This book introduces a group counseling curriculum that provides both a foundation to confidently lead a counseling group for adolescents and inspiration for how a group leader can adapt and modify the text in a range of settings. The curriculum is three-fold, corresponding with the three major sections of the text. In part one of the text, the authors provide a conceptual and practical way of understanding two matters: first, the critical leadership challenges faced by group counselors as well as the skills they need to navigate those challenges successfully, and secondly, the critical developmental challenges faced by adolescents and the skills they need to navigate those challenges successfully. Part Two introduces a nine-week social skills curriculum - Belong & Be You - designed and modified over ten years of use to help adolescents be better socially connected as well as confidently independent. Part Three provides additional resources which are meant to be used in tandem with the curriculum, including 40 strategic stories on four different themes contributed by faculty and students. This book will benefit school counselors and group counselors working with adolescents to successfully navigate group leadership and help students embrace themselves and find belonging.

How do children emotionally heal and regain equilibrium after suffering trauma? How do adults understand and help them in a therapeutic relationship? These questions are at the heart of Violet Oaklander's approach to play therapy and her methods for training adults to work with children and adolescents. In this text, Peter Mortola uses qualitative and narrative methods of analysis to document and detail Oaklander's work in a two-week summer training attended by child therapists from around the world.

Over the past decade, our understanding of the fundamental differences in child development, behavior, and emotional maturity between boys and girls has increased dramatically, and as a result, many gender-specific interventions and support programs have been developed to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and mental health professionals. However, these all take the form of responses designed to minimize an already disruptive behavior pattern. What has been needed is a pro-active program whose goal is to instill positive skills and patterns in 'at-risk' boys, rather than waiting to address problems after they are already visible. The BAM! Boys Advocacy and Mentoring program fills this need by providing the first guidebook for group facilitators who want to lead preventative boys groups designed to foster communication skills and emotional connections. Based on years of research and refined over the course of countless sessions run by the authors, the program has been field-tested and tailored for use either in the school setting or outside. Over a series of group sessions, participants are encouraged to understand their emotions and interpersonal interactions without losing a sense of 'maleness' as a result of emotional growth and communication with peers about personal issues. The activities are designed to be engaging across age groups, and the individual exercises and program structure can be modified to fit into any existing school- or community-based mentoring system. The guidebook contains all of the information and tools a facilitator needs in order to implement and maintain these boys groups.

How do children emotionally heal and regain equilibrium after suffering trauma? How do adults understand and help them in a therapeutic relationship? These questions are at the heart of Violet Oaklander's approach to play therapy and her methods for training adults to work with children and adolescents. In this text, Peter Mortola uses qualitative and narrative methods of analysis to document and detail Oaklander's work in a two-week summer training attended by child therapists from around the world.

Over the past decade, our understanding of the fundamental differences in child development, behavior, and emotional maturity between boys and girls has increased dramatically, and as a result, many gender-specific interventions and support programs have been developed to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and mental health professionals. However, these all take the form of responses designed to minimize an already disruptive behavior pattern. What has been needed is a pro-active program whose goal is to instill positive skills and patterns in 'at-risk' boys, rather than waiting to address problems after they are already visible. The BAM! Boys Advocacy and Mentoring program fills this need by providing the first guidebook for group facilitators who want to lead preventative boys groups designed to foster communication skills and emotional connections. Based on years of research and refined over the course of countless sessions run by the authors, the program has been field-tested and tailored for use either in the school setting or outside. Over a series of group sessions, participants are encouraged to understand their emotions and interpersonal interactions without losing a sense of 'maleness' as a result of emotional growth and communication with peers about personal issues. The activities are designed to be engaging across age groups, and the individual exercises and program structure can be modified to fit into any existing school- or community-based mentoring system. The guidebook contains all of the information and tools a facilitator needs in order to implement and maintain these boys groups.

This book introduces a group counseling curriculum that provides both a foundation to confidently lead a counseling group for adolescents and inspiration for how a group leader can adapt and modify the text in a range of settings. The curriculum is three-fold, corresponding with the three major sections of the text. In part one of the text, the authors provide a conceptual and practical way of understanding two matters: first, the critical leadership challenges faced by group counselors as well as the skills they need to navigate those challenges successfully, and secondly, the critical developmental challenges faced by adolescents and the skills they need to navigate those challenges successfully. Part Two introduces a nine-week social skills curriculum - Belong & Be You - designed and modified over ten years of use to help adolescents be better socially connected as well as confidently independent. Part Three provides additional resources which are meant to be used in tandem with the curriculum, including 40 strategic stories on four different themes contributed by faculty and students. This book will benefit school counselors and group counselors working with adolescents to successfully navigate group leadership and help students embrace themselves and find belonging.