Ometz psychosocial groups help students in elementary school and high school deal with their challenges so that they can become more social, sensitive, and safe.
Our groups can support children throughout the journey from elementary school to high school.
For information about our programs and how they help your students, read the descriptions below (scroll down for our High School Programs).
Note that we can customize and create programs to meet the needs of your school.
See contact information below for more information.
Conflicts and their resolution
Students will learn the concept of “relational aggression” and its effects on healthy, inclusive friendships. Using role plays, videos and real-life stories, children will become more sensitive to the power of words and body language in hurting others. Students will then focus on “win-win” solutions and the importance of good communication skills.
Social skills
This program will help children develop pro-social behaviours through interactive activities and role modelling. Children will be encouraged to focus on the identification of feelings, the need for empathy and respect, strategies for self-regulation and the importance of expressive communication skills to create strong relationships. Dealing with conflicts in a healthy manner while creating an awareness and tolerance of diversity will be discussed.
Internet safety
Students will have the opportunity to discuss both the positive and negative effects of internet use, including the influence of social media. Internet safety will be highlighted. Cyber bullying and the effects of the internet on personal relationships will be included.
Study skills
Students will be given the opportunity to learn skill building techniques, including routines around homework, planning work/project schedules and organizing workplaces for optimal concentration. Coping with stress and methods to relieve it will be included in the discussion.
Body image and self-esteem
This program empowers youngsters to be the best they can be through information on healthy body image, nutrition and fitness while focusing on the importance of supporting good health and resisting counter-productive lifestyle habits. Gaining confidence and retaining a healthy self-esteem at this transitional time in their lives will be a focus especially in light of media, peer influences and the potentially long term effects of bullying and relational aggression.
Alcohol, smoking and drug awareness
Research highlights the need to talk to kids about risky behaviours at younger ages. This program helps students become aware of the signs of risky situations and learn strategies for saying “no”. Role playing and use of scenarios will assist the youngsters in recognizing, understanding and coping with this issue.
Puberty awareness
Discussions with “tweens” and young adolescents about physical, social and emotional changes throughout puberty can “demystify” their challenges and concerns. This program also encourages students to develop a healthy body image and a positive self-esteem, leaving them to feel more confident and self-assured at a time of identity transitions.
Loss and bereavement
Students and staff may be impacted in a variety of ways when faced with illness and/or death. These sessions will assist those in your school community who are having difficulty coping and will help them with strategies for healing and recovery.
Transition into high school
These sessions will help students to develop skills to promote a positive transition into high school. Developmental changes concerning physical, emotional, and social issues will be discussed. Forming new relationships with peers and teachers, navigating an ever changing schedule, study and organizational skills, healthy responses to stress, working with others in groups, and exposure to risky behaviours will be included.
Transitions: starting high school
This program covers common concerns such as developing new relationships with peers and teachers, navigating an ever-changing schedule, study and organizational skills, dealing with less guidelines and guidance concerning homework and projects, managing stress and being exposed to risky behaviours.
Puberty/sexuality
Students will engage in age-appropriate discussions, ranging from emotional, physical and social changes in the younger high school students, to safe sex education, reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of establishing healthy relationships in the more senior years.
Alcohol, smoking and drug awareness
One risky behaviour often leads to another. Through this program, students will better understand substance use/abuse and the signs of risky situations. Strategies to “keep safe” will be highlighted in light of strong peer and media influence. Recent research on the effects of these substances on the developing teenage brain will be reviewed.
Conflicts and their resolution
Students will learn the concept of “relational aggression” and its effects on healthy, inclusive friendships. Using real life stories, videos and literature, students will become more sensitive to the power of words and body language in hurting others. The role of the “bystander” will be discussed as a strategy for reducing conflicts.
Body image and self esteem
This program helps students to be more aware of their changing body image and the influences of their peers, the internet and the media on the image they have of themselves. As well, these influences will be discussed in relation to their evolving self-esteem and identity. Strategies to cope with these pressures will be discussed.
Introduction to mindfulness
This introduction to mindfulness will offer students an opportunity to use self-regulation skills in times of stress and anxiety. Students will learn to be more “present” and will build on their capacity for compassion for self and others as well as refine concentration skills and self-discipline. A specialist in this technique will lead these sessions.
Internet safety
Both positive and negative effects of internet use will be discussed. Internet safety and privacy will be reviewed and cyber bullying will be highlighted for the role it plays in creating unhealthy relationships and threatening friendships.
Study skills
Students will learn skill building techniques including creating study/project plans, organizing workplaces for optimal concentration, working in groups and establishing routines for homework. Research on multitasking and the importance of sleep will be discussed. Coping with stress and methods to relieve it will be included.
Transitions: leaving high school
Leaving high school can be filled with mixed emotions about graduation and proms, school applications, course requirements, career planning, and changes in relationships. Our group worker will include these topics and more in their discussions with these senior students.
What our clients say:
“Helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future.”
Kristin Schubert,
Robert Woods Foundation
Do you need a custom program to meet the needs of your school? Contact us for a tailored program or for your students or for more information about Psychosocial Groups:
Ometz Groups | 514.345.6485 | [email protected]