Women's Self Discovery Group

WOMEN’S SELF-DISCOVERY JOURNEY

A 10-week virtual psychoeducational & supportive group for women 45+

Navigating midlife, change & what’s next | Facilitated by Debbie Levine, LCSW

Tuesdays, 7:30–9:00 PM Central | January 12 – March 16, 2027

Dates assume ten consecutive Tuesday meetings. If the facilitator cancels, that session will be rescheduled or added to the end so all ten sessions are delivered.

Contact: (847) 736-0800 | debbielevinelcsw@gmail.com | https://www.empoweredmindscounsel.com

Program: $449 standard; $399 early bird when enrolled by December 1, 2026. Supplies are excluded. Space is limited.

Purpose and scope

This is a guided self-discovery, psychoeducational and supportive experience. It offers structured reflection, skills and peer conversation; it is not a substitute for individual psychotherapy or crisis treatment. Individual psychotherapy may be discussed separately and requires its own intake, consent and arrangements.

What to expect

Each 90-minute session includes a welcome/check-in, optional workbook reflections, brief teaching, facilitated conversation, a practical exercise and a closing intention. You may pass on any sharing prompt.

What to bring

Your own copy of How to Meet Yourself: The Workbook for Self-Discovery by Dr. Nicole LePera (available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/How-Meet-Your-Self-Self-Discovery/dp/0063267713?utm_source=chatgpt.com);  a notebook or journal; a pen; and a private space with a reliable video connection. Workbook and other supplies are not included in tuition.

Workbook guidance

Read or work through the relevant book section at a pace that is comfortable for you. Specific page assignments are not required for participation; the facilitator will suggest optional reflection prompts. The group is not affiliated with the author or publisher.

Empowered Minds Counseling, LLC | Women’s Self-Discovery Journey 1

10-WEEK SYLLABUS: THEMES AND LEARNING GOALS (subject to change)

Week 1 · January 12, 2027 — Meeting Yourself

Workbook section: How We Meet Ourselves
Focus: Group orientation; noticing thoughts, emotions and behaviors with curiosity
Practice: Self-discovery baseline: what I know, question, and hope to understand Between-session reflection: What did I notice about myself this week that I usually overlook?

Week 2 · January 19, 2027 — Observing Without Judgment & How the Past Shapes Us

Workbook section: How We Meet Ourselves
Focus: Inner critic, family messages, learned roles and self-compassion
Practice: Then-and-now map: an old message, how it helped, and its present-day cost
Between-session reflection: Notice a recurring self-judgment and an inherited rule; write a balanced alternative.

Week 3 · January 26, 2027 — Meeting the Habit Self

Workbook section: Meet Your Habit Self
Focus: Automatic responses, habits, short-term payoffs and long-term costs
Practice: Habit-loop reflection: cue, response, payoff, cost
Between-session reflection: Observe one recurring habit without trying to change it yet.

Week 4 · February 2, 2027 — Triggers and Cycles

Workbook section: Meet Your Habit Self
Focus: Triggers, interpretations, emotions, urges and choice points
Practice: Map one trigger-to-response cycle
Between-session reflection: Identify an early warning sign and one possible pause point.

Week 5 · February 9, 2027 — Interrupting Old Patterns

Workbook section: Meet Your Habit Self
Focus: Response flexibility, behavioral experiments and gradual change
Practice: Create a personalized pause plan
Between-session reflection: Try one small alternative response and reflect on the result.

Week 6 · February 16, 2027 — Meeting the Emotional Self

Workbook section: Meet Your Emotional Self
Focus: Emotional vocabulary, physical cues and needs
Practice: Emotion map: event, feeling, intensity, body cue and need
Between-session reflection: Name one feeling each day without immediately acting on it.

Week 7 · February 23, 2027 — Tolerating Emotions, Needs & Relationships

Workbook section: Meet Your Emotional Self
Focus: Distress tolerance, avoidance, vulnerability and direct requests
Practice: Grounding practice and a respectful needs-request rehearsal
Between-session reflection: Practice a brief grounding skill and make one low-stakes direct request.

Week 8 · March 2, 2027 — Meeting the Authentic Self

Workbook section: Meet Your Authentic Self
Focus: Identity beyond roles; rediscovering interests, beliefs and preferences
Practice: Roles-versus-self inventory
Between-session reflection: Choose one activity based on a genuine preference rather than obligation.

Week 9 · March 9, 2027 — Values, Boundaries & Choice

Workbook section: Meet Your Authentic Self
Focus: Values, guilt, assertiveness and realistic boundaries
Practice: Values-to-boundary matrix
Between-session reflection: Practice one values-consistent choice or clear, respectful limit.

Week 10 · March 16, 2027 — Integration & Continuing the Journey

Workbook section: Meet Your Authentic Self
Focus: Review learning, strengths, setbacks and next steps
Practice: Then / Now / Next reflection and a 30-day continuation plan
Between-session reflection: Continue one awareness, one regulation and one values-based practice.

Learning outcomes

By the end, participants should have opportunities to recognize personal patterns, name emotions and needs, practice more intentional responses, clarify values, explore boundaries and create a realistic continuation plan.

Participation and privacy

Attendance and respectful participation support group trust. No recordings, screenshots, transcription or disclosure of other members’ personal information. The facilitator will explain privacy limits and emergency procedures in the enrollment agreement. Members cannot guarantee one another’s confidentiality.

Payment and scheduling

Private pay; Empowered Minds does not bill insurance. A superbill may be provided upon request when appropriate, without a guarantee of reimbursement. Written cancellations received by January 1, 2027 are eligible for refunds; from January 2, fees are nonrefundable. No credits or makeups for missed participant sessions. Facilitator-cancelled sessions will be rescheduled or added to the end.

For emergencies, call 911 or seek local emergency services. 

The group is not monitored as a crisis service.