Therapy is like a one-on-one conversation in most situations, but there are benefits to having therapy in a group format, as well. Teens and young people may benefit from the group setting more than individual sessions. A counselor leading a small group can be a safe place for a teen to express mental health struggles while not feeling the burden of opening up to an adult.
Benefits of group therapy for teens
Peer support
While many conversations about peer pressure focus on the negatives, there is a positive side. Knowing that people your age have similar experiences and struggles can comfort teens. Knowing that others have the same struggles makes them feel less alone. Teens also learn to support each other and cultivate empathy by sharing their struggles.
Social benefits
Having therapy in a group provides great social benefits to kids. It reduces isolation, helps them practice their social skills, and allows them to share feedback. It can also validate their experiences. In a group, there can be opportunities to role-play real-world scenarios with people who are understanding and safe. This can be a great benefit to teens who struggle with social anxiety, allowing them to interact with people in a more controlled setting.
Accountability
Knowing some people will hold you accountable for your actions can be a major motivating factor for teens. If those people are outside the parental structure, they might be more open to feedback and check-ins. This may also relieve parents of pressure, providing them with more opportunities to connect with their teens in other ways.
The importance of privacy and autonomy
When teens are going through any mental health challenge, they may feel that talking to their parents is uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. It may be easier to talk to a group of relative strangers who don’t have any expectations for them. They have a sense of autonomy as they sort out their thoughts, feelings, and struggles.
Talking to parents can feel performative for some teens. They are trying to figure out what their parents expect of them and if they are meeting those internal expectations. Give them the privacy they need to process things on their own. Talking to other teens can build a sense of independence in their own thoughts and feelings. They don’t have to worry about the expectations of others.
This is also an important place to learn about valuing other people’s privacy. It is important to respect what other people share in confidence. Teens should not be asked to share other people’s stories outside of the group without their permission. Other people’s stories are theirs to process, and while in group therapy a teen may be invited to comment on another’s story, they should learn to do so respectfully.
Practicing compassion and empathy
While group therapy may provide encouragement that the teen is not the only one with a struggle, there will also be differences that people struggle with. Group therapy is no place for judgmental criticism. Learning about the struggles of others helps teens practice empathy. Building empathy takes practice and group therapy is an excellent place to build those skills.
Contact our reception team at Santa Monica Christian Counseling in California about the availability of group therapy for teens. We are here to help you find the best fit for everyone. Reach out to our office today.
“Wildflowers”, Courtesy of Kristine Cinate, Unsplash.com, CC0 License
