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Group Therapy

View our latest Group offerings below.

The clinicians at McLean Psychotherapy & Psychiatry have extensive experience running groups. We offer numerous ongoing social skills, process-oriented, and DBT groups for children, adolescents, and young adults of varying ages and developmental levels. Each group is specifically tailored to address the challenges faced by the group members. We use a variety of research-based therapeutic interventions, including expressive therapies (art and play), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Groups typically run from September to May, with additional summer groups offered as well.

Research shows that group therapy is a proven and effective method of treatment for those with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as many other struggles. Children and adolescents often feel a common identity and shared purpose when they are a part of a group. Our preschool through high school groups are co-led, which research shows is most effective in providing varying insights and picking up on different group dynamics.

  • The primary goals for preschool groups are to assist with school preparation, encourage collaborative play, help children label and identify feelings, develop empathy, establish boundaries, develop and maintain friendships, read social cues, and improve imaginary play skills. These play-oriented groups incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches including the Floortime or DIR method, expressive play therapy techniques, and behavioral approaches.

  • The primary goals for school age groups are to help your child develop and maintain friendships, learn to read social cues, identify and process feelings, build confidence, develop empathy, establish better boundaries, strengthen outdoor play skills, and explore feelings about social inclusion and exclusion. These groups also incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches including the Floortime or DIR method, expressive play therapy techniques, and behavioral approaches.

  • The primary goals of adolescent groups are to provide a safe environment for preadolescents and adolescents to talk about peer pressure, process their feelings about social interactions, develop and maintain friendships, increase self-esteem, regulate emotions, develop empathy, manage mood and anxiety, and improve family relationships. These groups are tailored to address specific issues raised by group members and clinicians use psychodynamic/insight-oriented, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavior (DBT), and solution-focused therapeutic approaches.

  • The primary goals of young adults groups (ages 18-25) are to provide a safe environment for young adults to talk and connect with each other around issues related to post-high school/college/career decisions, connecting/maintaining friendships with peers, mood disorders/anxiety, dating/romantic relationships and how that impacts their experience as a young adult. These groups are tailored to address specific issues raised by group members.

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2026 Group Session Times

  • TIME: Mondays, 2:30-3:20 PM *Tuleen

  • TIME: TBA *Cindy & LIsa

  • TIMES:

    Wednesdays, 3:55-4:45 PM (2nd-3rd grades), Laura & Kris
    Tuesdays, 3:30-4:20 PM (3rd-4th grades), Laura & Kris
    Mondays, 5:30-6:20 PM (5th-6th grades), Cindy & Anne
    Thursdays, 4:30-5:20 PM (4th & 5th grades), Cindy & Lisa
    Tuesdays, 4:30-5:20 PM (7th-8th grades), Tuleen
    Mondays, 3:40-4:30 PM (7th-9th grades), Anne & Cindy
    Wednesdays, 6:00-6:50 PM (10th -12th grades), Cindy & Lisa
    Mondays, 4:30-5:20 PM (9th-12th grades), Anne & Cindy

  • TIMES:

    Tuesdays, 4:30-5:20 PM (2nd-3rd grades), Laura & Kris
    Wednesdays, 4:00-4:50 PM (4th-5th grades), Anne & Aysha
    Thursdays, 5:30-6:20 PM (5th-6th grades), Cindy & Laura
    Tuesdays, 5:30-6:20 PM (6th-8th grades), Laura & Aysha
    Mondays, 5:30 pm-6:20 PM (7th-8th grades), Tuleen & Aysha
    Mondays, 6:30-7:20 PM (7th -9th grades), Anne & Aysha
    Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00 PM (9th-10th grades ), Cindy & Lisa
    Wednesdays, 6:00-6:50 PM (9th-11th grades), Cindy & Lisa
    Wednesdays, 5:00-5:50 PM (10th-12th grades), Cindy & Lisa
    Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 PM (9-11th grades), Cindy & Lisa

  • TIMES: Wednesdays: 6:30-7:30 PM (9-12th grades), Nicole

    Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM (10-12th grades), Cindy & Lisa

  • TIME: Wednesdays, 7:35-9:00 PM (ages 18-24), Nicole

    Wednesdays, 8:00 -9:00 PM (ages 23-28), Cindy & Lisa

  • TIME: Thursdays, TBD Basics Level 1 and Advanced Level 2, Nicole

  • Contact Nicole W. McGarry, LPC, PLLC at 202.641.8429 for more details.

  • Contact Nicole W. McGarry, LPC, PLLC at 202.641.8429 for more details.

  • Pre-K/Kindergarten Group

    TIME:        Mondays, 2:30-3:20 PM *Cindy & Lisa

    Boys & Girls Groups, 1st-2nd grades

    TIME:      TBA   *Cindy & Lisa       

    Boys Groups, 3rd-10th grades

    TIMES:     Wednesdays, 3:55-4:45 PM (3rd-4th grades) *Laura & Kris

    Tuesdays, 3:30-4:20 PM (4th-5th grades) *Laura & Kris


    Thursdays, 4:30-5:20 PM (5th-7th grade)     Cindy & Lisa


    Mondays, 3:40-4:30 PM (8th-10th grades) *Cindy & Lisa

    Girls Groups, 3rd-12th grades

    TIMES:      Tuesdays, 4:30-5:20 PM (3rd-4th grades) *Laura & Kris

     Wednesdays, 4:45-5:35 PM (5th-6th grades) Laura & Aysha


    Tuesdays, 5:30-6:20 PM (7th-9th grades) Laura & Aysha


    Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00 PM (10th-12th grades) *    Cindy & Lisa

    All Gender High School Group

    TIME:        Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 PM (10-12th grades) *Cindy & Lisa                     

     Young Adult Co-Gender Group

    TIME:        Wednesdays, 6:15-7:15 PM (ages 23-28) *Cindy & Lisa

FACILITATORS 

Lisa Elkin, Psy.D.
571.238.6524

Anne Fleury, LCSW
703.282.5937

Cindy Mathis, LMFT
703.401.5394

Nicole W. McGarry, LPC
202.641.8429

Tuleen Hajoun, LPC
703.870.0857

Aysha Hameed, MA
703.651.2966

Laura Marean Harrington, LPC
703.660.4477

Kris Lamb, MA
571.324.5875

Chelsea Nagel, LPC
202.394.5060

Parenting Workshop

ADHD: What Every Parent Should Know — A Five Session Workshop Series on Parenting the ADHD Brain

April 14th - May 12th, Tuesdays from 12:00-1:30 pm (1:00-1:30 pm optional and reserved for Q&A)

This is a 4-part virtual workshop series with psychotherapist Abby O'Leary, LMFT + bonus workshop with Dr. James Herrera on medication for ADHD. This is great for parents of school-aged kids with ADHD, whether new to the ADHD parenting journey or seasoned, but looking for information and support. 

  • Week 1: What ADHD is (and isn’t!)

  • Week 2: Melt Away ADHD Parenting Frustration: Rethinking Behavior, Motivation, and Executive Function in ADHD

  • Week 3: Stay Connected to Your Kid: Supporting ADHD Kids Without Trying to ‘Fix’ Them

  • Week 4: Parenting with Compassion: Raising a Child with ADHD with Wellness in Mind

  • Week 5: The Tool Every Parent of an ADHD Child is Curious About — Medication! Information & Q+A with psychiatrist Dr. James Herrera

Please contact Abby O’Leary at abbyolearymft@gmail.com to register.