions, performance). The focus of the group is on cognitive-behavioral strategies to reduce perfectionistic thoughts and behaviors and increase confidence and self-worth. This will include “behavioral experiments” to test out negative predictions and practice doing things imperfectly or without “safety behaviors” (e.g., reassurance seeking, excessive editing). Time will also be devoted to the “college admissions ‘mania’.”

This group is planned for Fall 2020 and will be held through telehealth video sessions. Group rates are $130 per session. We require a $130 registration fee, which will be applied towards payment of the final group session. Families new to our practice must first participate in an intake session (60 minutes, $300) to determine fit prior to registering for the group. If you are interested in more information about the group or would like to be placed on the "interested list" to be contacted once there are enough members to hold the group (maximum of 6 group members), please email Dr. Michelle Gryczkowski at mgryczkowski@alvordbaker.com or leave a detailed message with your name and contact information at 301-593-6554, ext 56.