8-week therapy group aims to help teens stress less

Jewish Family Services of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties is offering a free eight-week in person group for teens starting Oct. 16.

Using principles from Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), the purpose of the Stress-Less group is to help teens become more psychologically healthy by learning positive coping strategies, as well as skills needed to regulate their behavior and emotions. With support from the Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, meetings will be held 6:30-8 p.m. Monday evenings in Somerville, N.J.

Registration is open here: JewishFamilySvc.org/stressless.

While navigating the turbulence of adolescence isn’t a new phenomenon, this generation of teens is faced with specific challenges related to this post-pandemic era. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Trends report from 2022 showed an increase in mental health difficulties with four out of 10 (42%) students expressing feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness and nearly one-third (29%) experiencing poor mental health.

Starting Oct. 16, JFS is bringing together a licensed mental health clinician and small group of adolescents in a safe, supportive space to work on how to create distance from unhelpful thoughts and reduce overactive stress responses in order to feel better, have better interpersonal relationships, and increase resilience.

Call 908-725-7799 x107 or email kateg@jewishfamilysvc.org for information.

Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.