INTERACTIVE DISCOVERY GROUP THERAPY & WORKSHOPS
Interactive Discovery offers group therapy and workshops for adults, children, and teens addressing a variety of topics. Groups and workshops provide a unique opportunity for participants to build skills and knowledge; and to share and learn from peers, receiving supportive feedback in a comfortable and safe environment. As clinicians, we often hear our adult and child clients alike wondering, “Do other people feel this way? Is this normal?” The group setting offers a safe space where feelings and experiences are validated and participants feel less isolated in their struggles. Our groups usually run from 6 to 12 weeks with a few opportunities for shorter workshops focused on psychoeducation or skill building.
We assess the needs of the community we serve through our strong relationships with other health professionals, school personnel, parents, community organizations; and by hearing from our clients and their loved ones. It is important to us to meet our community’s needs and so we are often forming groups and workshops specifically to meet requests. If there are is a topic of interest that you are not seeing offered, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!
Our many years of experience facilitating groups and workshops with experienced clinicians with a wide range of expertise; and our history of successful program development and implementation over the last 15 years, make our groups informative, enriching, and supportive for our participants.
Parents of Teens Support Group
When & Where?
Thursdays at 12pm EST via Zoom, starting May 2nd!
Group Description
A support group for parents, focused on typical struggles in parenting kids 13-18 years old, providing emotional support, solidarity, and general parenting strategies.
Clinical Team
Julia Albores, LCSW-R is a licensed clinical social worker, a graduate of the Hunter College School of Social Work, and a member of the NASW. Julia has over 13 years of comprehensive clinical experience and is a Senior Clinician and Intake Coordinator at Interactive Discovery. She is experienced in working with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as couples and families on a wide range of issues.
Ali Pivar, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with a Doctorate in School Clinical Child Psychology from Pace University. While working from a psychodynamic perspective, Ali integrates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, and interpersonal techniques tailoring her approach to the individual needs of each patient. She works with children and adults in individual and group therapy and believes the most important aspect of therapy is the collaborative relationship between patient and therapist.
Why Do They Do That? Understanding Behavior & Supporting Emotional Regulation at Home
When & Where?
Wednesday, April 24th from 12-1pm via Zoom!
Group Description
This workshop helps parents of kids ages 0-11 to reflect on what is behind kids’ challenging behaviors, using the latest neuroscience and child development research. Participants will learn practices to identify common underlying needs being communicated through behaviors and will explore strategies for fostering emotional regulation at home.
Cost:
$60 for the Workshop!
Clinical Team
Rachel Henes, LSW is a mindful parenting coach and educator and an expert consultant to independent schools. Rachel offers groups, individual coaching and workshops for parents, as well as professional development training for educators. In all her work, Rachel focuses on helping clients to identify and shift habitual patterns and beliefs that don't serve them, in service of creating environments where connection, calm, and care can thrive.
Middle School Transition Group
When & Where?
Wednesdays from 6pm-7pm at our main office (163 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215).
Dates: May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, June 5th, 12th, 19th
Group Description
An 8-week group focused on supporting fifth graders as they begin to prepare for the upcoming transition from elementary to middle school.
In this group, your child will have the opportunity to:
Connect with peers in a safe and supportive environment who are going through a similar experience
Use creative modalities to explore and share thoughts and feelings about the upcoming transition
Explore issues related to forming new relationships, meeting new teachers, and adjusting to changes
Build confidence in their ability to succeed with this transition!
Clinical Team
Alexa Algios, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with a Doctorate in School Clinical Child Psychology. She has experience running adolescent groups in various settings. Alexa has experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults with a wide range of clinical presentations, such as anxiety, depression, complex trauma, attachment difficulties, and disruptive behavior. She has an integrated approach towards therapeutic intervention and utilizes psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and attachment-based techniques. Alexa believes in the importance of providing treatment that will best meet the needs of the individual and their family.
Expressive Arts Therapy Camp!
When & Where?
August 19-23 from 9:30AM-12:30PM @ 2nd Street Office (558 2nd Street Brooklyn NY 11215)
Group Description
Through creative arts and play, this group will help kids to:
Playfully practice interacting with their peers
Develop their sense of self
Integrate body awareness
Learn how to express feelings in a healthy manner
Build self-reflection and spontaneity
Clinical Team
Hesper Juhnke, LCAT is an expressive arts therapist, queer ally, and norm disruptor with 9 years of experience running groups for children, adolescents, and adults. Hesper’s style integrates a combination of the arts and psychodynamic talk therapy. Her approach is derived from person-centered, psychodynamic, existential, and attachment based practices. Creatively, she works with body-oriented modalities such as drama therapy and play therapy, as well as writing, visual art, movement, and music. She works to integrate these creative offerings into sessions for individuals at all levels of comfort, so no previous experience with the arts is required.
Kim Hedaya, LCAT, is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist who works with children, parents, and families. She provides individual, dyadic, and group therapy, integrating nonverbal modalities such as play, movement, music, and art with verbal processing, building the mind-body connection of her clients. Kim is psychodynamically oriented with a trauma-informed lens. Her approach centers on humanistic and attachment theory while weaving mindfulness, authentic movement, and creative practices, tailoring and attuning to each client’s needs.
Loss and Bereavement Group for High Schoolers
When & Where?
Tuesdays from 7:15pm-8pm at our PPW Office (163 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215).
Group Description
Has your teen experienced the death of a loved one?
Are you looking for a safe place for them to get support?
This eight week group will focus on:
Getting support and solidarity from other teens that "get it."
Learning about natural reactions to grief or loss.
Increasing skills for self-care or coping after loss.
Having space to share memories about our loved ones.
Clinical Team
Elsa Obus, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist with a Doctorate in School Psychology. She has extensive experience running loss and bereavement groups for people of all ages. Elsa’s therapeutic approach is informed by IFS, CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic modalities. Through this integrated approach, Elsa is able to help clients explore the impact of past experiences and patterns on current behavior, while also assisting them in developing skills for coping and healing in the here and now. While Elsa prioritizes the use of evidence-based practice and methodologies, she also welcomes creativity and curiosity by inviting clients to share their passions and interests in therapy. Elsa creates a safe space for individuals to explore their identities and interactions with these systems and work toward greater understanding of themselves and harmony in relationships. She prioritizes engaging in trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+-affirming, anti-racist, and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Check out our past group offerings!
