Workshops and Groups

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.

 

Breaking Cycles: Parenting After Challenging Childhoods

This group is designed for parents who experienced adversity in their childhoods and are now navigating the challenges and stressors of raising children.  Parenthood can be a powerful opportunity to heal ourselves as we work to salve intergenerational wounds. Together, we’ll build tools for mindful parenting and create a supportive community of parents who understand the journey. We will also explore how to heal the parts of ourselves that still carry the pain of our childhood, creating the safety, care, and compassion we may not have received as children. Through guided discussions and activities, we will embrace the possibility of healing for ourselves and our families. Members are welcome to share specific past experiences to whatever extent feels right for them or not at all if they prefer.

This group may be for you if you:

• Worry that the way you were raised may influence your parenting style
• Feel isolated, overwhelmed, or frequently triggered in your role as a parent
• Long for more joy, connection, and ease in your everyday life and with your family

Location: In-person at JSSA’s Fallsgrove Office – 200 Wood Hill Rd, Rockville, MD
Time: Tuesdays, February 18 – April 8 from 1:00 -2:00 pm
Cost: Free
Facilitators: Jessi Binder and Laura Ressler

To register for this group, please contact Jessi Binder at jbinder@jssa.org or Laura Ressler at lressler@jssa.org.

 

Take Charge of Your Future: A Group for Young Men Ready to Launch

Join our supportive and empowering group designed specifically for young men ages 22 – 30 who are ready to overcome challenges and move forward in life.  Whether navigating school, work, relationships, or finding purpose, this group provides the tools, guidance, and community to help you take meaningful steps toward independence and success.

Location: Virtual
Time:  February 17 – April 25, 2005.  Every Thursday from 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Avi Criden

You will gain:

Clarity: Define your goals and create a plan to achieve them
Confidence: Build self-esteem and learn essential life skills
Connection: Engage with a community of young men who understand and support your journey without judgment.
Action: Overcome barriers, break old patterns, and take tangible steps forward.

For more information and to register for this group, email Avi Criden at acriden@jssa.org.

 

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (S.P.A.C.E.) – New Group

S.P.A.C.E. is a parent-only model approach to treating anxiety in children and teens. Through this group, you will increase supportive communication, decrease the need for accommodations, improve daily functioning, and become part of the solution.

Location: Virtual 
Time: Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Start Date:  February 11, 2025 – runs for 8-weeks

Insurance will be billed for this group.

For more information and to register for this group, contact Laney Park, LCSW-C at jpark@jssa.org or Claira Winget, LMSW at cwinget@jssa.org.

 

Living with POTS: A Therapy Group – New 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 – New Group

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.

 

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.

 

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.