Does your teenager need help socializing with others? Is he or she having difficulty finding the right coping skill to deal with stress? Are you considering taking your teenager to a mental health professional for help, but are worried about the cost? Consider group psychotherapy as an alternative. In these tough economic times, group psychotherapy can be cost effective as well as beneficial to your teen. Current research has shown that group psychotherapy can significantly reduce depression in teenagers. Group psychotherapy provides a safe space for teenagers to share their thoughts and feelings with one another without shame. The most common feeling most teens get is that they are the “only one” with a problem. In a group, they are exposed to others with the same problems and are able to learn from each other in various ways to deal with their problems. In working with teens for nearly 10 years, I have been amazed as to how well they can communicate their feelings with one another. What is also interesting for me is the compassion they show for one another within the group setting. In my experience in facilitating groups with teens, the most profound and thoughtful statements have come from the group members. There are a number of groups that your teen can attend addressing a variety of issues from social skills to anger management to coping skills. All of these groups can help with: self-esteem; increased awareness and understanding of others as well as themselves; help with handling stress at home or at school; learning how to appropriately express feelings and reduce angry outbursts and a multitude of other benefits. What a great way to get your teen involved in something productive and efficient!
For more information, please contact Lara Z. Murphy, MFT at 661-212-3510.