Are there circumstances in your life that have left you feeling isolated or misunderstood?

Are you looking to gain support or to just connect and grow with others who “get it?”

This ongoing, intimate group of up to 8 participants provides a safe, nonjudgmental space for high schoolers to come together for support and peer connection.

Members are encouraged to bring their concerns and be open to receiving input from others. The counselors will provide psychoeducation and facilitate the conversation. Creative arts may be incorporated if the group desires.

While there is no set agenda in this open process group, themes that commonly arise include depression/anxiety, academic and social pressures, substance use, relationship conflicts, family dynamics, and life paths/transitions, among others.

This group is a wonderful addition to individual therapy, or it can be helpful standing on its own.

Learn more about open process groups

Who

High schoolers (9th-12th grade)

When

Choose from:

  • Wednesdays from 4-5:00pm
  • Wednesdays from 5:15-6:15pm

Where

In-person in Sunstone’s McLean office (map it)

Cost

The cost of the group is $100/session (minimum 6-week commitment required).

Additionally, a 30-minute intake session ($90) is required for new clients.

Registration and Inquiries

To sign up or learn more, contact a group facilitator (below).

Meet the Facilitators

Lana Milligan, Resident in Counseling
 
 

Lana’s experience includes working with children and adolescents, primarily those in middle school transitioning into the high school environment. Her main approach is based around client-centered therapy with elements of play/expressive arts and mindfulness, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).  

Rachel Stewart, Resident in Counseling
 
 

Rachel is passionate about working with adolescents and currently sees many high schoolers on an individual basis. Rachel primarily uses a client centered and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach, while also incorporating dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness and other techniques. 

Group FAQs

Group therapy can offer a judgment-free support network and a secure base to return to when you feel alone in your struggles. In fact, group therapy can help provide relief in knowing that others are having similar experiences.

Additionally, having a diverse set of perspectives can allow members to see their situations through various lenses and to form new ideas about how to make positive change.

Being that group therapy is largely relational, other benefits include increased communication and listening skills, boundary setting, and managing emotions within yourself and others.

Open groups are those in which new members can join at any time. Closed groups are those in which members join the group at the same time, and new members are not accepted until the start of a new group session.

This is an open group and therefore does not have a particular end date. The group will continue to admit new members, as space permits, who are an appropriate fit with the current established group.

Just as in any therapy, you are able to leave the group at any time. However, it is expected that you come consistently, and the facilitators recommend attending for a minimum of 6 weeks in order to maintain group cohesion.