Fruit Group Therapy & Group Therapy at Thrive Counseling Center LLC

We can all use a little humor sometimes! Enjoy this cartoon from www.psychotherapy.net by Victor Yalom.

Group Counseling

Group Counseling is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a unique counseling experience. Group Counseling is usually compromised of 6-8 clients who meet face to face with a counselor to talk about their concerns. Group members can share their own experiences and learn from peers at the same time. The content of group counseling is confidential and members must agree to not discuss the group outside the counseling office. Group therapy works because it gives us a safe environment to discuss our struggles and try out new experiences.

Upcoming Scheduled Groups at Thrive Counseling Center LLC:
Self-Esteem Group for Adolescent Girls (Click Here for Flyer): This is a 5 week group for adolescent girls between the ages of 13-16. The focus of the group is on defining and building self-esteem through activities and group discussion. Self-awareness, resiliency, stress management, problem-solving, and self-acceptance will be the areas explored. Dates: June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, and July 22 from 4:00 to 5:20 pm. The cost of the group is $200.00. To register, call Kellie Giorgio Camelford at 504-390-9538 or email her at kcamelford@thrivecounselingcenterllc.com.

Transitions Group (Click Here for Flyer): This is a 6 week group for students entering into either the 8th or 9th grade as a first time high school student. The group will cover academics, study skills, social skills, social skills, resisting peer pressue, and resolving conflict. Dates: July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, and September 2 from 4:00 to 5:20 pm. The group cost is $250.00. To register, call Kellie Giorgio Camelford at 504-390-9538 or email her at kcamelford@thrivecounselingcenterllc.com.

Available Groups by Request at Thrive Counseling Center LLC:  Once 3 clients sign-up for a particular group, the group will run on a weekly basis and the schedule will be set to meet the group's needs.  If you have an interest in one of the below groups, please call so that I can put you on a group waiting list or we can discuss individual counseling until a group is available.

Infertility Support Group: This group is associated with infertility and the exploration of infertility treatment. The purpose of the group is to provide a supportive environment where experiences can be shared. Topics may include self-esteem, sexuality, intimacy, and self-identity as related to the impact of infertility. 

Active Parenting: This is a 6 week course based on the Active Parenting Series by Dr. Popkin. The series will cover ways to discipline your child without violence, how to build courage and character, how to deal with problems and risks, and much more. The course is a blend of videos, activities, and discussion. 

 
Weight Loss Group for Adults: This group combines behavioral techniques for weight loss along with support from a caring counselor. Come learn techniques about how your thoughts and behaviors can affect your eating habits and gain support from others with similar challenges and goals.

Overweight Adolescents Support Group: This group is for adolescents struggling with issues related to weight. The group will focus on self-esteem, self-acceptance, connectedness, and overall emotional well-being. The group is not intended for weight loss or management, but to assist in coping strategies.

To learn more about group counseling at Thrive Counseling Center LLC and to check availability for upcoming groups, please call me at 504-390-9538 or email me at kcamelford@thrivecounselingcenterllc.com for more information. 

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Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Weight Loss

Obesity is a growing epidemic in America for both adults and adolescents that is caused by consuming more energy than what is being used through daily activity or exercise.  Genetics also can play a part in the role of obesity.  Obesity can create substantial health risks that include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, joint discomfort, and even sleep apnea.  There are many management options available to try to reduce weight that include lifestyle changes, medication, diets, and even surgical procedures.

Through the field of counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has evolved as a technique for weight reduction and management to help obese individuals.  Ever wonder how counseling and weight loss can go hand-in-hand?  Well, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been linked to weight loss not because it's a "fad" diet plan, but because if one can successfully incorporate lifestyle changes by changing one's thoughts and behavior patterns, weight loss can be achieved.

The important key for using CBT in weight loss is that you are ready to make changes in your lifestyle, not just for a short period of time, but for the rest of your life!  Moving forward with change can be scary because there are both short-term and long-term costs and benefits.  Therefore, it's important to make sure your mind is set for change and can counteract negative thoughts that have already been programmed into your mind from an early age.  The goal of CBT is to identify your sabotaging thoughts so that you can replace them with appropriate thoughts.  CBT can help with weight loss by providing motivation, coping skills, and support while helping one to take control of her body, improve self-esteem, and help with stress management that typically surround the process of attempting to lose weight.

To begin using CBT in weight loss, one first needs to think about how many calories the body truly needs vs. how many calories a day you are consuming.  My first assignment I often give clients is to keep a food journal.  Food journaling is an important technique in CBT for weight loss because it makes one extremely mindful of everything one eats.  A food journal should consist of what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, where you eat, how you feel when you eat, and a calorie count.  I know this seems like a lot of information and it is, but all of these questions lead to awareness of your eating habits.  Once there is a picture of your pattern of eating habits, then CBT can be used to train the brain differently with various techniques.


If you want to learn more about CBT in Weight Loss, you may want to consider reading more about CBT for Weight Loss.  There are many wonderful self-help books out there regarding CBT and weight loss, here are a few I personally recommend:

• The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck, PhD
• The Diet Trap: Feed Your Psychological Needs & End the Weight Loss Struggle Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy by Jason Lillis PhD, Joanne Dahl, PhD, and Sandra M Weineland, PhD
• The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Weight Management: A step-by-step program by Michele Laliberte, PhD, Randi E McCabe, PhD, and Valerie Taylor, MD, PhD

These books are wonderful resources and can give you a foundation for CBT and weight loss. However, I would encourage you to take one step further and consider counseling for weight loss if you are truly looking to make a change in your life.  The counseling process provides support, motivation, encouragement, and accountability which at times can be difficult to obtain from a self-help book.

If you would like a CBT Weight Loss consultation and you are located in the New Orleans Metro Area, please contact Thrive Counseling Center LLC at 504-390-9538 or kcamelford@thrivecounselingcenterllc.com.  Brought to you by www.thrivecounselingcenterllc.com