***Throughout this page, I may use “parent” and “daughter” for simplicity, but Rooted welcomes girls applying with a parent or other legal guardian.
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Rooted is designed for high school girls (9th–12th grade) who often find themselves overthinking, feeling anxious, comparing themselves to others, struggling with confidence, or simply wishing they had a place where they didn’t have to pretend they had everything figured out.
No diagnosis is required. If your daughter is navigating the normal (and sometimes overwhelming) challenges of being a teenager today, she may be a great fit.
Every participant completes an application to help ensure the group is a good match for everyone involved.
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Honestly? I’d expect her to be.
Trying something new can feel intimidating, especially when it involves walking into a room full of people you don’t know. The good news is she’s almost certainly not the only one feeling that way.
Rooted is intentionally designed with that in mind. We ease into conversations, there’s never pressure to share more than someone is ready for, and every session follows a predictable structure so girls know what to expect. Most participants find that once they get settled in, it feels much less intimidating than they imagined.
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No.
While participation is encouraged, no one is ever forced to share before they’re ready. Some girls are naturally more talkative, while others prefer to listen at first. Both are completely okay.
My goal is to create an environment where each participant feels safe enough to engage at her own pace, while gently encouraging growth over the course of the six weeks.
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Absolutely.
Many girls can benefit from participating in both individual therapy and group therapy because each offers something different.
With your permission, I’m also happy to collaborate with your daughter’s current therapist if appropriate. My goal is always to complement the work she’s already doing, not replace it.
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The application process isn’t about choosing the “best” participants. It’s simply about making sure the group is the right fit for each girl and that everyone can benefit from the experience.
If I don’t believe Rooted is the best fit at this time, I’ll let you know personally and, whenever possible, provide recommendations for other resources or services that may better meet your daughter’s current needs.
My goal is always to help families find the support that’s right for them, even if that isn’t this particular group.
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Rooted is a therapist-led group therapy program, not a peer support group.
Each session is facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor and includes a thoughtful blend of discussion, practical coping skills, reflection, and activities designed to help girls better understand themselves while connecting with others who share similar experiences.
While the environment is warm and welcoming, this is still a therapeutic space with clear goals, structure, and professional guidance.
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Every session follows a consistent rhythm so participants know what to expect. Girls can expect meaningful conversations, interactive activities, journaling, practical tools they can use outside of group, and opportunities to connect with other girls in a supportive environment.
This isn’t a lecture, and it won’t feel like another hour of school. The goal is to create a space where girls can feel understood, build confidence, and leave each week with something practical they can actually use.
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Parents play an important role in helping this experience be successful. Before the group begins, I'll ask you to complete the application process and, if your daughter is offered a spot, complete the required registration paperwork and payment through the Vine & Branch patient portal.
After that, your biggest job is simply to encourage your daughter to show up consistently and give her the space to share about her experience on her own terms.
Parents/guardians will receive a brief general update following each session so they have a sense of the themes being explored in Rooted.
These updates may include a general takeaway or optional conversation starter, but they will not include details about what individual girls shared during group.
If a safety concern arises or there is information I am legally or ethically required to disclose, confidentiality may be limited as outlined in the group consent paperwork.
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Rooted is $50 per session ($300 total for the six-week series).
A $100 registration payment is required to secure your daughter’s spot and covers her first and final sessions. The remaining four sessions will be charged individually at $50 to the card on file on the day of each scheduled group session.
Because enrollment reserves a spot for the full six-week series, session fees still apply if your daughter is unable to attend. All payments are nonrefundable, and missed sessions cannot be made up.
This cost includes all six group sessions, a journal to use throughout the series, group materials and activities, and light refreshments.
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Rooted is offered as a six-week closed group and meets once a week for one hour.
9th–10th Grade Girls
Thursdays | 6:00–7:00 PM11th–12th Grade Girls
Thursdays | 7:30–8:30 PMThursday, September 17 | Week 1
Thursday, September 24 | Week 2
Thursday, October 1 | Week 3
Thursday, October 8 | Week 4
Thursday, October 15 | NO GROUP (FALL BREAK)
Thursday, October 22 | Week 5
Thursday, October 29 | Week 6 -
Sessions will take place at Vine & Branch Counseling, located in the Gun Barrel City Office Center
1805 W Main Street -
Not at all!
Rooted is not affiliated with or limited to any particular school or school district.Girls are welcome to apply regardless of where they attend school, as long as they are able to attend the group in person each week.
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Because each week builds on the previous one, consistent attendance is strongly encouraged. Group therapy is unique because every participant contributes to the experience, and each girl’s presence matters.
If your daughter needs to miss a session, unfortunately missed sessions cannot be made up or refunded.
Payment reserves her place in the six-week program rather than individual sessions.
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The first step is completing an application with your daughter.
From there, the process looks like this:
Complete the application.
Applications are carefully reviewed for individual and overall group fit.
If needed, Katie may reach out for a brief follow-up conversation.
You’ll receive an application update letting you know whether your daughter has been offered a spot, placed on the waitlist, or whether Rooted may not be the best fit at this time.
If offered a spot, you’ll have 72 hours to complete registration, paperwork, and payment to secure her place.
Once registration is complete, she’s officially part of Rooted!
Applications are open through Sunday, September 6 at 11:59 PM.
After applications close, all applications will be reviewed and families can expect to receive an update by Wednesday, September 9.
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No.
Rooted is an in-person group, and virtual attendance is not currently offered.
Because connection and participation are such an important part of the group experience, all sessions will take place in person at Vine & Branch Counseling.
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Each Rooted group is intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 8 girls per group.
Keeping the groups small allows enough space for everyone to participate, connect, and be heard without the group feeling overwhelming.
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Applications for the Fall 2026 Rooted series are open through Sunday, September 6 at 11:59 PM. After applications close, all applications will be reviewed and families can expect to receive an update by Wednesday, September 9.
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No. Rooted is not strictly first come, first served.
Applications are reviewed with both individual fit and the overall group in mind, so applying earlier does not automatically give someone priority over another applicant.
If there are more appropriate applicants than available spots, several factors may be considered when making final group placements. In situations where applicants are otherwise equally suited for an available spot, the order applications were received may be considered.
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The goal of the application process is not to decide who is the “best” candidate. It helps me consider whether the focus and structure of Rooted align with what each girl is looking for and whether the group seems like an appropriate fit at this time.
Things like her willingness to participate, ability to attend consistently, what she hopes to gain from the experience, and the overall dynamics of the group may all be considered.
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Rooted is intentionally kept small, so it is possible that more appropriate applicants may apply than there are spaces available. If your daughter seems like a good fit but a spot is not currently available, she may be placed on the waitlist and contacted if an appropriate opening becomes available.
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If your daughter is offered a spot, you'll receive information about the next steps for registration through the Vine & Branch Counseling patient portal.
Her spot is not officially secured until all required intake paperwork and payment requirements have been completed. Families will have 72 hours after portal invitations are sent to complete registration. After that time, an unclaimed spot may be offered to someone on the waitlist.
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No.
Because Rooted is a small therapy group, submitting an application does not guarantee placement. The application helps determine whether the group is an appropriate fit for each girl and allows me to thoughtfully build the group as a whole.
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Not being offered a spot does not necessarily mean that anything is “wrong” or that your daughter wouldn't benefit from support.
Rooted is a small group with a specific focus and structure, and placement decisions take both individual fit and the group as a whole into consideration.
Depending on the circumstances, she may be placed on the waitlist or considered for a future Rooted series.
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Confidentiality is one of the most important parts of creating a safe group experience.
At the beginning of the program, every participant agrees to respect the privacy of others and keep what is shared in group confidential.
While I cannot guarantee that every participant will honor that agreement, we spend time discussing why confidentiality matters and the role it plays in building trust within the group.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I also follow the same legal and ethical confidentiality standards that apply in individual therapy, including the required exceptions related to safety.
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Group therapy works best when participants know they have a space where they can be honest without worrying that everything they share will be reported back to a parent afterward.
I’ll always communicate with you about concerns related to your daughter’s safety or well-being, but outside of those situations, I encourage parents to allow their daughter to share about her experience in her own time and in her own words.
Parents/guardians will receive a brief general update following each session so they have a sense of the themes being explored in Rooted. These updates may include a general takeaway or optional conversation starter, but they will not include details about what individual girls shared during group.
If a safety concern arises or there is information I am legally or ethically required to disclose, confidentiality may be limited as outlined in the group consent paperwork.
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Hi! I’m Katie Graham, M.Ed., LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of Vine & Branch Counseling.
My background includes teaching students from elementary through high school, serving as a church youth small-group leader, working as a high school guidance counselor, counseling in a group practice, and now owning my own private counseling practice.
I work with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, relationship concerns, and self-esteem challenges. My approach combines evidence-based therapy with genuine connection, creating a space that feels both safe and practical.
Rooted was created because I know how overwhelming it can feel to grow up in today’s world, and I believe girls deserve more than just coping. They deserve connection, confidence, and tools that last.
