Helping teens heal from addiction and mental health conditions requires a variety of treatment methods. It might be obvious that trained therapists help facilitate healing, but all the wonderful benefits of group therapy programs might be less apparent to parents.
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is a treatment center for teenage boys that provides support for substance use disorder and other mental health concerns. We incorporate individual, family, and group therapy to provide teens with a comprehensive treatment program.
To learn more about getting help for your teen, call 866.300.5275 and speak with a staff member at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today.
What Is Teen Group Therapy?
Teen group therapy is a type of therapy that allows teens the opportunity to work through challenges, learn new skills, and heal alongside their peers.
Group therapy services for teens are usually moderated by a therapist. In the role of facilitator, the therapist will guide the progress of each session. A group therapy session often begins with a check-in, where each teen in the group has a chance to share struggles, challenges, and personal victories since the last meeting.
Participants are guided to increased self-awareness by pausing to identify and name their emotions and show empathy and support for their peers as they do the same.
Individual sessions in a teen group therapy program may vary. A therapist might implement techniques like conversation prompts, games, and activities. These all serve to help clients build skills related to expressing vulnerability, building relationships, navigating conflict, and developing self-awareness.
How Peer Support Groups Help Teens Heal
When teens struggle with mental or behavioral health concerns, their internal mental and emotional health requires support and healing. Common situations that lead to the need for group therapy services for teens include:
- Overwhelming thoughts and feelings
- Feelings of isolation and loneliness
- Substance use
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Difficulties making or maintaining friendships
- Feeling that no one else understands them
Providing effective support for teens begins on an individual basis. A treatment team will work to identify any mental health conditions, unresolved trauma, and other factors that might be contributing to a teen’s challenges. However, there are limits to what can be accomplished by a therapist working one-on-one with a teenager.
Many of the challenges a teen faces have a social element, whether it’s struggling to connect with peers or feeling that they’re alone in their struggles. Peer support groups connect teenagers to peers who can provide understanding and empathy for their challenges.
Key Benefits of Group Therapy Services for Teens
Teen group therapy provides a range of benefits that are difficult to achieve through other styles of therapy. These benefits help support the short-term stabilization of mental health concerns and help build a foundation for healthy relational skills and mental health support throughout life.
Teens who participate in group therapy receive benefits that often include:
- Reduced feelings of depression or anxiety
- Increased self-esteem
- Ability to identify and cope with emotions
- Conflict resolution skills
- Ability to create and maintain meaningful friendships
- Increased feelings of empathy and connection
When teenagers are given guidance and a space to connect, they’re afforded the opportunity to re-learn valuable social skills.
Learning to openly share about mental and emotional health and experiencing understanding and support from peers can be a life-changing experience. Participation in group therapy can have a lasting impact on a teen’s relationships and overall well-being.
Group Therapy for Teens at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery works to create a supportive peer environment for teenage boys as they overcome challenges related to substance use and mental health concerns.
To learn more about teen group therapy and other programs for adolescent boys, call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 or fill out our secure online form to learn more about our group therapy services for teens.
