Group Work: Effective for teens

How often do you see teenagers walking alone? When you do, how often do they look happy? There's a reason why adolescents choose to hang out in groups...it's more fun!

My son is 14 and he is almost always part of a group of at least four teens. The beauty of this is, the individuals don't even really have to be all that well known to each other to be included and accepted. This same notion holds true when adolescents with mood or behavioral problems come together and why group therapy or skill building tends to be most effective with this age group.

Individual "talk therapy" with teens costs more and takes longer to achieve results, not to mention it's sometimes like pulling teeth to get them to go. Group work provides an opportunity for teens to come together, feel accepted for their likenesses and differences, and normalize their feelings or experiences. Hearing, "When I was your age..." doesn't go nearly as far as, "Really? You, too? I thought I was the only one."

If you have a teenager who is struggling with mood or behavior issues, consider enrolling him or her in a group experience. Family Support Services of North Idaho is currently signing up 15-18-year-olds for groups on: Mindfulness, Anger Management, Critical Thinking and Stress Management. Call now to reserve a spot, (208) 769-4222.