6 Week Middle School Self-Esteem & Identity Group

Middle School is a Time When Children are Quietly Asking Big Questions

😕 Who am I?

😕 Where do I belong?

😕 Why does everyone else seem more confident?

For many students, social media and online comparison can make these questions feel heavier. Images of bodies, friendships, and success are often curated and unrealistic, yet they can shape how a child sees themselves. Over time, some children begin to doubt their worth, pull back socially, or twist themselves into who they think they are supposed to be.

This six-week group is designed to help middle school students reconnect with who they are, build confidence from the inside out, and practice real-world communication and belonging.

How Can This Group Help Your Child?

This small, in-person group is led by two experienced adolescent therapists and blends guided conversation with creative and experiential activities. Art-based reflection, discussion, and skill-building are used to help participants:

☀️ Strengthen self-esteem and personal identity

☀️ Explore body image and self-talk in a developmentally supportive way

☀️ Build confidence in peer relationships and communication

☀️ Practice being themselves rather than performing to fit in

☀️ Experience healthy belonging in a supportive peer group

This is not an anti-social media group. Instead, it helps students separate curated online images from real life and develop confidence that is not dependent on comparison or approval.

Tell Me The Details

✅ Who: Middle school students

✅ When: Sundays, February 8–March 15, 2026

✅ Time: 2:00–3:00 PM

✅ Where: In person at The Family Therapy Center
19420 Golf Vista Plaza, Suite 330, Lansdowne, VA

✅ Format: Six-week, in-person group

✅. Facilitators: Megan Long, MS & Torri Spencer, MSW

✅ Investment

$500 total for all six sessions

$250 due at registration

$250 due one month later

This group does not include diagnostic services and is not eligible for insurance reimbursement.

How to Know If The Group is a Good FIt For Your Child

This group may be helpful for middle school students who:

🌱 Struggle with confidence or comparison

🌱 Feel unsure of where they fit socially

🌱 Have difficulty speaking up or connecting with peers

🌱 Are influenced by unrealistic online images or expectations

Next Steps

Space is limited to support group connection and safety.
To learn more or to inquire about enrollment, please contact us below or complete the group inquiry form..

Meet Group Leaders Megan & Tori

I am Megan Long. My experience is working with children and adolescents in both private practice and residential settings, working through a wide array of life's challenges, towards a more balanced self and experience.

Because I work with the older child/teen, I utilize talk therapy during sessions but enjoy incorporating therapeutic activities, sand tray, art and mindfulness-based techniques, among others when appropriate.

I am also a Safe & Sound, SSP trained provider for vagus nerve healing. I lean toward approaches that serve the whole self.  


I am a lover of functional nutrition and cooking nourishing meals, yoga, road-tripping, art as a pastime, listening to podcasts on topics I know little about, and walking my dog. 

I am Tori Spencer. I have experience in both intensive outpatient and private practice settings. I enjoy working with middle and high school students and young adults as they navigate challenges related to anxiety, self-esteem, depression, and identity development.

My goal is to help clients build confidence, discover their strengths, and develop coping skills that fit their personality and goals. I value creativity and collaboration in therapy, and believe that healing happens when clients feel seen, supported, and empowered.

I am continuing advanced training through Willow’s Crown Center for Creative Training, where I am learning to integrate sand tray, art, and other expressive modalities into the therapy process to help clients connect more deeply with themselves and their emotions.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking my dog, reading, and catching up on favorite shows and movies.