This unique group counseling curriculum provides over 90 group counseling activities divided into twelve session themes: Who Am I? Body Image, Choices, Communication, Emotions, Friendships, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Stress, Reaching Out, Tough Times, and Who I Am! During group lessons, girls are encouraged to share feelings and struggles as they openly discuss important issues in a safe and supportive environment. They are given the opportunity to feel empowered, gain self-awareness, develop coping strategies, improve problem-solving skills, understand that they are not alone, and learn to make healthy decisions. Girls in Real-Life Situations is designed for use by educators and mental health professionals in schools and other settings. An accompanying CD of all reproducible forms and student handouts is included with book. Book Reviews "This manual is a blueprint for group counseling. There are 12 themes focusing on the needs and issues for adolescent females. . . . If you're looking for a way to engage your female students, this book will guide you and them through a wonderfully rewarding experience." —Linda Kopec, North Carolina School Counselors Association NEWS "It is obvious that Trice-Black and Taylor understand girl development and have had much experience with girls of all ages. . . . The K-5 curriculum uses concrete language and activities, highly engaging for young children. The authors also recognize the difference in older elementary aged girls (Grades 3-5) from their younger schoolmates and include modifications that recognize the increased ability to think more critically as the girls mature. The curriculum for older girls uses concepts that require some level of abstract thinking. Having access to both curricula may be useful when more simplified ways of presenting material are needed for adolescents who are more concrete in their thinking. . . . the importance of attending to and addressing the process and spontaneous interaction that occurs in the groups (girls arguing, girls excluding) is a powerful learning experience." —Joan Letendre, Social Work with Groups Comments from Colleagues "Girls in Real Life Situations is an excellent resource for school districts and community groups that want to enhance the social and emotional development of middle school and high school girls. It provides practical, sensible, and - perhaps most importantly - replicable tools for practitioners to help girls navigate through the turbulent teen years." —Jill Cook, Assistant Director, American School Counselor Association "Girls in Real Life Situations is an insightful exploration of the feelings and experiences that all young women have. Each of the lessons addresses a specific area of life that is a reality for girls today. Taylor and Trice-Black know how to connect with girls to help them reach for their dreams and overcome adversity. A must-have for anyone working with young women today!" —Tamara Davis, Ph.D., School Counseling Coordinator, Marymount University "As a counselor educator, it is great to see a resource that hits on salient developmental themes, uses sound group principles (e.g., screening, icebreakers, follow up), and fosters discussion to make these often hidden topics explicit. It is also a compelling resource for me, as I try to help two daughters thrive." —Patrick Akos, Ph.D., School of Education, University of North Carolina, Charlotte "Girls in Real Life Situations is a wonderful resource for anyone looking for a creative, thorough curricula that will reach a wide audience of girls. As soon as I read it, I found new ways of doing things that I can easily use with my students." —Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannanbes and Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads Contents: Who Am I? Connect! Power Thinking Masks Self-Portraits Role Models Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Body Image Connect! Beating the Body-Image Blues Mixed Media Messages She's All That Fill Her Up! Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Choices Connect! Longing to Belong Risky Business Today I Choose . . . Practice What You Preach Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Communication Connect! Dealing with Parents Talking It Out Body Language Social Graces Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Emotions Connect! The Boiling Point Pandora's Box The Blame Game Feeling Blue Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Friendships Connect! Mean Teens The Social Jungle Showdown! The Silent Treatment Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Relationships Connect! Guy World Under Pressure He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Self-Esteem Connect! Personal Permission Slip Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda Nobody's Perfect My Brag Bag Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Stress Connect! Deal with It! Facing Fear Chill Out! Stress Survival Kit Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Reaching Out Connect! I'm OK, You're OK! Wall of Support Family Feuds Seven Days of PRAK Attacks Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Tough Times Connect! Depression Divorce Understanding Loss Self-Harm Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Who I Am! Connect! My Mantra Compliment Journal New Self-Portrait In the Future, I . . . Talk about It Think about It Check It Out Appendixes Consent Form Confidentiality Pledge Certificate of Achievement Pretest/Posttest Group Evaluation Handouts Ten Tips for G.I.R.L.S. Facilitators G.I.R.L.S. Screening Interview Self-Portrait of ________ Beating Bad Body Thoughts My Standards of Success We Belong Together My Life Is a Choice Conflict Analysis My Boiling Point The Blame Game Statements Relational Aggression Examples The Friendship Deed of Trust To Date or Not to Date Dating Violence Scenarios I Will Survive! My Bragging Rights New Self-Portrait of ________ G.I.R.L.S. Goals About the Authors: Julia V. Taylor is a K–12 Certified School Counselor and author of The Body Image Workbook for Teens, The Bullying Workbook for Teens, Salvaging Sisterhood, Girls in Real-Life Situations (GIRLS): Group Counseling Activities for Enhancing Social and Emotional Development, and the children's book Perfectly You. (GIRLS is two separate curricula, one for secondary ages and another for elementary ages.) Originating from the Washington, D.C., area, Julia received her undergraduate degree in exercise science with a concentration in health education from George Mason University. She received her master's degree in psychology with a concentration in school counseling from Marymount University. After a decade of school counseling, she left the trenches of education to pursue a doctoral degree in counselor education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Julia began studying gender-specific topics during graduate school and focused the majority of her research on body image, relational aggression, and self-esteem issues during the tumultuous adolescent years. During that time, she realized there was a lack of relevant curricula available to educators specific to the social and emotional development of young women. Because of this, she decided to research and write her own. Julia frequently presents her research and experiences with educators, parents, and students. She has presented over 100 workshops, breakout sessions, assemblies, and keynote addresses across the country. Julia has a passion for helping girls to develop a true sense of self, stand up to unrealistic media expectations, take healthy risks, and cultivate meaningful relationships. When not working, she enjoys running, writing, and spending time with friends and family in Brooklyn, New York, her home away from home. Shannon Trice-Black is currently a doctoral student in counseling education. She has been a school counselor for over 10 years and continues to maintain a small part-time counseling practice, working with children, adolescents, and adults. Shannon has presented her work and writings on classroom guidance, bullying, and relational aggression at conferences, workshops, and master's level classes. She serves on the board of the Jefferson Counseling Association and the Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. In addition, Shannon is a member of the Virginia Counselors Association, Virginia School Counselors Association, and American Counseling Association.
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