163 pgs, (paper), ’07

Just For Girls is an open discussion group program that looks at what happens to girls in the course of adolescence that causes them to lose their sense-of-self and begin defining themselves through the opinions of others and the numbers on the bathroom scale. The program helps girls defuse the language of fat and self-deprecation before this turns into low self-esteem, depression or disordered eating. It does so by teaching girls to recognize the grungies – a term coined to describe the negative voice that girls develop as they grow up. The program helps girls become aware of when they feel fat and ugly or stupid and encourages them to instead express the real feelings and opinions that lie underneath. It provides a societal context for their experiences and reframes their thinking and behavior in terms of female development and culture.

The Just For Girls manual is divided into four main sections to provide you with everything you need to know to facilitate a successful group for girls:
Culture: Provides a framework that is based on relational theory and contemporary knowledge of brain sex development.
Adolescence: Provides an understanding of the process of socialization and the major risks to girls such as eating disorders, obesity and depression.
Core: Provides a blueprint of the program and helps you start a program of your own.
Content: Provides a context and learning activities to address issues facing girls.

CONTENTS:

1 – Culture
Biology – the differences begin in the brain
Psychology – effects of development and societal influences
When Gender Cultures Crash

2 – Female Adolescence
Major Risks to Girls
Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
Depression

3 – Core (the Just for Girls Program)
Core Structure of the Group
Setting-up the Program
Planning Your Sessions
Facilitating Your Own Group
Evaluation
Coordinating Prevention Efforts with Schools

4 – Context
Learning Activities
Self
Self-Esteem
Feelings
Building Communications Skills
Stress
Our Bodies
Physical Activity and Sport
Our Relationship with Food
Dieting
Families
Friendships
Choosing a Partner
Media
Bullying
School

5 – Just For Boys
Growing up Male
Understanding Male Culture
How Boys Deal with Distress
Developing Programs for Boys
Facilitating Groups for Boys

6 – Session Plans
Introduction to the Program
Self and Self-Esteem
Understanding and Expressing our Feelings
Expressing Anger
Learning Good Communication Skills #1
Learning Good Communication Skills #2
Dealing with Stress
Talking About Puberty
Body Image/ Body Awareness #1
Body Image/ Body Awareness #2
Our Relationship with Food
Exploring the Myths About Dieting
Families
Friendships
Choosing a Partner
Relationships with Boys
The Media
Bullying

7 – Reproducible Handouts
8 - Resources

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra Friedman is an educator, therapist and consultant and the author of Just For Girls program, Nurturing Girlpower, When Girls Feel Fat: Helping Girls Through Adolescence and Body Thieves: Helping Girls Reclaim Their Natural Bodies and Become Physically Active.