If you are the parent or guardian of a teen with behavioural issues, group therapy is a psychotherapy option that you should consider. Most parents look for individual therapy solutions when faced with a teen’s behavioural challenges, but group therapy has benefits that are not available in individual counselling sessions. In group therapy, a healthcare professional works with a small group of individuals struggling with similar issues. Although the health professional facilitates the sessions, it is the group dynamic that often leads to positive change. At Venture Academy, our compassionate team of experts provides the compassionate care that your teen needs during group therapy.
According to the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, group therapy as a psychotherapy option was effective in treating children and teens. The study covered a twenty-year period and determined that in 73% of cases, the participants in group therapy did better than those who did not. That’s why we use our group therapy program as a foundational component of treatment.
3 Benefits of Group Therapy for Teens
1. Improves Interpersonal Skills
Group sessions are a place for teens to have a voice. They learn to listen and engage in conversations. Group facilitators can provide interpersonal effectiveness skills during psychotherapy counselling that can be applied in the group. Once kids are comfortable with these skills, they can transfer the skills into their daily interactions.
Teenagers are easily isolated, which can increase the chances of suffering from anxiety and depression. Group therapy allows teens to work on improving peer relationships and learning what positive relationships entail. They connect with a peer community where they can feel valued and appreciated while receiving counselling.
2. Provides Support
Peer pressure looms large in a teenager’s life in both positive and negative ways. Group therapy is an opportunity for teens to experience positive peer pressure. Group members understand what it’s like to be a teenager. In fact, they may have had similar experiences and can offer advice. Participants serve as motivators for each other, encouraging them to reach their goals. The group becomes a safe place to gain perspective and to celebrate victories.
3. Gains Insight
Individual therapy doesn’t give a therapist the same insight into a teen’s behaviour as group therapy. Therapists can observe how teens interact with the group and highlight actions that may be driving negative behaviour. A teen may become shy around a group. Others may be easily influenced and need ways to disengage from negative pressure. By helping kids identify how their behaviours change in different situations, therapists provide insights through counselling that are needed for change.
Additional Benefits of Group Therapy for Teens
The group therapy setting at Venture Academy allows teens to interact with their peers in a safe space where they can gain these additional benefits:
- Social confidence – In group sessions, teens learn new ways of relating to others. As they apply these strategies successfully, their confidence grows. Over time, they become more comfortable in their abilities. Soon, they have the confidence to assert themselves in social situations outside the group.
- Communication skills – Teenagers find it challenging to communicate emotions. They often repress feelings that eventually appear in unhealthy behaviours. In group therapy, young people have a safe environment to explore their feelings with others their age. They develop the confidence to communicate their emotions in everyday life.
- Reduced stress – Teens often feel stressed by the social and academic pressures that surround them. Sharing their feelings helps relieve stress. It also provides an opportunity for kids to gain some perspective on situations that seem out-of-control.
Get Support for Your Teen with Group Therapy at Venture Academy
At Venture Academy, group treatment is a no-judgement zone. It is a place for teens to discuss issues that are of concern to the group. Counsellors facilitate these group sessions and ensure that they remain a safe place for participants to express themselves. If you believe your child could benefit from group therapy, contact us today by calling 866.762.2211 to discuss our group therapy program.
