Mental health treatment is an important part of a teen’s overall development and well-being. But what are the differences between individual vs. group therapy? There are several points to compare between these effective therapy methods, which will be explored in this blog post. However, both individual and group therapy activities can help your teen build resiliency and learn skills for a more positive future.
At Beyond Healthcare, we believe that understanding the differences between individual and group therapy can help teens make informed decisions about their mental healthcare. Our teen mental health treatment programs offer both individual and group therapies, so teens can gain the benefits of each therapy type. Learn more by calling 833.698.0453.
Does My Teen Need Mental Health Treatment?
Mental health treatment offers support to teens as they process emotions, cope with stressors, heal from trauma, and develop healthier behaviors. If you’re noticing changes in your teen’s behavior or mood, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. Some of these common changes include:
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Withdrawing from activities they used to enjoy
- Changes in appetite or energy levels
- Thoughts of self-harm
What Is Individual Teen Therapy?
Individual teen therapy involves meeting one-on-one with a therapist on a regular basis. The therapist can offer professional insight into understanding your teen’s thoughts and feelings and provide guidance to help them work through difficult issues in healthy ways. As part of individual therapy sessions, your teen may use therapeutic techniques like talk therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to reframe negative thought patterns and learn new coping mechanisms.
Understanding Teen Group Therapy
Teen group therapy involves several people meeting with a trained therapist who can facilitate discussion that promotes personal growth for all members of the group. It allows teens to connect with others who may be experiencing similar issues so that they don’t feel alone and can learn from each other’s experiences in an open forum setting.
Group sessions often include role-play exercises that allow participants to act out different scenarios and gain insight into their own experiences while learning how others might handle similar situations differently.
Common Teen Group Therapy Activities
Group therapy activities during teen mental health treatment include:
- Art projects where participants can create something together that expresses their feelings about certain topics
- Role-play exercises where each member takes turns playing different roles
- Journaling prompts
- Music activities
- Mindfulness exercises
- Discussion topics related to current events
- Conflict resolution discussions
- Games
- Problem-solving activities
- Icebreakers
- Brainstorming ideas for future goals
- Team-building challenges that require cooperation among all members of the group
Benefits of Group Therapy for Teens vs. Individual Therapy
Group therapy provides many benefits over individual therapy, including building social skills and providing support from peers facing similar challenges, which can help reduce feelings of isolation when dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety or depression. Group sessions also help teens practice communication skills in real-time by allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly in a safe space without fear of judgment from other members of the group who are all working toward similar goals.
Additionally, being part of a group gives adolescents an opportunity to receive feedback from multiple perspectives, which can help them find solutions more quickly than if they were working through problems on their own during individual sessions with the therapist alone.
Teen Mental Health Services at Beyond Healthcare
At Beyond Healthcare in Toledo, Ohio, we help teens overcome their mental health conditions with individual and group therapy. Our team of experienced therapists is committed to providing compassionate care that is tailored to the unique needs of each and every teen in our program. We understand the importance of having a safe, non-judgmental space for teens to express themselves openly and honestly, so all of our sessions are designed with this goal in mind.
Learn more about our inclusive teen mental health treatment programs by calling 833.698.0453 or contacting us online.
