Our Story
Club Confident™ was founded in 2021 by child psychologist and anxiety expert, Dr. Jacalyn Bruno. After working with countless families facing similar struggles with anxiety Dr. Bruno wanted to reach more kids than her weekly sessions allowed. Recognizing the power of group learning and the importance of practicing skills in real-world environments, she started a small group program in her backyard. Kids were able to learn from one another and support each other while having fun and building connections. Since then, Club Confident has expanded into a comprehensive group treatment program for children with anxiety. Our mission is to teach kids how to face their fears, speak proudly, and live confidently.
At Club Confident we not only want to treat anxiety symptoms but also equip children with lifelong tools for healthy living and skills for managing stress. The program incorporates skills for emotion regulation, resilience, and communication in a fun and engaging environment. We use evidence-based interventions to support kids with various anxiety symptoms and emotional challenges.
What makes us unique?
We treat all types of anxiety
Group Setting
25+ treatment hours in 1-week
1:1 Staff Ratio
Social-Emotional Learning
Parent Support
Our innovative group program approach includes a 1:1 staff-to-child ratio, allowing for a personalized treatment plan in a social and supportive environment. Every child is guided toward building confidence, meeting personal goals, and learning the skills needed to manage anxiety and thrive in everyday life.
We recognize the crucial role parents play, so we believe involving them in the treatment process is essential for long-term success. Club Confident also offers workshops and tools for parents and caregivers. By learning how to respond in supportive, but non-accommodating ways, parents can empower their child to face challenges and build resilience.
We believe independence and confidence come from giving kids new experiences, allowing them to face challenges, and helping them learn how to tolerate discomfort. By stepping out of their comfort zones in a supportive environment, children can grow and develop the resilience they need to thrive in various situations—both now and in the future.
What We Can Help With
We treat kids with a variety of anxiety and social challenges. Your child does not need to have a formal diagnosis to be considered for the program. Interested applicants are required to complete a full intake prior to registering.
Selective Mutism
We help kids who struggle to speak to certain people or in certain situations due to high levels of anxiety. Many of our kids are super chatty at home but have never spoken in school.
Eating Challenges
We help with eating challenges like picky eating, texture aversions and even more significant issues like ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). We also help kids manage fears about eating in new places and in front of others. We have a certified Speech and Language Therapist who provides lessons and push-in services during the program.
Social Anxiety
We help kids who fear being embarrassed or judged by peers or adults. These fears can make it difficult for them to speak or interact in social settings, whether it's answering questions in class, reading out loud, eating, or performing in front of others.
Emotion Regulation
We help kids who may have a hard time managing strong feelings like frustration, anger, or sadness. This can look like frequent meltdowns, outbursts, or crying when things don’t go as expected, or difficulty calming down when upset. Some kids may react by withdrawing or shutting down. With support, kids can learn healthier ways to express and manage their emotions.
Separation Anxiety
We help kids who experience extreme fear or distress when away from their parents or caregiver. Kids with separation anxiety may cry, cling, or refuse to go to school or other places without their parent. This can be very hard on families and leads to children missing out on many experiences.
Sensory Sensitivities
We help kids with various sensory challenges. Some may be overwhelmed by loud or sudden noises or dislike certain fabrics. It can make it hard to get dressed or go to new places. We feel the best way to help is through educating kids about their sensory system & their unique body. We also teach strategies for managing discomfort when certain stimuli can't be avoided.
Programs
We offer two separate groups depending on age and development. Based on demand and the number of inquiries we receive, we schedule new groups throughout the year. Upcoming programs and groups are currently listed under FAQ. If you don't see a program that fits your child's needs at the moment, we encourage you to reach out and schedule an intake. This helps us better understand your child's needs and allows us to plan future groups accordingly. Take a look below to learn more about how we organize our age groups and the different types of programs we offer.
Club Confident
Ages 4-8
Our original Club Confident program is for children ages 4-7. This program focuses on building essential foundational skills such as engaging in play, verbalizing to others and expressing thoughts and feelings more confidently. We also introduce them to the basics of anxiety, helping them understand and recognize their emotions, and develop coping strategies. This program creates a safe, supportive environment for young children to explore and practice these skills while building a strong emotional foundation for the future.
Club Confident Leaders
Ages 9-12
Club Confident Leaders is the same as the original program just targeted for older children. The program uses the same general structure but focuses on more advanced social-emotional skills such as handling peer pressure, fostering independence, responsible use of technology, etc. Through group-based activities, role-playing scenarios, and real-world applications, children learn how to face challenges with confidence, set personal goals, and develop stronger interpersonal skills. Our goal is to build young leaders who are well-equipped to navigate this important stage of life.
Skills Taught
We build social-emotional learning directly into our fun and engaging activities. Kids will learn important life long skills for managing emotions, navigating social interactions, and facing fears. After learning skills they will have the chance to practice the newly learned skills in competitive games, exposures, social challenges, and cooperative activities.
Communication
self-regulation
self-awareness
coping
resilience
mindfulness
distress tolerance
perspective taking
cooperation
self-advocacy
empathy
problem solving
Sample Treatment Goals
Communication
Initiate conversation with a new peer or adult.
Provide a 1-2 word response to an adults question.
Ask an adult for help when needed.
social anxiety
Raise hand in group setting to answer a question.
Engage in play with unfamiliar peer.
Stand up and speak in front of small group.
emotion regulation
Identify & utilize calming strategy in times of distress.
Verbally ask for assistance instead of acting out
Use words to express feelings instead of physical reactions.
sensory
Develop basic understanding of sensory system.
Identify their own unique sensory triggers and needs.
Discover and utilize sensory tools when dysregulated.
Separation
Gradually tolerate short separations from parent.
Learn coping skills like deep breathing to manage anxiety.
Identify and discuss specific worries related to separation.
Activities
No two days are the same at Club Confident. Each session we hand pick the activities based upon the ages, needs and interests of the registered kids. We also modify the level of support provided to each child depending on their development and specific goals. In the past we have had certified yoga instructors, musicians, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.
