Beyond the Bell offers after-school safe haven

By Kerry Butrick Dowling
Posted 9/23/22

When the pandemic hit, Amy Frisch, LCSWR, a psychotherapist, saw a need for a more holistic approach to caring for adolescents after years of working in a mental health clinic. Frisch, along …

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Beyond the Bell offers after-school safe haven

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When the pandemic hit, Amy Frisch, LCSWR, a psychotherapist, saw a need for a more holistic approach to caring for adolescents after years of working in a mental health clinic. Frisch, along with her team of clinicians, stepped up to impact the lives of teenage girls by opening a safe haven for teenage girls, It’s A Girl Thing!+, located on Route 17K in Montgomery.

It’s A Girl Thing!+, with locations in New Paltz and now Montgomery, aims to support the needs of adolescent girls through holistic approaches. With an extensive list of services, It’s A Girl Thing!+ includes art therapy programs for adolescents, weekend retreats, individual and parent/family therapy, professional development opportunities for organizations and school groups, and weekend retreats.

Frisch explained that the mission of It’s A Girl Thing!+ is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for young girls to give them the services they need to reach their full potential and be their best self.

Since it’s conception in Montgomery, It’s A Girl Thing+ has only grown.

“We’re busier than we were last year. We’ve actually added a clinician to my team and expanded a bit. This allows us to do more creative programming,” Frisch shared.

Frisch and her team are now unveiling a new after school program as the school year commences, Beyond the Bell. The program, which runs from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, will offer an after school program for both males and females in grades 6 through 8 who attend the Valley Central Middle School. Frisch is eager for the program to connect with students at a critical time in their educational journey.

Frisch saw a need for a program for adolescents as they move on to middle school and lose the safety net of their more structured elementary years. “I think when a child moves on to middle school, there are so many changes at that time in their life and it’s often hard to stay anchored. With Beyond the Bell, we’re offering kids an opportunity to socialize and connect. It’s an extension beyond the school day that’s also restful and supportive to their emotional needs,” explained Frisch.

Beyond the Bell will offer participants the opportunity to have homework assistance, create expressive art, participate in cooking demonstrations and also be outside in nature.

Frisch shared that “emotional regulation” is a key component of the program, allowing students to be mindful of themselves and others as they navigate the new phase in their lives. She also hopes to connect students to the high school and the community with special programming in the future.

Although the program is under the umbrella of It’s A Girl Thing+, this program is open to both males and females which Frisch is thrilled to offer. “I thought it was really important that this be open and equitable to all students and families who wanted to take advantage of the program,” she explained.

The program is limited to approximately a dozen seats during its inaugural launch, with room to grow as needed in the future. For more information about It’s A Girl Thing!+, Beyond the Bell, or other services and programs offered by Frisch, please visit https://www.itsagirlthing.info.