Courage Club

Level 2 Group

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Courage Club Therapy Group provides a safe environment in which children with selective mutism, social anxiety, or other related anxieties can practice age-appropriate activities, opening the pathway for engaging in these activities outside of therapy. Each set of group dates will focus on a relevant activity for the season, such as Trick or Treating in October and leading a family game during the holiday season. The therapeutic goals include decreasing avoidance, increasing verbal interaction, and generalizing treatment gains into the home/public setting.

Courage Club is ideal for children who are ready to expand their treatment into group settings and would benefit from a peer group in which all the children are coping with anxiety. This group is for children in the advanced beginner stage of group therapy as well as those who require continued maintenance of treatment gains.

Prerequisites

Courage Club is ATSA's advanced beginner group. The group is designed to continue to foster the generalization of verbal and social skills in a peer group setting. This group is intended for children who have received outpatient individual therapy and have reached the goal of responding directly and consistently to their primary therapist. Children must also demonstrate the ability to respond to the group therapist during the preview session. Therefore, this group is appropriate for children who are ready for the next level of group exposures or who can benefit from specific social/peer activities to help maintain treatment gains. Currently, ATSA has a fall (Halloween-themed) and winter (Holiday-themed) Courage Club. Click here for more information about group eligibility criteria and ATSA' exposure hierarchy for groups.

The prerequisites are as follows:

  • Has established a consistent verbal relationship with their Primary Therapist.
  • Must have completed sessions at ATSA within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio).
  • Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) after a 5-10 min warm up during individual therapy session and group therapy session.
  • Is able to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of a peer during the preview session.

Readiness for this group can be demonstrated by the following:

  • Previous experience in group therapy (e.g., successfully participated in Come Play is also an indicator of readiness for this advanced beginner group.

 

If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child. If it has been over six months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, your child will need to complete a re-evaluation. If your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 to set up an intake evaluation or click here to request an appointment.

 

What to Expect

1 Preview Session + 5 Group Sessions = 6 Total Sessions

(9 hours of group therapy)

The purpose of a preview session is two-fold. First, it allows your child a chance to see what the group is about and see who else is registered before committing to the full 6 sessions of group. Secondly, it allows the clinician to assess whether or not your child is ready for this group. 

GROUP AGENDA - 90 min/session

  • 10-min warm-up activity
  • 65-min group activity
  • 15-min debrief with parents

 

Fees 

Group sessions are billed as 90-min sessions (total of 9 hours of group therapy). Click to register and see associated fees. There is a Preview Session, followed by the Group Sessions. If you cancel before the Preview Session, you will be refunded for the full fee amount less a $25 administrative fee.

If your child attends the Preview Session and it is determined that he/she needs more therapy before participating in this level group, you will be refunded for the rest of the group sessions, and no administrative fee will be applied. Insurance CPT code is 90853. Statements will be provided to those who wish to submit to their insurance for reimbursement.

Register for Courage Club

Courage Club runs in the fall and winter (Sept - Dec) on Saturdays from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

These classes build on one another; registration for one event includes 1 preview session plus 5 group sessions for a total of 9 hours of group therapy.

Fall Courage Club, Saturdays, 2:00 - 3:30 pm: 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21

Winter Holidays Courage Club, Saturdays, 2:00 - 3:30 pm: 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

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