Continuing Education

The Art of Group Therapy with Kids

Effective Techniques for Child Group Therapy Sessions

Mental Health Education

About The Course

Course Title: The Art of Group Therapy with Kids

Learning Method: Record asynchronous distance (non-interactive). This course includes a recorded video and access to the presented resources.

Amount of CE Credit Offered: 1 credit (general). ASWB ACE and NBCC.

Fees: This course can be purchased individually for $25 or as part of an annual unlimited continuing education subscription available for $99/year.

Posttest: Following the course, the participant will take a 10 question posttest. A score of 70% correct is required to pass and obtain a certificate. If you do not pass the posttest, it can be re-taken after fully reviewing the materials again.

Certificate of Completion: In order to receive a certificate of completion, you must indicate that you’ve watched the entire video portion of the course, earn a passing grade on the test, and complete the requested course evaluation.

Description of the Course:

Why is understanding this topic important?

1. Enhances Therapeutic Outcomes:

Group therapy leverages peer support and shared experiences, fostering a sense of community and belonging that can significantly enhance individual therapeutic outcomes and personal growth.

2. Addresses Diverse Needs:

Group therapy allows clinicians to address the diverse needs of clients more efficiently by facilitating discussions on common issues and promoting collective problem-solving, benefiting both individuals and the group as a whole.

3. Cost-Effective Treatment:

Group therapy is a cost-effective treatment modality, allowing more clients to access therapy services simultaneously, which can reduce waiting times and make mental health support more accessible to larger populations.

Learning Objectives:

Apply Group Facilitation Skills: After this course, participants will be able to implement at least three new strategies to effectively manage group dynamics and foster a supportive environment in group therapy sessions.
Identify Benefits: Participants will be able to identify and describe at least three advantages of utilizing group therapy with children.
Utilize Virtual Platforms for Group Therapy: Students will be able to select and utilize appropriate virtual tools and techniques to conduct engaging and effective group therapy sessions online.

Target Audience:

Masters and Clinical level licensees pursuing continuing education and mental health professionals.

Content Level:

Both beginning and intermediate-level content are included in this course.

Instructor Bio(s):

Mariah Peloso, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Owner of Releve Wellness and Counseling

Mariah graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with her bachelors and masters in social work. She holds a PEL – School Social Work License and LCSW in Illinois. Her experiences have been in special and general education, private practice, research, public speaking and grant funded projects.

Mariah currently works in a school setting in the DFW area and runs a private practice virtually serving Illinois clients and pre-licensed social workers for clinical supervision. She is passionate about supporting school personnel with implementing accommodations with cultural competence in order to provide equal access to curriculum, as well as helping others get in touch with their power and feeling like themselves again.

Meagan Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group instruction for over 8 years.

Meagan Mitchell, LICSW, is currently a Child and Adolescent Therapist and owner of Brain Space Wellness. She is working towards her Play Therapy credential. Meagan is also the founder of Agents of Change Social Work Test Prep – a learning platform and community designed for social workers preparing for their licensing exams.

She loves combining her passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with the social work community. Meagan has a strong interest in tech & and innovation, specifically exploring the intersection of technology with social work practices. She is also passionate about multicultural supervision & and ethics; ensuring diverse voices are heard, understood, and supported in supervision and consultation.

Lastly, Meagan is currently a DSW student at SUNY Buffalo.

Course Outline:

1) Introduction and Overview

Introduction of the topic: The Art of Group Therapy with Kids
Brief introduction of the guest, Mariah Peloso

2) Fundamentals of Group Therapy with Children

Benefits of group therapy for children
Considerations for forming a group
Shared experiences and peer support
Developing skills and reducing isolation

3) Practical Aspects and Challenges

Preparing to run a group: conditions, resources, and candidate selection
Addressing misconceptions about group therapy
Managing group dynamics and dealing with challenging behaviors

4) Virtual Group Therapy

Benefits and challenges of virtual groups
Ensuring privacy and managing technical issues
Effectiveness of virtual sessions and hybrid models

5) Personal Experiences and Strategies

Mariah’s experience with groups in schools
Tips for new therapists: seeking training, self-reflection, starting small
Utilizing personal experiences and being vulnerable in therapy sessions

Course Creation Date: 7/23/24

Requesting Accessibility Accommodations:

Please email [email protected] to request accessibility accommodations.

System Requirements:

The most recent version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge browser
Javascript enabled
PDF plugin
Graphic and audio output capability
Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

Refund Policy: In general, refunds will not be provided. However, if you do have any concerns or grievances, please contact us at the email address below. Registrants who do not complete their course(s) will not receive a refund. Registrants who purchased the course but did not achieve a passing grade will not receive a refund. The Agents of Change Grievance Policy can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy: If an Agents of Change Continuing Education course is canceled, a full refund will be provided to all participants.

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the course.

Agents of Change is Approved by ACE

Agents of Change, #1919, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 7/26/2023 – 7/26/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

Agents of Change is Approved by NBCC

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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Your Continuing Education Includes

Audio + Visual Content

We design our continuing education to support all learning styles. Each topic includes engaging videos and visual slides. With your purchase, you also get access to on-the-go audio resources.

High Quality Materials

Build your understanding with high quality materials and comprehensive explanations. Agents of Change will help you master the topics you need to know to build your career.

PEER + Email Support

With your purchase, you'll be invited to the Agents of Change community, a supporting skill building environment. You'll also have access to the Agents of Change team for any questions!