Our 2025 Feelings & Friends Group for Kids 6-8 runs on Thursdays from 5 pm to 6:30 pm

• January 16, 2025 – Parent introduction session
• January 23 – Child session 1
• January 30 – Child session 2
• February 6 – Child session 3
• February 13- Child session 4
• February 20 – Child session 5
• February 27 – Child session 6
• March 6 – Parent wrap-up session

Our Feelings & Friends Group for Kids 9-12 typically runs on Thursdays from 5 pm to 6:30 pm

• October 3, 2024 – Parent introduction session
• October 10 – Child session 1
• October 17 – Child session 2
• October 24 – Child session 3
• October 31 – Child session 4
• November 7 – Child session 5
• November 14 – Child session 6
• November 21 – Parent wrap-up session

In today’s world, nobody teaches kids how to be friends, listen to others, or check in on their feelings or those of others. They often learn by trial and error (figuring out what not to do, which is a really hard way to learn) or not at all. Growing up without friends and without emotional and relational awareness makes childhood — and even adolescence and adulthood— much tougher than it needs to be

That’s why we designed a gentler, way more fun way: our Feelings and Friends Group. This unique program offers a safe space for kids to learn and practice these essential life skills in a small, safe group setting.

• Small group, big impact. Kids work in small groups, which means personalized attention and a stronger sense of community. This setting helps children build confidence and leadership skills and fosters real connections.
• Emotional exploration. Feelings matter! This group teaches kids how to express their emotions, understand their own feelings, and relate to others. They learn the art of being a good friend—listening, empathizing, and supporting one another.
• Child-led learning. The program is designed to be child-led, meaning kids are encouraged to make decisions, understand social cues, and have their voices heard. It’s all about emPOWERing them to navigate social situations with relational awareness, resilience, and positivity — what growing and thriving are all about.
• Fun and unique activities. With the guidance of an experienced child therapist facilitator, children engage in real-time problem-solving, planning, and teamwork. They learn and grow together, developing emotional and relational skills as they play and celebrate team success. We have exciting, themed days like PJ Day and Beach Day that add an extra layer of adventure.

The group will have provided an excellent way to identify strengths and gaps in your child’s skills (Superpowers!) and development.

At the end of the group sessions, each set of parents will have the option to schedule one or more one-on-one personalized parenting or child sessions at the therapist’s regular rate, to support them in reinforcing their child’s strengths and addressing any specific challenges.

When the group ends, you will have observed and listened to your child’s feelings toward the group. In our experience, many kids express a desire to return to the group right away, or they ask their parents to return to the group after a few weeks or months. It can take time for kids to process their feelings about the group and what they learned.

When the group ends, your child’s therapist will let you, as a parent, know whether returning to child group counselling is recommended for your child, or if at this point individual child counselling would be more suitable and beneficial to support your child to grow and thrive.

Every session in a Feelings & Friends Group, and every round of groups, is unique.

That’s because it is much more than a psychoeducational group; it is a processing group.

In our child counselling processing group, children share and process emotions together. They develop their self-awareness as well as their relational understanding of their peers and their different perspectives and feelings. Kids also develop a shared sense of belonging and delight in their growth as a group.

Each Feelings & Friends group session has a theme and an objective, and each progresses into the next one. However, each session is customized to support the group, based on the current needs of the group and the feelings and relational dynamics that come up during the group. Kids move through each phase of the group as they overcome challenges and grow their emotional and relational skills together.

The Feelings & Friends Group sessions are offered as a package and attendance is required at all sessions. This way, we can achieve the maximum benefits for kids and parents, as kids learn from each other, process emotions and relational dynamics that come up in the group, and practice their emotional and relationship skills together.

The group starts and ends with a special session just for parents. That is the special time for parents.

Child sessions are special session for children only. Parents do not participate in child sessions, but they can check in briefly with the group counsellor when they pick up their child.

We have facilitated several rounds of the Feelings & Friends Group for Kids since 2022. Here are some comments we have heard from parents and children about their experience with the group:

• “Why is it over? I want to keep going!”
• “Can you please make more groups?”
• “Right away, I noticed a difference in my child’s confidence in talking with other kids.”
• “My child couldn’t wait to come – even on a Saturday!”
• “I learned new skills to connect with my kids.”
• “My kid is listening more and asking questions instead of talking over others.”
• “This group rocks!”
• “I felt less alone as a parent connecting to other parents who are experiencing similar challenges.”
• “My friend was in this group and loved it, so I told my parents that I want to come!”
• ”I never had a friend like you guys before.”
• ”I love this playroom. It’s my favourite one!”

More Calgary child counselling groups for Superhero kids
—and their Superhero parents— are in the works!