3 Signs Your Teen Needs Group Therapy

Posted: July 17, 2023

By Natasha Cooke, MS, LPC Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S

3 Signs Your Teen Needs Group Therapy

Are you considering group therapy for your teen? Maybe you're wondering, "What if I already take my teenager to individual therapy? Shouldn't that be enough?" The truth is there are many added benefits that group therapy can offer adolescents. For example, a group provides community and peers to validate your teen's experience. In the following sections, we'll talk about signs indicating that a teen may need therapy or need a supplement to individual therapy.

What is Group Therapy?

Group therapy, also sometimes called group counseling, is a type of psychotherapy in which people benefit from discussing and processing issues and emotions together and is facilitated by one or more licensed therapists. Groups can be centered around a general topic or be formed by characteristics of members such as gender or age. Although there is much variation, they typically last between 60-90 minutes, meet either weekly, biweekly, or monthly, and have anywhere from 4-12 members. Also, groups are either open or closed. Open groups allow members to join at any time and are likely ongoing, while closed groups have a limited number of sessions and do not allow new members to join mid-way through the group process. Structured groups have more instruction and psychoeducation, whereas unstructured groups have session topics decided collectively by members. While groups are diverse in their make-up and purpose, many have similar benefits. These include acquiring a feeling of belonging, encouragement from others going through similar issues, and learning how to recognize and regulate emotions with healthy coping skills. In addition, group therapy offers support from a mental health professional and is cost-effective. What is special about teen group therapy? For starters, adolescence is a challenging and confusing time for many. Often, it's difficult to navigate roaring emotions, mood swings, new interpersonal challenges, and other teenage-related problems. Adolescents are impressionable, and the teen years are a critical time for learning to manage life's stressors and understanding the importance of mental health. Group therapy is advantageous for teens who are already struggling or for those simply wanting to acquire new skills and knowledge.

3 Signs Your Teen May Need Group Therapy

Sign 1: Your Teen Is Struggling with Mental Health

Have you noticed that your teen is withdrawing, feeling down frequently, or is more irritable than usual? If this is the case, it could be a sign that they are struggling with their mental health. Perhaps your teen has told you they are having a tough time at school, such as feeling pressure to keep grades up or perform well in sports. Maybe you notice that your teen is unwilling to share information with you about their mental health. If so, it may be a good time to start group therapy and give them the space they need to discuss any problems they may be facing.

Sign 2: Needing Improved or Increased Social Interaction

Naturally, adolescence is a time for making new friends. It's common for teenagers to form social groups centered around interests such as sports, anime, or art. If you notice that your teen struggles to make friends at school or outside of school or suffers from moderate to severe social anxiety, it may be time to intervene. Joining group therapy will give your teen the opportunity for added social interaction and the ability to bond with others going through similar difficulties.

Sign 3: Needing New Coping Skills

Puberty is a time in which hormones run rampant, and emotions are seemingly impossible to control. If your teen is often having outbursts of anger, bouts of sadness, or a sense of feeling lost, they may need new tools for coping with such emotions. Group therapy teaches teens healthy coping skills such as grounding techniques, changes in mindset, how to ask for help, recognizing and attending to strong feelings, and much more.

Group Therapy Expectations and Outcome

After participating in group therapy, your teen can expect to feel an increased sense of confidence, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills. They will have more efficient methods of managing tough circumstances and day-to-day stressors. For teens looking to learn more about mental health in general, look for a group that utilizes psychoeducation and offers a variety of topics to discuss. To read more about the groups we offer for teens, follow this link! https://cincoranchcounseling.com/group-counseling/

Begin Group Therapy in Katy, TX!

If you are ready to begin group therapy, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information about our middle, high school, and young adult groups
Meet with one of our knowledgeable therapists
Find ways to thrive and improve your mental health through group therapy!

Other Therapy Services We Offer:

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men's issues, women's issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide 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!