Therapy Groups
Calm My Anxious Heart, Women's Therapy Group and Book Study
Ongoing Calm My Anxious Heart Groups are offered by request. I would love for you to join me in one. We meet at Austin Oaks Church (see flyer to the right for example of details). If you are interested or have questions, please contact me - ellencarpentercounseling@gmail.com.
Ellen made a safe and welcoming place for us to come and do this study. She gave us great tools to work through any struggles we faced. ~ KA
Calm My Anxious Heart for Teens!
I have offered two teen groups - one for Middle School Girls, ages 12-14, and one for High School Girls, ages 15-17! (See flyers for details.) They were awesome!
If you (or your daughter) would like to be a part of this amazing opportunity to deal with the anxiety that plagues this season of life, please contact me and we will discuss putting together a group.
About
Anxiety…. Worry…. Stress…. We sometimes feel battered and bruised by all that we face in our present circumstances, the wounds and hurts from our past, and our fears of what the future has in store.
God promises such lovely things as peace, joy, and contentment…. and yet, how do we actually experience those when our life feels so overwhelming sometimes?
You are invited to join the next group and discover how to overcome anxiety and begin living life with renewed strength and freedom, and actually find joy in your journey.
There is hope.
When I first joined Ellen’s CMAH group I was dealing with crippling anxiety. My fear and worry had taken the joy out of almost every aspect of my life. In addition I am an introvert with social anxiety, so joining a group of women to talk about my issues was possibly the scariest idea of all. But within the first week I felt comfortable and safe in the environment that Ellen created. Her focus on inclusion, kindness, grace, and openness helped our group blossom almost immediately into a tight-knit and honest collection of ladies. In CMAH I gained so many practical and effective tools to help manage my anxiety. Through book reading, helpful exercises, group sharing, and Ellen’s wise guidance, my anxiety is the lowest it has been in years and I am able to enjoy God’s blessings in my life again. ~ BW
I reluctantly made the decision to participate in Ellen’s Calm My Anxious Heart group study. I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable I became within the first couple of meetings. Ellen was always so inviting and pleasant that we all felt extremely safe sharing our experiences. I was able to learn so much about myself and gained valuable skills to deal with my anxiety and self-esteem. Ellen has a special ability to use biblical teaching to counsel individuals and groups with any mental and spiritual concerns. I highly recommend participating in group studies led by Ellen. ~ JeM
Why Group Therapy?
A special bond happens when those with similar struggles get to know one another in a supportive atmosphere of trust and safety, led by a trained counselor. You will discover that you will be listened to, accepted, and you are not alone.
I had never been in group therapy before and I was nervous to open up in front of others about my struggles. Ellen made it so comfortable and the other women and I quickly gained an intimacy I didn't expect. I learned so many great tools to help with my anxiety and found comfort in going through the process with other like-minded people. ~ JT
Details
Groups meet together weekly for 14 weeks in a two-hour confidential therapeutic setting at Austin Oaks Church. We learn truths from the Bible, read and study the book, Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow, and work with many other psychoeducational tools and strategies such as mindfulness, relaxation and coping techniques.
Group size will remain small (4 to 6 members) in order to maximize personal attention.
Cost ~ $40 per session, $11 for book.
Ellen is friendly, professional, down-to-earth, intelligent, resourceful, intuitive, humble and creative – almost like your BFF, but way more professional! She has helped me to see the lies I believed by putting them up against God’s truth.
I first met Ellen in the Calm My Anxious Heart group therapy sessions. She was great at encouraging us each where we were, sharing from her own experience, and providing us with concrete examples of how to confront anxiety with truth, unease with peace, and fear with strength. The group setting was great too, as I was able to see that I wasn’t the only woman dealing with certain fears and anxieties.
I later saw Ellen on a one-on-one basis for a bit. In group and private sessions, her teaching and care for me was very healing.
~ CL
Worry is like a rocking chair ~ it gives us something to do but we don’t go anywhere. ~ Linda Dillow
