Get Psyched! Advocates for Children’s Mental Health group, a Greenwich volunteer group of the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, recently held an event for mothers and daughters. The event, “Navigating the Middle School Years: Communication, Body Image, and our Culture,” was held on Saturday, March 4, at the Arch Street Teen Center in Greenwich.

The purpose of the event was to facilitate discussion and exchange ideas among girls, their mothers and CGC professionals about issues facing middle school girl. Over 50 mothers and daughters enjoyed a performance by Liberation Programs’ Peer Players, who acted out scenarios that many middle school girls encounter and the significant role mothers play in the outcome of a situation. Dr. Fenia Weiller, Clinical Coordinator at the Child Guidance Center’s Greenwich Community Office, spoke about topics including women and body image and tips to help daughters better handle the emotional and physical changes of adolescence. The evening concluded with a question and answer session with Child Guidance Center clinicians fielding questions from the audience.

“The teenage years can be so challenging for young women,” said Dr. Weiller. “We hope this program helped shed some light on issues facing young girls today and why an open dialogue between mothers and daughters is so critical.”

The event was sponsored by the Child Guidance Center in conjunction with Arch Street Teen Center and Liberation Programs, Inc. Additional sponsors included United Way of Greenwich, Starbucks and Whole Foods Markets.

Get Psyched! advocates work to facilitate community education programs led by the CGC professionals and raise awareness of and provide financial support for CGC services, especially those in Greenwich.