Other Group Offerings

The CBT for Anxiety Group is a 12-session, co-ed skills group for middle schoolers (grades 6-8) 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. We understand that some children may be hesitant to engage in exposure tasks and confront their worries so we will begin group with a focus on motivational interviewing principles and help the group enhance their self-efficacy to prepare for the tasks ahead in accordance with their personal values.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about the group, please email Dr. Samantha Reaves at sreaves@alvordbaker.com or leave a detailed message with your name and contact information at 301-593-6554, ext 22. You may also call our intake coordinator at 301-593-5554 x23 or send an email: intake@alvordbaker.com.

The CBT for Anxiety Group is a 12-session, co-ed skills group for high schoolers (grades 9-12) 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. Families new to our practice must first participate in an intake session (60 minutes, $309) to determine fit prior to registering for the group.

This group will be offered in fall 2021. Please contact our intake coordinator (301-593-6554 x23) to indicate your interest and to receive more information as it becomes available. If you are interested in obtaining 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 (grades (9-12)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

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 Teen Perfectionism Group (grades 9-12) 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’.”

Start date, as well as the day/time, for this group may vary based upon enrollment. Group sessions will be 75-minutes per 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. Families new to our practice must first participate in an intake session (75 minutes, $309) 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 contact our intake coordinator at 301-5593-6554 x 23 or email Dr. Michelle Gryczkowski at mgryczkowski@alvordbaker.com.