Workshops and Groups
Our workshops and groups allow everyone from teens to seniors to connect with others in a supportive environment.
Call now to learn how we can help.
- Montgomery County, MD
- Northern Virginia
It can be hard to face life’s challenges alone, and finding others who are going through similar experiences is not always easy. JSSA is here to help you connect to, grow with, and learn from your neighbors.
We offer workshops and group counseling for everyone, from teens struggling to cope at school to people experiencing grief and loss. Our licensed staff lead these sessions and allow you to engage in an honest, supportive environment.
Living with POTS: A Therapy Group
This clinician-led group will explore how to navigate POTS’s impact on mental health, relationships, school/careers, and more. Come meet others living with POTS and learn new physical and emotional coping skills!
Location: Online (must be located in Virginia to attend group)
Time: TBD, based on members’ availability
Start date: February 2025
Eligibility: Ages 18+ with a suspected or confirmed POTS diagnosis
*This group will require a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 8-10 participants
Insurance: Insurance will be billed for group attendance.
For interest in the group, please reach out to Laura Strickhart at lstrickhart@jssa.org.
Facilitator: Laura Strickhart
Laura Strickhart, MSW, is a therapist at JSSA who specializes in trauma and chronic illness. Laura works with modalities including ACT, DBT, CPT, and CBT.
Social Skills Group for Neurodiverse Middle School Students
This group provides neurodiverse middle-school students with the opportunity to practice social skills, learn adaptive strategies for navigating conflict, and form new connections with peers. The group offers students with ADHD and autism a supportive, structured environment to develop interpersonal skills and process individual challenges.
Ages: 11 – 14
Dates: 01/16/2025 – 04/24/2025
Time: Thursdays at 4 PM
Location: In Person at the NOVA Office – 3025 Hamaker Court, Suite 450, Fairfax, VA 222031
*This group will require a minimum of 4 participants and a maximum of 8 participants
Insurance: Free of Charge
Please contact Lillian Beesley-Gilman at lbeesley.gilman@jssa.org to inquire or register for this group.
Facilitator I: Lillian Beesley-Gilman
Lillian is a graduate intern from George Mason’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She deeply appreciates the unique environment group work provides for growth and enjoys working with neurodiverse clients in individual and group settings.
Facilitator II: Loren Waller
Loren is a graduate intern from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Social Work program. She has experience working with neurodiverse youth in individual settings and is passionate about encouraging the well-being of diverse populations through skill development and value identification.
Social Skills Group, Middle School Students
Clients will engage in weekly group therapy sessions focusing on skill-building, processing feelings, and strengthening relationships. Licensed therapists will engage with middle-school-aged children in fun social skill-building activities that promote healthy relationships and healthy living. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with ADHD, high-functioning autism, social anxiety, or have generally struggled with developing positive peer relationships will learn how to build healthier connections with each other through therapeutic activities in a group setting.
Dates: Wednesdays starting October 30, 2024
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Location: 200 Woodhill Road, Rockville, MD
Cost: $75.00 per session. This group is insurance reimbursable.
Group Facilitators: Elissa Gildenhorn, LMSW, and Alex Hammer, LCSW-C
For more information about this group, please contact Elissa Gildenhorn at egildenhorn@jssa.org.
Teen Therapy Group
This psychodynamic therapy group is for 14 – 17 year old teens. Group members will learn new coping skills, increase self-confidence, and enhance their skills for making and keeping friends in a positive and supportive environment.
Do you have thoughts that sound like this? This group could be for you.
- I feel lonely and I wish I had more people my age I could talk to about what I’m feeling.
- I wish I could feel more confident around my peers.
- I don’t want to complain to my friends. I know they are struggling too.
- I’m not sure how to make and keep friends.
- I’m not sure how to handle the things that bother me.
- It is sometimes hard to manage my own emotions.
- It’s really stressful for me, and no one understands how I feel.
Dates: Every Tuesday from November 11, 2024 – February 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: 200 Wood Hill Road, Rockville, MD 20850
Cost: $80.00 per session. This group is insurance reimbursable.
Group Facilitators: This group will be led by Zach Lehman, L.C.S.W.-C. and Stephan Solat, L.M.S.W.
Zach Lehman is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience providing individual, group, and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. Zach has experience facilitating both psychodynamic and social skills groups for children and adolescents in outpatient and residential settings.
Stephan Solat is a Licensed Master Social Worker with six years of experience providing psychotherapy to adolescents and adults from 12 to 78 years of age. Stephan specializes in helping clients with early childhood trauma, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
For more information about this group, please contact Zach Lehman at 301-450-3209 or zlehman@jssa.org.
Grief Support for Older Adults around the Holidays
Grief and loss can be especially challenging for older adults around the holidays. JSSA will be hosting a free online support group for seniors who are grappling with the death of a loved one. This small group will provide space to connect with others who can understand the unique challenges of grief. It is recommended that participants be 60 years and older and that it has been at least 3 months since the loss. The group will occur on Thursdays at 10 am via Teams video chat. It will last from October 31 to December 12.
Date: October 31 – December 12
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Online via Teams Video
Cost: Free
Facilitator: Kara Feidelseit (she/her)
Kara Feidelseit is a graduate student intern who earned a Master of Social Work from Boston University. Kara has previous experience co-facilitating a support group for seniors estranged from their adult children. Before interning with JSSA, Kara interned with Cranberry Hospice and worked as a case manager in Massachusetts.
Please contact Kara Feidelseit at 240-673-1024 or kfeidelseit@jssa.org to register or for more information.
Support Group for Parents of Adults with Disabilities – Ongoing
Wednesdays 10:00-11:30 AM
Led by Lori Kolle. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Lori at lkolle@jssa.org or call her at 301-610-8374.
Bereavement Groups
Losing a loved one can be debilitating. Everyone processes the shock and grief of loss differently, and the individual journey of grieving can leave us feeling isolated and lost. When you don’t know where to turn or how to move forward, JSSA is here to help you.
Our bereavement support groups provide a respectful and supportive setting where you can share your feelings and gain insight into the process of grieving. Facilitated by clinicians with specialized training and experience in grief and offered at no charge, these groups include:
- Adult Children Who Have Lost a Parent
- Loss of Spouse/Partner
- Loss of Spouse/Partner Over One Year
- Suicide Grief for Adults
- Loss of Child or Teen – Virtual & In-person
Pre-registration is required for all bereavement groups. Participants are requested to wait until at least three months after the loss before joining a group.
Please call 240-800-JSSA and press 2 for hospice to register for a bereavement group.
Adult Children Who Have Lost a Parent Support Group
Seven-session evening group for adults who have lost a parent within the past year. Held several times a year.
Loss of Spouse/Partner Support Group – ongoing
Meets virtually the second and fourth Friday of the month
TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Loss of Child or Teen Support Group – ongoing (Virtual & In-person)
Meets virtually on Monday evenings once a month.
Suicide Grief Support Group for Adults
Meets virtually the first and third Mondays of each month
TIME: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Loss of Spouse/Partner Greater than One Year
Eight-session evening group for adults who have lost a spouse/partner over a year ago. Held several times a year.