Date & Time
Check multiple session dates
Duration
3 sessions, 90 minutes each
Getting Ready for the First Week Back
This group helps youth aged 12-17 move from feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or anxious about school to feeling more prepared, confident, and capable of navigating challenges.
Through practical skills, supportive discussions, and realistic goal-setting, participants will learn how to understand anxiety, reduce avoidance, build coping tools, and take manageable steps toward school success.
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Concurrent Support for Parents
Alongside the Youth Therapy Group, we are also offering a Parent Therapy Group on separate dates. The groups are designed to provide connected support for both parents and youth as they navigate the school transition. Families are welcome to participate in one or both groups, depending on their needs.
The focus isn’t on perfection, it’s on building confidence through small wins and discovering that they can handle more than anxiety tells them they can.
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Group Details
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- August 27th, September 24th & October 15t
at 6 PM - 90 Minutes
- Online
- Attend all sessions, or drop in to whichever individual session works best for you
- August 27th, September 24th & October 15t
Is This Group Right For Your Child?
Your Child May Benefit From This Group If:
- They feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed when thinking about school
- They have difficulty attending school, getting out the door, or staying at school
- They avoid things that feel uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking
- They struggle with transitions, changes in routine, or returning to school after breaks
- They want practical tools to manage anxiety and build confidence
- They are open to learning alongside other youth with similar experiences
This Group May Not Be the Best Fit If:
- Your child is currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis
What Makes Group Therapy Effective?
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Group therapy offers opportunities that individual therapy alone cannot provide.
Participants receive:
- Support from others with similar experiences
- Opportunities to practice new relational skills
- Increased self-awareness through group interactions
- A sense of belonging and shared understanding
Research consistently shows that group therapy can be highly effective for personal growth, emotional healing, and relationship development.
Understanding Back to School Dread
Getting Ready for the First Week Back
Navigating the First Weeks Back
What Happens During a Typical Session?
Each session may include:
- Therapist guidance
- Group discussion
- Reflection exercises
- Experiential activities
- Skills practice
- Processing and integration
Every group develops its own rhythm, and participants are encouraged to engage at a pace that feels comfortable and appropriate.
Group Size
Unknown
Location
Online
Cost & Coverage
$45 per session.
Services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist may be eligible for reimbursement through your extended health benefits plan. Please consult your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
Format Details
3 sessions – can do one, two or all three sessions
- 90 Minutes Per Session
- Small Group Format
- Therapist Facilitated
Led by Halie MerlinMACP,Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Meet Your Facilitator
Halie Merlin, MACP
Halie MerlinMACP,Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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Halie Merlin is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a passion for supporting youth, parents, and families navigating anxiety, school avoidance, emotional regulation challenges, and difficult life transitions.
Before becoming a psychotherapist, Halie spent several years facilitating group programs focused on personal development, goal setting, emotional wellness, and life skills. Through this work, she developed extensive experience creating engaging workshops, facilitating meaningful discussions, and helping individuals build confidence through practical, achievable steps. Her background in group facilitation continues to inform her collaborative, strengths-based approach to therapy and psychoeducation.
Today, Halie’s clinical work focuses on supporting youth experiencing anxiety, school avoidance, emotional overwhelm, and family-related challenges. She also works closely with parents who are looking for effective ways to support their children while maintaining connection, reducing conflict, and fostering resilience. Halie has a particular passion for supporting youth who struggle with school refusal, school avoidance, anxiety, and difficult transitions, as well as the parents who are supporting them.
Halie believes that meaningful change happens when people feel understood, supported, and empowered to take manageable steps forward. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and practical, integrating evidence-based strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), exposure-based approaches, and strengths-based interventions. She strives to create a supportive environment where youth and families can build confidence, develop effective coping strategies, and work toward meaningful and lasting change.
Through theFrom Dread to Ready-ish workshop series, Halie aims to help youth and families better understand anxiety, reduce avoidance, strengthen resilience, and approach the school year with greater confidence, connection, and hope.