Group Therapy
A child struggling with issues in life is often affected by them in many situations. Individual child therapy is a great method for helping kids learn to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Individual therapy provides a safe place for children to overcome challenges and better regulate their emotions with support from a mental health professional.
Some children, however, also benefit from attending group therapy. Counseling is not just for one person having difficulties to work through them alone — rather, some children benefit from the support of a group where they can lean on others for support.
Group therapy helps children apply skills to specific situations, including small groups. Children can practice new skills within the group environment and respond to unexpected (or expected) challenges. Whether your child or teen is experiencing anxiety, depression or trauma, we can help. Courageous Kids Counseling takes the time to understand exactly how your child experiences difficulties and provides attention and support throughout the entire process.
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a small number of individuals meet together with a trained therapist to help themselves and each other. Typically, group members are brought together for each therapy session, though some members may also see a therapist individually.
There are many different approaches but most importantly group therapy includes creating a safe and supportive space where children can address personal and relationship issues. Group therapy can be effective in helping children and teens recognize commonalities in difficulties they are experiencing and offer a supportive platform to address them.
Common Reasons for Group Therapy
There are many reasons you might seek out group counseling services, including:
- Issues in school
- Bullying
- Friendship struggles
- The sudden loss of a family member
- A serious medical diagnosis
- Divorce or separation
- A natural disaster or other traumatic event
- Child and adult mental health issues
- Self-harm
- Weight changes
- Relationship issues
- Moving
- Drug or alcohol misuse
- The incarceration of a parent
Child-Centered Group Play Therapy
For young children, emotional regulation may not come naturally especially in stressful social situations. Behavior or emotional issues among preschoolers may often interfere with their abilitiy to interact with peers or siblings. It can be difficult to watch your child struggle to play with other children or experience behavioral challenges which discourage other children from playing with them. To this end, we offer play therapy groups to help children learn and practice new social and coping skills and establish healthy relationships.
There are many reasons ways child group counseling can help your child:
- Group therapy sessions are centered around helping your children navigate difficult situations in a warm, caring, and supportive environment.
- Our licensed play therapists use an approach attuned to your child’s unique needs, and emphasize empathy, acceptance, and understanding.
- Children work on processing their inner experiences through play symbolism.
- They are also free to express themeselves in creative ways while learning skills to decrease symptomatic behaviors.
- Since play is such an integral part of how children communicate, you can expect group play therapy to help your child to feel more positive and experience more success in everyday situatoins.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy services can provide the following benefits for your child or teen:
- Increase confidence in social situations: These strategies will foster better responses to social encounters, positive thinking, and finding more pleasure in social situations at home, school, sports, extracurricular activities and more.
- Improve communication: Therapists can help your child develop more effective ways to socialize with peers and better handle conflict or rejection.
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- Repair and strengthen relationships: Therapists can help your child or teen develop or repair relationships. Children will feel less trapped in poor relationships and can develop friendships with peers that share their values and appreciate them.
- Cope better with significant life changes: We can help your child through a divorce, moving or other life changes by interacting with others going through similar situations, feeling supported by peers and creating healthy ways to deal with emotions related to tough transitions.
- Reduce stress and feelings of humiliation: Kids can feel unburdened and less embarrassed by expressing social and academic pressures. They learn that others feel similarly and benefit from feeling supported and understood. Children and teens can develop a healthier attitude toward stress, including learning ways to cope with pressure such as using humor. We can also help kids with executive functioning skills to help with time management and organization.
- Offer insight and a fresh start: Therapy can be an opportunity to start anew when struggling in social situations. In real-life situations kids can practice skills that will help them improve self-confidence without the pressure of a large group.
Group therapy services work by helping children know they are not alone and there are others are experiencing similar challenges. Your child can learn how to cope with anxiety, depression, and friendship issues in a warm environment surrounded by others who understand what they are facing and can offer their own unique perspectives. Children work together in groups to help solve difficult problems, manage adversity, and lean on each other for emotional support.
Your child will be supported by a highly experienced and trained licensed mental health professional who will provide a structure for the group and encourage cooperative and meaningful conversations. We’ll create a plan to help solve common problems, while taking your child’s history and specific issues into account. Your child is an individual first and by participating in the group we can address shared experiences that will help them develop more confidence, a new perspective on various situations, and be ready to make positive changes in themselves.
How Do Our Group Counseling Services Work?
Group therapy services work by providing an opportunity for a therapist to see how kids relate to each other and provide pointers for addressing areas of difficulty – all within a confidential and judgment free space. We help children solve difficult problems and develop new ways to communicate effectively.
Group therapy can help create a supportive environment where members promote everyone’s health and well being. Your child or teen will work with a highly experienced and trained mental health professional to accomplish their unique goals while gaining new perspectives from peers.
In therapy, you can expect to:
- Develop self-confidence in social situations.
- Foster friendships.
- Learn how to effectively communicate with others.
- Productively express feelings and thoughts in ways your child feels heard, validated and supported.
- Identify what issues might contribute to conflict and increase coping skills.
The number of therapy sessions is usually set ahead of time by the therapist. The group can continue past the initial timeframe to maintain skills and provide additional support. Common goals and approaches of therapy include:
- Providing a safe place to share and connect with other individuals
- Promoting problem-solving
- Learning new strategies such as mindfulness, coping exercises, visualization, and social skills
- Helping children express emotions in a positive way so they don’t develop mental health issues such as anxiety or depression
- Reducing conflict with peers and develop skills to enhance social interactions
- Facilitating togetherness and feeling connected to others experiencing similar difficulties
- Letting children know they are not alone and they can find support
Group therapy can also focus on a specific mental health difficulty, such as:
- Social anxiety or shyness
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Substance abuse
- Adjustment disorders
- Mood disorders
- Post traumatic stress disorder
Meet Our Team
Erica Smuckler
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Owner & Clinical Director
Specializing In
TraumaDepressionAnxiety
How Group Counseling Can Help
For your convenience and privacy, all group sessions take place in our office. Your child or teen can enjoy all the benefits of interacting with other kids in a comfortable, warm, and inviting space with three to five children of similar ages and needs. Groups are led by our caring licensed specialists and meet weekly throughout the year.
We strongly believe in forming trusting relationships between group members while consistently working on skills that will help your child be most successful. In order to accomplish this goal, enrollment is on a monthly basis. Prior to enrolling your child in a group, we offer a complimentary consultation to gain a thorough understanding of your child’s unique needs and how we can best support them. Schedule a free consultation today to help your child navigate social situations with confidence.
Group Therapy in New York at Courageous Kids Counseling
Group therapy won’t automatically solve conflicts with family or friends or make unpleasant issues disappear. But it can help your child connect with like-minded peers and provide the skills for coping with challenging situations more effectively. Group counseling services can also help children achieve a sense of togetherness and feeling of not struggling alone.
Your child will function better with the help of a supportive group. As life becomes more challenging and your child experiences ups and downs, Courageous Kids Counseling is here to provide compassionate and caring group counseling services in New York.
Whether your child is experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, divorce, or difficulties with relationships, group therapy can help your child understand precisely what is bothering them and provide support and validation throughout the entire process. At Courageous Kids, we offer therapy sessions at times that are convenient for you. We also know your child’s confidentiality and privacy are of utmost importance. With the help of a licensed therapist and a supportive group of peers, we can uncover the problems that may impact your child’s health and well-being while moving them toward happier times.
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We know it’s upsetting to see your child struggling and not know what’s wrong. You’re not alone. Lots of parents feel like you do. You don’t need to have all the answers — you’re already taking the proper steps to find them. Your child has so many wonderful growing years ahead. You will get through this. Looking back, you will reminisce about all the happy memories your child had and how much they’ve grown into the person you’ve helped create. Bumps in the road happen — but together, we can help your child discover how to become the best version of themselves.
If you need a child therapist in New York, book a complimentary call with Courageous Kids Counseling. We are a specialized children’s therapy practice focusing on helping children struggling with anxiety, depression and trauma, among other difficulties. We use CBT, EMDR, play therapy, behavioral therapy, DBT, biofeedback and other problem-solving approaches.
