Children’s Groups

Our Children’s Groups focus on supporting mental health and wellness by helping children develop the skills necessary to enhance their self-esteem, social emotional learning and resiliency.

Groups for Children

Heroes

Heroes was designed to provide children ages 6-12 yrs the opportunity to enhance self-esteem and their ability to view themselves as a hero through art therapy. By creating a supportive space, children can learn how to express their feelings, develop coping strategies, increase problem solving skills, and build on positive supportive relationships. The ultimate aim is to enhance children’s self-esteem and support their development.

 This is an internal program referral only.


SibWorks

OVERVIEW

SibWorks is a peer support program for children aged 8–12, who have a sibling with mental health concerns. Created by Siblings Australia, the program is designed to support siblings by building their emotional wellbeing and resilience and connecting with others who share the same experience.

WHAT CHILDREN WILL GAIN

The SibWorks peer support program runs over seven sessions conducted by a registered SibWorks facilitator. On completion of the course, children who take part will:

  • understand more about mental health

  • feel less alone

  • know new ways to deal with feelings

  • have practiced coping skills they can use in their lives

  • feel more positive about themselves as siblings

Participants often leave with a better understanding and acceptance of their sibling. This can add to the strength of the relationship.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The program runs weekly for 7 sessions that are 1.5 hours each, in partnership with Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness.

REGISTRATION

For more information, please email referrals@merrymount.on.ca or call 519-434-6848.


Parent and Child Concurrent Programs

Some of our programs require parents and children both to attend separate groups. Parents attend one group to learn the necessary skills to guide and support their child as they work through the program. The child should be available to attend the children’s program while in the care of the parent attending the parenting portion.



Anxiety to Resilience (ages 9- 12)

Anxiety is one of the leading mental health issues for children today. In this concurrent program, the parent and child are supported in separate programs. In an art and play based program, children spend 8 sessions (8 hours) addressing their self-confidence, resistance to new situations, struggles with flexible thinking, and their personal experiences with anxiety. Parents are provided a 4 session (6 hours) program to understand anxiety, discuss strategies and resources to support their child, reduce parenting stress, and create a family environment to reduce the impact of anxiety on the family.



Understanding ADHD (ages 6 - 12)

ADHD is a common struggle for both children and parents. In this concurrent program, the parent and child are supported in separate programs. In an art and play based program, children spend 8 in-person, sessions (8 hours) building skills related to focus/concentration, self-regulation, memory, perseverance, and social skills. Parents are provided a 4 session (6 hours) virtual program to understand ADHD, discuss strategies and resources to support their child at home and at school, reduce parenting stress, and create a family environment to reduce the impact of ADHD on the family.

The child must have a diagnosis for the family to attend this program.



© Making Mindfulness Matter (M3) (ages 6 - 8)

This program offers a new approach to parenting in stressful situations and helps children build skills to manage their emotions. Participants explore how both adult brains and children’s brains work, paying better attention to feelings through mindfulness.

The children will participate in a number of group activities that center on the principles of mindfulness, using art and movement activities to explore the concepts that they are learning about.

This program was created in partnership with Dr. Karen Bax, Ph.D., Scientist, Child Health Research Institute and Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychology, Western University.



My parents don’t live together

This Art Therapy based program has been designed to provide children (ages 6 -12) opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings about the changes that are happening in their family due to separation, divorce or re-marriage. By creating a supportive space, children are provided opportunities to help build on problem solving abilities and manage their emotions and regulate their behaviour and increase self-esteem with the goal of decreasing vulnerability and increasing resilience.

The parenting group, Parenting and Separation/Divorce, is designed to support children participating in Mom’s House/Dad’s House.