Level 4 Group

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What is Lunch Bunch?

ATSA's Lunch Bunch therapy group provides a safe context in which children with selective mutism, social phobia, or other related anxiety disorders can practice age-appropriate activities and conversations, opening the pathway for engaging in these experiences outside of therapy. This group will simulate a school lunch hour with lunch and recess to help children practice eating in front of others, process school experiences and deepen the fear extinction related to social encounters in school. The therapeutic goals include habituating to anxiety, decreasing behavioral inhibition, increasing verbal interaction, and applying treatment gains into the school setting.

Lunch Bunch 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 stage of group therapy as well as those who require continued maintenance of treatment gains, and is offered as a flexible group for which you can select the dates to attend.

Prerequisites

Lunch Bunch is one of ATSA's more advanced groups (Level 4). 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 session, and it is possible that there will be several group therapists present. Previous experience in group therapy (e.g., successfully participated in Come Play, Social Thinking, Social Exposures Group, Adventure Camp, etc.) is also an indicator of readiness for this advanced group. 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.

The prerequisites are as follows:

• Must have completed sessions at ATSA within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio) or group session (1:3 Child to Therapist ratio).
• Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent and enter group room independently.
• Demonstrates the ability to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of peers.
• Demonstrates the ability to interact verbally with limited assistance by the Group Facilitator.

Readiness for this group can also be demonstrated by the following:

• Has participated in Adventure Camp or Winter Adventure.
• Has participated in Social Exposures Group or Social Thinking Group at ATSA.

What to Expect - Open One-Hour Group Sessions

Lunch Bunch is designed to be a flexible, open, ongoing group. You can select the dates you'd like your child to attend. The dates offered are listed per month. Note that a registration needs to be filled out for each month. If you have any problems with registering, call the Intake Coordinators at 630-230-6505 and they can register your child over the phone, or contact them via email at info@advancedtherapeuticsolutions.org.

Children are to bring their own packed lunch. Weather permitting, Lunch Bunch will occur outside.

Fees 

Group sessions are billed at $105.00 per session. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the session, you will be refunded for the full session less a $25 administrative fee. The enrollment fee is non-refundable after the group session begins. To cancel, call 630-230-6505. Insurance CPT code is 90853. Statements will be provided to those who wish to submit to their insurance for reimbursement.

When 2023-2024

Saturdays 12:30pm -1:30pm 

Lunch Bunch is designed to be a flexible, open, ongoing group. You don't have to commit to a series of sessions. You can select the dates you'd like your child to attend.

SEPTEMBER Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

OCTOBER Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
7th, 14th, 21st, 28th

NOVEMBER Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
4th, 11th, 18th

DECEMBER Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
2nd, 9th, 16th

FEBRUARY Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

MARCH Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

APRIL Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

MAY Lunch Bunch, Saturdays, 12:30-1:30, 
4th, 11th, 18th, 25th