Belvoir teens release stress with Teen Group

Teenagers on post looking for somewhere to go and talk about the stressors in their lives can go to Army Community Service Family Advocacy Programs Teen Group.

The group meets to discuss the challenges and issues teens may be having in their lives and with self-esteem, Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

"It’s an advantage for the teenagers because they don’t have many people they can go to and talk about things that bother them," said Sheemeca Berkley, Master of social work, Family Advocacy Intern. "Studies show if they keep stressors bottled up, they will suffer in the long run. So, the group is a stress group for teens."

The group has met several times since the start of the New Year, and Berkley said she has already seen growth in the teens who come every week.

"When they first came in, there were people that didn’t want to talk," said Berkley. "But, I’ve seen the shy ones start to open up."

Various exercises are used in order to get the teens to open up as well as build individual self-esteem according to Berkley.

Profile pictures of celebrities who are popular amongst teenagers like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Chris Brown were shown to the group, and Berkley also had them outline their bodies on large pieces of paper, and within the drawing, identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Each exercise yielded positive results.

"The teens were able to look at the pictures and recognize, ‘Hey, they are kind of like me’ so they aren’t perfect,’" said Berkley. "I wanted them to realize you don’t have to be like them you can be your own person. As far as the drawings a teen would say ‘my feet are big, but they’re good for running.’"

Miscommunication amongst peers and how to correct the miscommunication has also been discussed during the meetings.

An example of a misconstrued comment Berkley used is how a comment like, "I don’t think this girl dresses well" can be misconstrued to "I think that person is ugly."

Berkley stressed to the teens that the situation can be handled without a physical altercation taking place.

"I got them to act out how that situation might play out," said Berkley. "It was interesting because they still tried to turn it around and make it look like a fight would happen. When I acted it out for them, they understood what I was trying to get across."

Several of the teens have become friends through meeting at the group. A few of them go to the same school, but did not know each other until they started coming to the teen group; a result that Berkley endorses.

"I think it’s important because military Families move a lot and they don’t have those close connections so it’s a great support system for them," said Berkley. "They have the bond of being children of military Families."

The response to the group from the teens has gone beyond personnel growth. The teens have already asked if they can increase the frequency of the meetings.

"The kids always ask if they can have more time at the end of the meetings," said Berkley with a chuckle. "They ask if they can come back on a different day or if we can meet twice a week and I tell them I don’t know right now. They don’t want to leave, so I’m like kicking them out the door. They’re good children."