Mindful Self-Compassion Group for Teens
Evidence-Based Skills and Strategies
Virtual, Mondays from 5-6:30pm PST, for 8 weeks
Next group starting September 25, 2023
The WaveMind Clinic is offering a weekly mindful self-compassion group for teens (MSC-T) between the ages of 12-17. In this 8-week long course, which meets weekly for 1.5 hours, teens engage in developmentally appropriate activities and carefully crafted practices and meditations, which provide them with the opportunity to learn how to navigate the emotional ups and downs of life with greater ease.
What will teens learn in this group?
In this 8-week course, teens will learn skills to:
Better manage negative self-talk.
Be kind to themselves, especially during times of struggle.
Handle difficult emotions with greater ease.
Feel less alone in their struggle.
Motivate themselves from a place of compassion rather than criticism to reach their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this group cost?
What is the evidence that this group helps teens?
The total cost of this group is $375 (includes 8 sessions).
Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens (MSC-T) is an empirically-supported, 8-week course designed by teen self-compassion experts Karen Bluth, PhD and Lorraine Hobbs, M.A. It is an adaptation of the adult Mindful Self-Compassion program, and it is endorsed by MSC co-developers Chris Germer, Ph.D. and Kristin Neff, Ph.D. Studies with teens have shown that MSC-T decreases self-reported stress and depressive symptoms, and increases subjective well-being, gratitude, and emotional resilience.
Teens are eligible to participate in this group if they:
Are between the ages of 12 and 17.
Are willing to have their camera turned on at all times during the group. This is an important requirement for safety reasons and to provide a group experience to all members that is safe and supportive. Teens will have to sign a consent form at the beginning of the group agreeing to this requirement.
No diagnosis is required.
Teens with severe behavior concerns, such as dangerous aggressive or destructive behavior, suicidal ideation, or homicidal ideation, may not be the best fit for this group. Get in touch with us if you’re not sure if you’d be a good fit for this group by filling out the contact form below, or contacting us at hello@wavemindclinic.com or 310-299-8319.
The group will be run if at least 8 teens sign up. The group size will be between 8-15 participants.
What is the eligibility criteria for this group?
How many other teens will participate in this group?
Will my insurance cover this group?
Our practice is out-of-network and not covered by insurance. However, if you have out-of-network benefits with your insurance plan, you may get a portion of this group reimbursed, and we can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Who will be leading this group?
All sounds good! How do I get started?
Dr. Anna Alkozei is a licensed clinical psychologist who has experience running groups with teens. She is currently a mindful self-compassion teacher in training. Dr. Alkozei has been trained by Dr. Bluth, the developer of the MSC-T program. Dr. Alkozei will be joined by another therapist in our practice who will support the group as well.
You can get started by filling out the contact form below, emailing us at hello@wavemindclinic.com, or calling/texting us at (310) 299-8319.
Frequently Asked Questions
(For Teens)
What is this program about?
It’s about learning ways to not be so hard on yourself, and still be motivated and get things done.
What actually happens in the class?
We talk about what mindfulness and self-compassion are, we watch short videos, play a few games, learn how to do a music meditation, do a little bit of mindful art at the beginning of each class, and learn ways to de-stress in the moment when we start feeling overwhelmed.Do I have to participate in everything?
No. You never have to participate in anything that you don’t want to.
Am I going to have to talk about my feelings? What if I don’t want to?
You never have to talk about anything that you’re not comfortable discussing. FIRST AND FOREMOST, this program is about being kind to yourself. So, if it doesn’t feel like you’re doing something kind for yourself, you don’t have to do it.
I think you’re just saying that. I think once I get there, you’re going to find ways to make me participate.
Nope! We’re serious. This isn’t school!
How do you know that this program will help me not stress as much?
Through a number of research studies, we know that when teens are kinder to themselves, they have less depression, anxiety, and stress. So in this program, we “build” the self-compassion muscle. Just like lifting weights builds arm muscles, learning self-compassion builds resilience de-stress muscles.
My parent/therapist/coach/teacher thinks I should take this class but I don’t trust them. They’re an adult and they think they know me but they don’t really. Why should I take it?
Well, certainly don’t take it to make them happy! Take it to make you happy, because lots of teens have talked about how it has really helped them, and they don’t feel as stressed as they used to. Watch the Benji Project video to see what teens say about the program!