A Mind-Body Skills Group for 12th-Grade Girls 

Mind-Body Skills groups are grounded in self-reflection and mindfulness. Mindfulness is an aspect of our awareness that involves paying attention on purpose to the here and now, with kindness and compassion. In this group, you will learn how to use a variety of mind-body based techniques and other mindfulness oriented activities to help manage stress, anxiety & uncertainty.

This 6-week program is designed to teach you how to observe the way that the mind and body reacts in ordinary situations, and how you can learn how to respond to whatever happens with a sense of calmness and kindness to yourself and others. Whether you are worried about school, an argument with your parents, or a relationship with a friend, you will see how to apply different practices to help you cope and navigate life. As a group member, you will have the opportunity to experience techniques that are rooted in science, including art & drawing, breathing, meditation, gentle movement, and imagery, as well as share your present moment experience with others in an intimate group setting.

This program includes participation in six weekly one and half hour sessions. In each session, you will experience how to use the breath and body to bring you into the present moment and feel a sense of ease and relaxation. Each session will involve discussion and sharing, as well as practice. After completion of this program, you will know how to use mindfulness techniques to keep stress and anxiety from getting the better of you. You will become more aware of the critical self-judgments you make of yourself and have tools to help you feel you have better control and understanding of your emotions, thoughts and behavior.

This format provides an opportunity for you to begin to integrate the mind-body skills into your life, with the support of the group to help you work through any difficulties along the way. Over this 6-week period, we expect you to practice and integrate new skills into your day and week so that you will maximize your self-care, enhance resilience, and increase your self-awareness. The practice over these weeks will enable you to deal more successfully with anxiety, stress and change.

This group is limited to 12 teens and facilitated by two experienced instructors - a psychologist and co-founder of the Michigan Collaborative for Mindfulness in Education and a social worker and faculty member from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine.  

Registration requirements: 1. Attendance of all 6 online group sessions  2. Willingness to engage in experiential exercises 3. Generous listening to others  4. Commitment to confidentiality  5. Video cameras turned on.  

The fee for participation is $150.

Registration is on a first come first serve basis and must be received before January 31, 2021. Upon receipt of registration, we will schedule a very brief interview to make sure that this group is a mutually good fit at this time. If we agree it is not, the program fee will be immediately refunded.

Teens from every state are welcome to register. To assure an inclusive space any female identifying participant is welcome.