Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

for Girls and Young Women

First Open Enrollment Virtual Training Opportunity for the new 3rd edition!

Dr. Covington’s innovative, evidence-based 18-session program was created to address the unique needs of adolescent girls and young women. This virtual training is open to the general public. Space will be limited for this interactive virtual training. 

Adolescence is a time of tremendous discovery, struggle, and growth. This process is particularly difficult for girls and transitional age youth (TAY) as they face unique challenges along the road to healthy development. Their challenges can be exacerbated by our culture - which often offers girls a toxic environment in which to grow. Many young women lose their voice in this process. This 4 day (4 hours per day) virtual training is based on the newly updated gender-responsive and trauma-informed curriculum, Voices: A Program of Self- Discovery and Empowerment for Girls and Young Women.  This thoughtfully updated edition preserves the core strengths of the original curriculum while incorporating new content that reflects the realities facing girls and young women today.

Today we are hearing more about girls and bullying, the pressures of social media, early puberty, gender exploration, human sex trafficking, and binge drinking.  Texting, social media, and online or “in real life” (IRL) friends are part of the changes in girls’ social lives.  These are some of the topics added to the 2nd edition.  It is designed to encourage girls and young women to find and express themselves. The program materials (facilitator’s guide and participant’s journal) can be used in schools, treatment facilities, and juvenile justice settings.  This training describes the world of girls, as well as providing an overview of the elements needed for creating gender- and trauma-responsive services. The focus is on interactive exercises that demonstrate the strategies that counselors can use with girls and young women. The topics covered include developing a positive sense of self, building healthy relationships, substance misuse, physical and emotional wellness, sexuality, and planning for a positive future. The issues of girls and TAY in the juvenile justice system are also addressed.

All handouts and information required for this training are included in the registration fee. 

Obtaining the program materials for this training is not required.  After you register, you will be sent a link for the training as well as a printable PDF of the PowerPoint and any handouts that are used during the training. 

However, we suggest that each person attending the training obtain a copy of the Participant's Journal to view during the training to enhance your learning experience. Those leading groups after the training will also want a copy of the Facilitator's Guide (includes a journal). You can obtain materials from either Covington Books or the publisher.   

Presenters

This training is conducted by our Certified Trainer, Candice Norcott, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist. Throughout this interactive training, your trainer also discusses how the treatment program materials can be used with girls in the criminal justice system.

March 4-5 and 11-12, 2027

(4-day training, 4 hours per day)

Download Agenda

  • 12 pm - 4 pm Eastern Time
  • 11 am - 3 pm Central Time
  • 10 am - 2 pm Mountain Time
  •  9 am - 1 pm Pacific Time

Register

Next Steps

  • View our Zoom Participant Guide for helpful suggestions to prepare for the training, as well as our Training FAQ page.
  • $490 per person.  Deadline to register:  March 3, 2027
  • We do provide continuing education credits (CE's).  Please see below for additional information.
  • Purchase Orders:  If organizations want to register multiple people using a Purchase Order, please email your request to training@stephaniecovington.com for more information.
  • For additional information, such as cancellation policies, CE certificates, etc., please visit our Training FAQ page.

Topics

  • Developing gender-responsive services
  • The world of girls
  • Theoretical foundation
  • Becoming trauma-informed and trauma-responsive
  • Girls and TAY in juvenile justice settings
  • Specific interactive activities:
    Self
    Relationships
    Healthy Living (physical, emotional, and spiritual)
    The Journey Ahead

Objectives

  • Understand the world of girls/young women
  • Discuss gender differences
  • Explore elements of gender- and trauma-informed services
  • Demonstrate specific therapeutic strategies
  • List and describe five yoga poses or grounding exercises for girls

  • I enjoyed the opportunity to share how activities can be adapted to different group dynamics. It was nice to hear from others who have run Voices before and how they have tweaked things to work better for their setting. I also really appreciated that we we able to take part in some of the activities in small groups to really put ourselves in the girls' shoes because it helped me understand what I might do to make that activity more comfortable or more impactful with my specific girls.

    - Lyndi G

  • VOICES is an inspirational and action-oriented resource for girls, so they can create powerful personal manifestos. As girls read through its pages, they will learn the information they need to be safe, confident, and strong.

    - Rosalind Wiseman
    Educator and author of Queen Bees

  • This VOICES workbook is an excellent tool to use with teen girls. It is user friendly and positively focused.   Covington is a national leader in developing prevention programs and interventions for gender-specific curricula.

    - Alice Forrester, Ph.D.
    CEO, Clifford Beers Clinic

  • Dr. Norcott was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. Her passion regarding the Voices program was apparent, which lead to me becoming more enthusiastic and eager to begin to run a group and continue my work with girls.

     - Emma M

  • What we’ve been waiting for! A truly helpful, timely, and relevant curriculum has just been revised and updated. This is a treasure for girls of all ages and those who are committed to working with them: teachers, counselors, community workers, and parents. It is an original, wise, and tremendously valuable resource for supporting and empowering girls of all ages in a variety of settings . . . from treatment centers to schools . . . based on sound theory and research and a wealth of experience and expertise in the psychology of women, substance abuse, and group programs.

    - Janet Surrey, Ph.D.
    Founding Scholar, Jean Baker Miller Training Institute
    Stone Center, Wellesley College

  • VOICES has helped thousands of girls make sense of their complex and often traumatic experiences, while teaching them skills that help to improve the quality of their lives. The 2017 update ensures that girls have an opportunity to explore the current realities of their lives. The latest research on trauma and violence in girls’ lives, the complications of social media, and a simple but effective yoga practice are combined with meaningful activities and discussions that elevate the experience for girls and guide them toward overall well-being. This updated version of VOICES is a true gift for all participants and the facilitators who work with them.

    - Kimberly S. Selvaggi
    Executive Director of LISA, Inc.

    Materials

    The facilitator’s manual is a step-by-step guide that covers the theory, structure, and content needed to run groups. The participant’s journal allows youth to process and record the therapeutic experience. The materials are designed to be user-friendly and self-instructive. This allows the Voices program to be implemented by a staff with a wide range of training and experience.

    The new 3rd edition will be available to order in Winter 2026.

    NAADAC continuing education credits (CE’s)

    Dr. Stephanie S. Covington is a NAADAC Approved Education provider, provider number 250526.  For more information, please visit http://www.naadac.org/providers.

    Attendees of this training will receive 14 NAADAC continuing education credits (CEs).  Attendees must attend all 4 days, 4 hours per day plus complete the evaluation form at the end of the training to receive credit.  The following organizations and boards approve NAADAC CEs: http://www.naadac.org/naadac-ce-approvals

    Social Workers (ASWB) Credit Designation

    Stephanie S. Covington, LLC dba Center for Gender & Justice, provider number 2033, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/25/25 - 9/25/28. Social workers completing this course receive 14 continuing education credits. 

    The following jurisdictions approve ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program CEs:  https://www.aswb.org/licenses/ace-approved-continuing-education/

    This virtual training is open to the general public, but space is limited for this interactive training so register now.

    We have a wide variety of people attend our trainings from licensed professionals (Masters and Doctorial Level) as well as paraprofessionals and peer-facilitators.  Because professionals tend to work in interdisciplinary teams, this course is created for social workers, counselors, therapists, clinical supervisors, correctional professionals, and program administrators.

    Register Now!

    NAADAC and ASWB do not allow for partial CE credit; therefore, we cannot issue partial CE certificates.

    Training, consulting, and programming for public agencies, organizations, and institutions.

    www.stephaniecovington.com | www.covingtontraininginstitute.org | www.centerforgenderandjustice.org

    1201 Camino Del Mar, Suite 204, Del Mar, CA 92014  •  858.454.8528  
    The Covington Training Institute is proud to be a women-owned organization dedicated to advancing healing-centered, equity-driven systems of care.

    © Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW

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