Stephanie Evans Powers, PhD, PLLC
Groups are designed to help children grow in their social skills and social confidence. Groups are appropriate for neurodiverse kids (ADHD, autism, OCD, sensory processing disorder) and neurotypical kids who have social anxiety.
This is not “group therapy”. Think of these group sessions as a playdate that starts with a discussion about social skills or neurodiversity and incorporates social coaching from a licensed clinical child psychologist.
Enrollment is limited to seven participants and is on a first come, first served basis.
Current groups offered:
- Grades 1-2 on Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15pm
- Grades 5-8 on Wednesdays from 4:15-5:15pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the group sessions?
Dr. Stephanie leads the group sessions. Dr. Stephanie is a psychologist who specializes in working with kids and teens who have ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and/ or anxiety. You can learn more about Dr. Stephanie here: https://drstephaniepowers.wordpress.com/
Where do group sessions take place?
Group sessions take place at 11605 Shelbyville Rd., Ste. 206, in Middletown.
What is a typical group session like?
Group sessions last an hour. The first part of each group session will be spent discussing a particular social skill, social dilemma, or in education about neurodiversity (different brain types). Depending on the needs of the group members that day, this discussion segment will last between 15-30 minutes. The remainder of the hour will be spent in free play. There will be various games and activities available for your child to choose from. This is an opportunity for your child to connect with peers in a safe environment while receiving social coaching as needed.
How many sessions will there be?
Groups are currently scheduled to be ongoing. I do require that you commit to two months (8 sessions) but you can withdraw your child from group after two months and you will not incur further charges, assuming you inform me by the start of the month prior to the month you intend to cease group enrollment.
What is the cost of group?
Groups are offered as a monthly subscription-based service at a $250 monthly fee. There will be four offered group sessions per month.
Will my health insurance cover the cost of group?
Group sessions are educational so health insurance is not billed for group sessions.
Do you offer a sliding scale/ reduced rate for groups?
An income-based sliding scale is offered. If this is something that you are interested in, please contact Dr. Stephanie.
What if group isn’t a good fit for my child?
If you and Dr. Stephanie agree that group is not a good fit for your child due to disruptive behaviors, anxiety that completely impedes any benefit from group, or another exceptional circumstance, enrollment can be withdrawn immediately without penalty.
Do you communicate with parents about how things are going in group?
Yes! Once every 8 weeks or so Dr. Stephanie will send an email with a summary of how your child is doing in group, topics discussed during sessions and what you can do to support your child’s social development. Also, chatting on the phone or via email is always an option should you have any questions or concerns.
Can I drop my child off for group?
As I will be the only adult in the room with the group participants, I ask parents to remain on-site in case of a behavior issue or health emergency.
Can I bring my other children to the waiting area during group sessions?
Due to limited space, please only one parent of each group participant and no other children in the waiting area during group sessions if at all possible.
Will I be reimbursed for group sessions my child misses?
Group sessions are sold as a subscription based package service, so you will not be reimbursed for missed sessions. If Dr. Stephanie cancels a session, however, you will be reimbursed for that session.
My child is very socially anxious and might sit quietly without participating. How would you handle this?
For especially socially anxious participants, Dr. Stephanie tries to allow the child adequate time to ease into the group. Sometimes, this means just sitting silently during the discussion and completing a coloring page for the remainder of the hour. Dr. Stephanie does her best to support each participant in the way that they need. Sometimes this means being patient and gently encouraging a participant to interact with me before working to facilitate their interactions with peers.
If you are interested in possibly enrolling your child for any group, please contact Dr. Stephanie! New groups may be added in the near future.
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Stephanie Evans Powers, PhD, PLLC 