GROUP THERAPY

The Sarah T. Butler Children’s Center provides an array of group therapy services for young children, children and adolescents.  Our current offerings include group therapy for children who need help with social skills or coping with divorce. 

Children and Adolescent Social Skills
The social skills groups utilize model programs that have been shown to be effective in helping children learn these skills.
  • For the younger children ages 4-9, the topics cover basic social skills such as listening, keeping our hands to ourselves, asking for help, asking questions, joining in, turn taking, initiating and maintaining play with peers. 
  • For middle school children, ages 10-13, the topics cover more advanced conversation skills, friendship skills, hygiene tips, expressing feelings and recognizing other’s feelings, dealing with teasing/bullying, anger management, relaxation, apologizing, accepting consequences and handing disappointment. 
  • Teen groups, ages 14-18, cover similar topics geared for their age group and add in other higher level social skills such as empathy and compassion, maintaining relationships, negotiating, conflict resolution, problem solving, anger management, and emotional regulation techniques.

To find out more information about each group program and dates offered, please contact Christy Wells at 706-649-6507 ext. 1361 or cwells@pilink.org.

Children of Divorcing Parents
Going through divorce is never easy. That's why we're inviting children ages six to eleven who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to divorce to attend group therapy at the Pastoral Institute. The therapy is offered monthly and consists of four weekly one-hour sessions.

Participating in group therapy provides children with a safe place to express and process feelings regarding their parents' divorce. Licensed professional counselors will lead children through the divorce process as well as discussions on stepfamilies, transitioning between homes and staying out of the middle. In addition, the sessions will help children learn that divorce often has delayed impacts and will offer direction on how to handle them in a healthy manner.

Prior to the first session, a screening appointment should be scheduled. At that time, a therapist will meet individually with each child and parent(s) to assess the need for the group and to provide a brief orientation of the program.

All or part of group therapy charges may be covered by insurance, the parent's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits or by Covenant Congregation Program (CCP) benefits offered through certain area churches.

Contact us at cc@pilink.org or 706-649-6500 or 1-800-649-6446 for more information or to make an appointment for an assessment.