With the many different pressures and stressors adolescents face these days, the teen years can be trickier than ever.

With that in mind, the Woolwich Counselling Centre (WCC) in Elmira will be presenting a brand new group to this area to aid teenagers with those stressors, among a variety of other groups offered this season.

The new group,  Conquering Teen Anxiety, is aimed at 12- to 14-year-olds. It will assist teens to learn effective ways to cope with teenage pressures and stress, by learning strategies to feel more in control of their daily lives. Although WCC has offered other teen groups that have focused on anxiety, this is the first time they are offering an anxiety-specific group for young teens.

WCC’s Beth Mason explains the need for the group had been identified through counsellors and hearing from young people about the different struggles they face.

“Our agency believes it to be very important to listen to the needs being expressed from the community, through families, parents and teachers identifying the concerns that need to be addressed. Many teachers have approached us over the past couple of years suggesting and requesting that we offer a teen anxiety group,” said Mason. “Woolwich Counselling has a strong focus on prevention and providing ongoing groups for the younger members of our community is key. Addressing and reducing mental health issues as early as possible assists in preventing more serious problems from developing into young adulthood and beyond.”

The early teen years can be difficult, which is why the 12-14 age group chosen.

The group will help youth gain a better understanding of anxiety – where it comes from, identifying and acknowledging their stress, recognizing they are not alone with the symptoms and pressures they experience. They will gain a better understanding of the many pressures that they experience including social media.

“It is a fabulous group which provides many practical strategies to equip youth to better manage their stress and anxiety,” explained Mason. “We have been witness to a growing concern around the pressures and stressors faced by our younger teens – we recognize the need to attend to this growing concern. We have provided a childhood anxiety group for many years and recognize the need to offer a group for teens.”

The group begins meeting on February 26 and will run after that on March 5, 19 and 26, from 7-8 p.m. The fee to participate is $100. To register call 519-669-8651, or for further details visit  www.woolwichcounselling.org.

Mason says they don’t like the groups to be too big – typically, having six to eight people is ideal. Spots are filling quickly, and a pre-group interview is requested to assess that everyone is motivated, interested and appropriate for each particular group.

WCC also has a variety of upcoming programs for youth including: Protecting the Girl in Me looks to develop leadership skills and confidence to enable girls to protect themselves, develop healthy coping mechanisms and positive social connections for ages 10-12; Stand Tall promotes confidence and assertiveness, enabling children to protect and express themselves for ages 7-9; No Need To Fret, anxiety group for children ages 7-11; and Glad to Be Me, a fun self-esteem program for children ages 4-7.