Helping Middle School Students Build Confidence, Manage Social Anxiety & Feel More Comfortable Being Themselves
Now Enrolling for Fall 2026
Mondays | September 14 – October 19, 2026
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Greater Houston Counseling Services – Memorial Office
Middle school is full of changes. Friendships shift, social expectations grow, and many students begin worrying about what other people think of them.
For some, those worries become overwhelming.
They avoid raising their hand in class, hesitate to join conversations, overthink every interaction, or dread walking into school each morning. From the outside they may seem quiet or shy, but internally they're working incredibly hard just to get through the day.
The good news is that confidence isn't something you're simply born with—it's something that can be built.
Our Middle School Social Anxiety Group helps students better understand anxiety, develop healthier thinking patterns, and practice real-world social skills in a supportive environment alongside peers who understand what they're experiencing.
Is This Group Right for Your Child?
This group is designed for middle school students who:
- Worry about being judged or embarrassed
- Feel anxious in social situations
- Avoid speaking in class or participating in groups
- Overthink conversations long after they've happened
- Have difficulty making or maintaining friendships
- Want to feel more confident around peers
- Avoid new experiences because of fear or anxiety
- Struggle with self-confidence or perfectionism
Students do not need a formal diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder to participate.
If anxiety is getting in the way of friendships, school, or everyday experiences, this group can help.
What Makes This Group Different?
This isn't just a place to talk about anxiety.
It's a place to practice responding differently to it.
Using evidence-based approaches, students will learn how anxiety works, why avoidance keeps it going, and how to gradually build confidence by taking manageable steps outside their comfort zone.
Each week combines therapist-led discussion, interactive activities, creative exercises, and peer support to help students discover they are not alone—and that change is possible.
What Students Will Learn
Throughout this six-week group, participants will learn how to:
- Recognize the physical and emotional signs of anxiety
- Understand the cycle of anxiety and avoidance using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Challenge unhelpful thinking patterns using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Develop greater flexibility in responding to anxious thoughts
- Reduce avoidance and safety behaviors
- Build confidence in social situations
- Practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism
- Identify personal values and make choices based on what matters most
- Create a personalized plan for facing fears one step at a time
Activities include mindfulness exercises, values exploration, creative projects, therapist-guided discussions, and confidence-building exercises that students can apply at school, at home, and with friends.
Evidence-Based, Therapist-Led Care
This group incorporates proven therapeutic approaches including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Exposure-Based Strategies
- Mindfulness
- Self-Compassion Practices
Each session builds on the previous week, helping students strengthen emotional resilience while practicing skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Group Details
Who
Middle school students (approximately ages 11–14)
When
Mondays
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Dates
September 14 – October 19, 2026
(6 consecutive weeks)
Where
Greater Houston Counseling Services
Memorial Office
Fall Enrollment Is Now Open
Our Fall 2026 Middle School Social Group is now enrolling. Space is limited to encourage participation and meaningful connection.
Our goal is to help students leave this group with more than coping skills. We want them to leave with greater confidence, healthier ways of responding to anxiety, and the reassurance that they don't have to face these challenges alone.
Registration Requirements:
Full 6-week commitment (consistency essential) Payment at registration: $300 for all sessions OR $55/session
Three Easy Ways to Register:
Call: 832-717-7166 (Ask for the Middle School Social Group)
Online: Click here to register for the Middle School Social Group
Email: Info@GreaterHoustonCounselingServices.com (Subject: "Middle School Social Group Registration - [Child's Name]")