Strong Girls, Smart Women

A Group Program to Empower Adolescent Girls

Compared to the teenage years of their parents, contemporary adolescence is a period of far greater risk to young people’s current and future health. This appears particularly true for girls whose transition to adulthood is more challenging than ever before. Research on woman’s psychological development identifies adolescence as the most pivotal and vulnerable time for females. At no other time in a woman’s life is her developing sense of self more influenced by culture, peer relationships, and the need for belonging. Poor self-esteem and body image, depression, and other psychological difficulties may emerge during this turbulent time.

Strong Girls, Smart Women are gender specific, 12-week programs tailored to the unique issues adolescent girls face. The goal of each program is to assist in strengthening the critical competencies and skills girls need in order to successfully master the transition to adulthood.

We Offer Three Group Programs:

  • Pre-teen
  • Freshman and Sophomore
  • Junior and Senior

Programs Include:

  1. Achieving a competent gender role identification
  2. Establishing a healthy body image
  3. Developing a positive self-esteem
  4. Communicating and staying connected with family
  5. Developing and maintaining satisfactory peer relationships
  6. Establishing independence through responsible decision making
  7. Understanding sexuality/choices/building refusal skills
  8. Finding access to resources/reaching out
  9. Planning for the future

Also Offered for Adolescent Girls:

  • Individual counseling
  • Family Therapy
  • Parenting workshops addressing adolescent development and behavior

Program Facilitators:

Shari Jacobson, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker having extensive training and over 20 years experience in the treatment of adolescents and their families. Founder and Co-Director of Associates in Therapy and Assessment, LLC, Shari also specializes in marital therapy and individual therapy with adolescents and adults. Her clinical interests include the areas of: childhood abuse and trauma, women’s issues throughout the lifespan, grief, and loss.

Sara Forsythe-Menna, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker having extensive training and experience in working with children, adolescents, and their families. Sara has provided numerous groups for children and adolescents addressing issues including: social skills, positive self-esteem, healthy body image, and effective decision-making. Sara has a clinical interest in woman’s issues throughout the lifespan and specializes in the unique challenges young women face as they transition from their late teens to adulthood.

To find out more about Strong Girls, Smart Women group programs or to arrange to join us contact Associates in Therapy and Assessment at (847) 295-6141.