The group process & self & social discovery experiences presented in BELONGING are our gift to children of all ages & to the adults committed to guiding & growing with them. The program consists of PEOPLE SKILLS experiences developed around the following themes: Exploring Self, Focusing on Feelings, Cooperating with Others, Asserting Yourself, Handling Barbs, Recovering from Disappointments, Solving Problems, Sharing Ideas, Having Comfortable Conversations. Group members are guided through experiences which build one to the next & promote increasing skill & independence. Each theme is expanded upon through the stages of: Awareness, Practice, Transfer. The BELONGING experiences are carried out in the supportive atmosphere of a small circle of friends. A fluid, sequential group process, led first by adult & then by child facilitators, helps create the desired feeling & tone. BELONGING experiences tap the creative energies of group members & include: Journal Drawing-Writing, Stress Management Exercises, Art Expression, Gestalt Techniques, Video Feedback, Drama & Role Playing, Therapeutic Play. Settings in which our group process has been used successfully include: School Counseling Groups, Special Education Programs, Adolescent Support Groups, Adult Parenting Classes, Church Youth Groups, Mental Health Children's Groups, School Classrooms.