How Group Therapy Can Help Your Child
Does your child struggle with managing their emotions or maintaining healthy interactions with others? Your instinct may be to enroll them in individual therapy and have them talk to a therapist one-on-one. However, individual therapy is not your only option. Consider group therapy as well! Group therapy might be a better fit, or it may be a helpful supplement to individual therapy sessions. How exactly does group therapy help your child? What are the benefits of this type of therapy compared to a one-on-one session? We’ll explain…
Kids practice and build skill in a more realistic setting -
In most instances, your child will be involved in group experiences. Whether it’s the classroom, the soccer field, or a family dinner, there’s likely to be more than one other person around to further complicate the dynamics. Group therapy better mimics these complex situations within a safe, structured space. As they interact with others in group, your child will practice sharing, listening, taking turns, respecting boundaries, starting conversations, as well as following group rules. Then they can apply the skills that they’re building to their everyday conversations and interactions.
Kids can feel their feelings without feeling alone -
Group therapy gives kids the tools they need to process and manage emotions. It allows them to understand and work through their feelings, like stress and anxiety. In a group setting, kids will see that their emotional experiences are universal. Your child will learn that other children are dealing with negative emotions and they will be able to relate to other kids with similar challenges. It gives kids a sense of relief and connectedness as they work through difficult experiences together. They can also learn from each other and see how their peers handle stressful situations.
Kids learn to speak up and gain self-confidence -
Group therapy is a great opportunity for kids to find their voice. It’s a safe space that encourages them to share their experiences, express their emotions, and empathize with their peers. They will have ample opportunities to talk about their emotional or interpersonal difficulties. This not only helps them better understand and deal with challenging situations, but it also gives them practice speaking in front of a group. In addition, children will learn to listen and offer their perspective in response to other kids’ challenges. By putting themselves in other children’s shoes, they will work on empathy, build trust, and feel comfortable sharing. Group therapy can be a great confidence booster!
Kids will feel validated by the group -
In group therapy, your child will obtain validation, positive, and encouraging feedback from their peers and their therapist. It can be difficult to find the right words when your child is overwhelmed by negative emotions. Children who haven’t yet learned communication tools may act out, yell, or withdraw and not communicate at all. Group therapy provides an opportunity for children to practice verbalizing and exploring their emotions with their peers in a safe space.
Like any activity, consistency is key with group therapy. It is important for your child to attend group on a regular basis in order to build skills and to effectively apply the tools that they’ve gained to their daily life. Over time, your child can learn to better recognize and work through difficult emotions or complex interpersonal situations. To learn more about group therapy and to see if it would be a helpful option for your child, connect with us to discuss your child’s unique situation.