Mental health is a complex subject that can oftentimes benefit from a creative approach. As we honor Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we want to shine a light on one of the inventive ways our clinicians in the Horwitz-Zusman Child & Family Center (H-Z) have reimagined group therapy: Slime Social Group (SSG).

Welcome to the Slime Zone

For the past year, the H-Z has invited kids from Pre-K to 6^th grade to SSG. During the weekly session, participants gather together to do what kids like to do—make slime—while building resilience, confidence, and friendships along the way.

If you haven’t spent time with an elementary schooler recently, slime is a fun and satisfying science project that has exploded in popularity in recent years. Made by combining simple household ingredients like school glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution, slime is a stretchy, bouncy, viscous substance that is a stress reliever, fidget, and more. Imagine Play-Doh that is smooth, satisfying, and cool to the touch—it’s not hard to see why kids love it!

The Magic in the Mess

While slime itself is a science experiment, making it isn’t an exact science. Like many recipes, it doesn’t always turn out as expected, which is where the therapy aspect comes in.

“Making slime is about trusting the process and being adaptable and flexible when issues arise,” explains Sherri Cauthen, LCSW, RPT-S, Clinical Director of H-Z, who spearheaded and leads SSG.

“Depending on factors like patience, flexibility, and impulsivity, the slime can turn out well or poorly,” she says. The process of making slime, and pivoting when it doesn’t go to plan, has proven to be “a helpful way to work through some of the challenges that may have brought our participants into H-Z,” says Sherri.

“Let’s say I have a client with anxiety who doesn’t want to touch anything sticky or messy,” she continues. “You can’t avoid that in the process of making slime, but we have choices and can cope with the discomfort. We may use a spoon instead of our hands, or mix it on the table. Through this, we are modeling that we aren’t avoiding the problems, but we’re figuring out how to deal with them.”

From “I Can’t” to Confidence

One of the SSG participants was a second grader who was referred due to social and emotional struggles at home and school. The child struggled with anxiety and self-defeating beliefs like “I can’t” or “it’s impossible,” and lacked confidence in his abilities.

During the group, the child was initially resistant and sought reassurance frequently. Sherri and her co-facilitator helped the child reframe his unhelpful thoughts and see new paths forward, while his peers offered encouragement and support.

Gradually, there was a shift in the child as he grew in confidence in his own abilities. He was even given a leadership position, guiding new group members through the process and modeling persistence. At school, his teachers noticed that he began participating in class more.

“His confidence is through the roof now,” smiles Sherri. “Usually as a therapist, we don’t hear the impact we have on clients, but to hear it from this second grader and his family, it shows the impact of (SSG) and how much change he's experienced. He can do hard things now.”

Belonging Without Blending In

Slime Social Club is open to kids from Pre-K to 6th grade, and is an effective intervention for neurotypical and neurodivergent kids alike.

“We talk about how our brains all work differently, and that being different is your superpower,” concludes Sherri. “That sense of belonging that supports overall mental health comes not from blending in, but from being connected while still standing out.”

Slime Social Group meets Thursdays at 4pm at JF&CS in Dunwoody. Cost is $40/session. To join us, reach out here or call 770.677.9474