Group Therapy: Supportive, Insightful, Empowering
Join our group therapy sessions for parents and children to gain the skills & support you need for a healthier, more balanced life for your family.
Learn more about our programs and secure your spot today.
Embark on an exciting learning journey with our highly sought-after group therapy classes. We are thrilled to announce a new cycle of programs designed to support children and parents in managing their challenges in academic, emotional, and social arenas. Many families have reported positive changes and feel more in control through our group settings.
Who are therapy groups for?
Many parents we work with feel isolated, unsure of the best parenting strategies, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice online. Group therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space to connect with others and get real-world advice rooted in evidence-based practices.
You are not alone—and support is just a step away.
Why Group Therapy at FFEW?
At FFEW, we take a comprehensive and compassionate approach to group therapy. Our evidence-based strategies are tailored to the needs of parents and families, focusing on emotional well-being, communication, and resilience. Our groups support both parents and children. It can be comforting to be around others facing similar struggles.
Our approach is rooted in successful psychological modalities: we utilize cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and prioritize supportive group dynamics and interpersonal learning. In our work, we treat anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, personality disorders, and other mental health ailments. The benefits of support groups include improved social skills which help reduce loneliness, and increase a sense of empathy and confidence. Parents and children learn specific skills, such as what to do for anger management or other intense emotions, and how to foster mindfulness.
The Foundations for Emotional Wellness (FFEW) Team
Since then, we’ve grown—our talented team includes psychotherapists, clinical therapists, and social workers, each with a unique specialization. This means we can help your family with a range of issues, no matter the parenting challenge. Whether you are faced with overwhelming anxiety, intense emotional outbursts, or complete shutdowns, we’ve seen it all. And we can help.
We offer individual psychotherapy alongside group therapy.
Group Therapy Options at FFEW
Parent Group Therapy
Building Blocks
Parenting for Emotional Health
- For: Parents with children ages 0 months to 5 years
- Virtual Group: 8 weeks, 1hr per week
- Next Class: Tuesday’s April 22 to June 10, 2025 noon to 1pm
- Focus: This program supports parents in creating secure parent-child relationships and building emotion regulation skills in young children.
Parenting Emotionally Intense Children
Level 1
- For: Parents with children ages 5 to 12 years
- Virtual Group: 10 weeks: 1hr per week
- Next Class: Tuesday’s April 22 to Jun 24, 2025, noon -1 pm
- Focus: Designed to provide caregivers with the skills and support needed to optimize healthy outcomes for emotionally intense children.
Parenting Emotionally Intense Children
Level 2
- For: Parents with children ages 3 to 12 years
- Next Group: Monthly on the first Thursday of the month
- First Session: TBD 12-1:30pm
- Focus: For parents and guardians who have completed Level 1, this program offers deeper learning and additional tools for managing emotionally intense children.
Parenting Children with Anxiety
- For: Parents with children ages 3 to 12 years
- Virtual Group: 8 weeks, 1 hr per week
- Next Class: Wednesday’s April 23 to June 11, 2025, noon -1 pm
- Focus: This program equips parents with tools and strategies to help their children manage anxiety effectively.
Children Group Therapy
Coping With Anxiety
For Children
- For: Children ages 9 to 12 years
- In-Person: 8 weeks
- Next open group: TBD
- Focus: An action-oriented class designed to help children learn and practice coping strategies for managing anxiety.
Not sure which option is right for you?
Book a free consultation with one of our therapists, and we’ll help match you with the perfect program for your family’s needs.
FAQ
What can I expect in Group Therapy for Parents?
Each parent group has a maximum of 10 participants. Some parents come individually, and some come as a couple. Parent classes are 60 minutes long, and they are virtual to be more accessible for busy parents. In the group, I will have an opportunity to get to know you and the issues you face with your child, and you will also have an opportunity to get to know the other group members. These sessions are live with our clinicians.
Each session features three components:
- Learning a specific skill that is backed by research. We cover a different topic each week. You will leave with concrete ideas to try at home for the coming week.
- An opportunity to raise particular challenges you are facing. You will learn how to apply the skills we covered to your specific situations.
- A chance to support each other by sharing successes (and challenges) that occurred over the previous week.
Please get in touch with me for more information. Confidentiality always guaranteed.
What can I expect in Group Therapy for Children?
Each child group has a maximum of 6 participants to allow for adequate attention and tailoring of the material to each child. Child classes are 60 minutes long and are held in person, at our Toronto clinic. In the group, I will have an opportunity to get to know your child and teach them how to apply skills to their specific situation.
Each session features three components:
- Learning a specific skill that is backed by research. I will cover a different topic each week. Your child will leave with concrete ideas to try at home for the coming week.
- An opportunity for your child to raise particular challenges they are facing, and to apply the skills we covered in class to their specific situations.
- A chance to support their peers by sharing successes (and challenges) that occurred over the previous week.
Please get in touch with me for more information.
What are some of the Benefits of Group Therapy?
Support and connection.
Challenges are much harder when they are faced alone. In the groups I run, parents and children often report relief in knowing they are not unique in their struggles. Sharing difficult experiences in a supportive, safe, and non-judgmental environment can help you start to think of different ways you can address your problems.
Learning evidence-based theory and skills.
I am a believer that knowledge of child development, understanding the basics of how emotions function, and acquiring step-by-step skills necessary to implement strategies that work is power. Groups are a great way to obtain information in an organized way and discuss how to apply this to your day-to-day life.
Reducing shame.
It is not uncommon for parents and children to feel a great sense of ineffectiveness, sadness and shame in their struggle. Sharing reduces shame, especially in the context of acceptance and understanding from others. When the shame is reduced, we can learn, implement skills and promote our own self-growth.
It’s a more affordable option.
Psychotherapy in Ontario is expensive, and the waitlists are long. Collective therapy can service more clients at a time and at more than half the cost of individual therapy.