3 Reasons Group Therapy for Teens Can Help

Authored by: Jason Drake, a Licensed Clinical Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S).

Group therapy is a powerful counseling approach for both adults and teens. We have found and studies support our findings that group therapy for teens can be more impactful for teens.  When teens take part in group therapy, it tends to be fertile ground for growth and development. A teen therapist who specializes in teen counseling facilitates the group. This teen therapist provides the rules and structure of the group to ensure emotional and physical safety.  Once the structure is understood, the teen therapist who specializes in teen counseling, facilitates conversation and exploration of issue that teens may not have otherwise addressed. Below are three reasons how group therapy for teens can help your teen.

Teens Find Relief of Knowing They Are Not Alone

Teen depression has increased 59% since 2007. A survey from the American Psychological Association found that teens today report stress levels as high as those that adults report. When school is in, teens report higher stress levels than adults report.  Group therapy allows teens to meet with other teens who experience similar life situations. Often, teens feel like they are all alone battling their internal struggles. It's not that others in their lives aren't trying to help, but they simply may not be able to understand. Unless you yourself have experienced the internal struggles that the teen experiences, it can be hard to relate.  With group therapy, a teen can find such relief talking with other teens who are experiencing the same internal struggles. It can normalize what the teen is struggling with once they know they are not alone.

The Wisdom of Teens in Group Therapy

When teens can see that they are not alone, it seems to lift a weight from their shoulders. It also opens them up to feedback from those teens who are or have experienced what they are going through.  As a parent, you can provide the most significant piece of wisdom to help your teen. If your teen could follow that piece of wisdom it would probably help. But, since it's coming from their parent, it may not carry the weight needed to get through to the teen. A teen in group therapy who is or has experienced similar things to your teen can provide the same piece of wisdom. Now this piece of wisdom is accepted as amazing by the teen and they may now internalize the feedback. That is the power of group therapy for teens! The above hypothetical example is one experience in one moment in time for the teen in group therapy. Now, imagine the power of your teen attending weekly group therapy for teens over the course of weeks or months. 

The Hope That Can be Instilled Seeing Other Teens Succeed

Teens find relief and hope in talking with other teens who are experiencing the same internal battles. Whether it be teen depression, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, trauma, etc., knowing that they are not alone provides comfort. In group therapy, teens also get to see other teens who have experienced what they are experiencing. Yet, the other teen has overcome the struggle.  When teens are able to see other teens, who they can relate to succeed and overcome their struggles, the hope and motivation in the teen skyrockets. Individual teen therapy and family therapy can take on a whole new meaning as they take part in group therapy for teens. When they know that there is a way, a path forward, often they tend to work harder.  Teens know they have the support of their peers in group therapy. They know they also have a specialist to guide them in teen therapy. Oftentimes, they view family therapy in a new light. And it all started with your teen working with other teens in group therapy.

Start Group Therapy for Teens Today at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch

If your teen is struggling with teen depression, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, trauma, PTSD or any other internal battle, start the healing journey today. Group therapy can be that missing link that can help your teen make meaning out of their internal battle. There is hope and a pathway forward. If you are ready to let the healing begin, you can follow these three steps:

1. Contact our office to set up an appointment or to get more information about couples counseling
2. Meet with one of our caring therapists
3. Find ways to improve your sexual relationship!

Other Therapy Services We Offer

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer counseling services for people of all ages including: eating disorder treatment, depression treatment, women’s issues, treatment for anxiety, counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, family therapy,  men’s issues, trauma counseling, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!