Teen Group Therapy
Teen DBT Skills Group
Welcome to our Teen DBT Skills Group with Art Therapy! This group is designed specifically for teens in high school (ages 14-18) who want to learn Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills in a supportive and creative environment. Combining traditional DBT techniques with the expressive power of art therapy, our sessions offer a unique opportunity for personal growth, emotional regulation, and building healthier relationships.
What to Expect:
- Interactive Learning: Each session will introduce core DBT skills such as distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness through engaging activities and discussions.
- Creative Expression: Art therapy projects will allow you to explore your thoughts and feelings in a non-verbal way, fostering self-discovery and healing.
- Supportive Environment: You’ll be part of a group of peers who understand and share similar challenges, providing mutual support and encouragement.
This Group Therapy for Teenagers occurs every Monday from 7pm – 8pm, starting September 9 and concluding on October 28. You can find us at our Monroeville location at 2539 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville, PA 15146.
Join us on Monday evenings to learn valuable skills, express yourself creatively, and connect with others in a safe and understanding space. Whether you’re new to DBT or looking to deepen your practice, our group offers a welcoming place to grow and thrive.
Group leader, Rachel Taylor, LPC, NBCC, has been creating and facilitating groups for adolescents and adults for the past 10 years. With her extensive experience, Rachel understands the unique needs of teenagers and is passionate about providing a safe and trusting space for young individuals to express themselves.
This Teen DBT Skills Group offers a safe space for you to connect with like-minded peers and explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Teen DBT Skills Group Outline
Sept 9 – Ice breakers / Distress Tolerance: TIPP Skills – Making Ice Packs Together
- Objective: Introduce participants to distress tolerance skills while fostering a sense of community through ice breaker activities.
- Activities: Participants will engage in ice breaker games to get to know each other. They will also learn TIPP (Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, and Progressive Relaxation) skills by making and using ice packs as a hands-on activity to manage distressing emotions.
Sept 16 – SMART Goal Setting – Vision Boards / IMPROVE Skills
- Objective: Teach participants how to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals and introduce IMPROVE (Imagery, Meaning, Prayer, Relaxation, One thing in the moment, Vacation, Encouragement) skills.
- Activities: Participants will create vision boards to visualize their goals and learn IMPROVE skills to enhance their emotional regulation and overall well-being.
Sept 23 – Design Diary Cards / ACCEPTS Skills
- Objective: Help participants develop personalized diary cards to track their emotions and behaviors while learning ACCEPTS (Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions, Pushing away, Thoughts, Sensations) skills.
- Activities: Participants will design and create their own diary cards and practice ACCEPTS skills through interactive exercises.
Sept 30 – Emotional Regulation – Glitter Globes + PLEASE Skills
- Objective: Teach participants emotional regulation techniques using glitter globes and PLEASE (Treat Physical Illness, Balanced Eating, Avoid Mood-Altering Substances, Balanced Sleep, Get Exercise) skills.
- Activities: Participants will create glitter globes to use as calming tools and learn PLEASE skills to maintain their physical and emotional well-being.
Oct 7 – Behavior Analysis Chain – Bracelets/Necklaces/Keychains – Sensory Element for Mindfulness
- Objective: Introduce participants to behavior analysis chains to understand and manage their behaviors, using the creation of sensory bracelets, necklaces, or keychains as a mindfulness tool.
- Activities: Participants will make sensory jewelry or keychains and learn how to use behavior analysis chains to identify triggers and responses in their daily lives.
Oct 14 – Wise Mind – Halloween-Esque / Parts of Self Mask Making
- Objective: Explore the concept of Wise Mind (the integration of Emotion Mind and Reasonable Mind) through creative mask-making with a Halloween theme.
- Activities: Participants will create masks representing different parts of themselves and discuss how to access their Wise Mind in challenging situations.
Oct 21 – DEAR MAN / GIVE FAST – Role Plays
- Objective: Teach participants DEAR MAN (Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear confident, Negotiate) and GIVE FAST (Gentle, Interested, Validate, Easy manner; Fair, Apologies, Stick to values, Truthful) skills through role-playing exercises.
- Activities: Participants will engage in role plays to practice and reinforce DEAR MAN and GIVE FAST skills in various interpersonal scenarios.
Oct 28 – Apples to Apples Esque Review Game
- Objective: Review and reinforce the skills learned throughout the sessions in a fun and engaging way.
- Activities: Participants will play a game similar to Apples to Apples, using prompts related to the skills and concepts covered in the previous sessions. This will serve as a fun and interactive way to solidify their understanding and application of the skills.
Teen Group Therapy Lead Counselor
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will this Teen Group Therapy be held?
A: This group will be held at our Monroeville location located at 2539 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville PA 15146.
Q: What day and time is the Teen Therapy Group?
A: Group sessions will take place Mondays from 7pm-8pm. Each group is 1 hour.
Q: How many weeks is Teen Group Therapy?
A: This Teen Therapy Group is 8 weeks long.
Q: Can anyone join the Teen Group Therapy?
A: Yes, this group is open to any teens aged 14-18 who are in high school. You do not have to be in therapy at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh to participate.
Q: How many people will be in the Teen Group Therapy?
A: It is limited to 12 participants.
Q: Does this Teen Group Therapy accept health insurance?
A: Yes, we accept Aetna, Cigna, Evernorth, Highmark, and UPMC.
Q: What is the self-pay fee for Teen Group Therapy?
A: If you elect to self pay, the fee is $50 per session.
Q: Is an intake required for the Teen Group Therapy?
A: Yes, you first will meet with Rachel Taylor, LPC to see if you are a good fit for the group.
Q: Is the Teen Group Therapy an open or closed group?
A: The group is open until the 5th week at which point it will close and no new members can join.
Q: Who is leading this Teen Therapy Group?
A: The group will be led by Rachel Taylor, LPC, NBCC who has worked in the Mental Health field for over 18 years. Rachel has created and facilitated groups for adolescents and adults for the past 10 years.
Q: How do I sign up for Teen Group Therapy?
A: Please email info@counselingwellnesspgh.com or call 412-322-2129 ext. 3 if you are interested in joining the group.
Interested in Joining the Teen DBT Skills Group?
If you’re a high school teen aged 14-18 looking to manage stress, improve your relationships, and gain valuable life skills, our Teen DBT Skills Group is for you. Fill out the form below or call us at 412-856-WELL to join the journey towards a healthier, happier you!
Previous Group Therapy
Virtual Group Therapy for Teenagers: Addressing Grief Through Literature
This VIRTUAL Group Therapy for Teenagers occurs every Wednesday from 6pm – 7pm starting April 19 for 4 weeks. The final session is May 10, 2023. It takes place virtually.
Goal of Addressing Grief through Literature Teen Group Therapy:
- Explore and process feelings of grief
- Identify coping skills to deal with grief
- Identify how relationships can be maintained even after the death of a loved one
- Identify grief rituals
- Decrease isolation surrounding grief
Group therapy is a unique opportunity to gain skills and new behaviors with the benefit of an expert-led experience while being accelerated through the lens of social learning that can only come from peer support. Group formats have been used to successfully manage a variety of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Teen Group Therapy Weekly Topic Outline
Materials: Participants will be asked to read the novel, You’ve Reached Sam, by Dustin Thao
Week 1: Introductions (April 19)
- Participant Introductions
- Setting Group Expectations and Rules
- Introduction of Book
- Discussion of Grief/Psychoeducation
(Chapter Assignment given for the following week)
Week 2: Discuss Chapters Read (April 26)
- What did participants think of the chapters read in general?
- Narrative writing exercise regarding what feelings came up for them while reading
- What character(s) can participants relate to? How so?
- What emotions did characters show? Can you relate? What feelings have been the most common in my own grief experience?
- Introduction of Coping Skills/Mindfulness Activities
(Chapter Assignment given for the following week)
Week 3: Discuss Chapters Read (May 3)
- What did participants think of chapters read?
- How are characters coping with grief? Have participants found those coping skills helpful or not?
- What questions would you ask the character(s) if you could?
- Narrative therapy activity – writing a letter to you loved one
(Chapter Assignment given for the following week)
Week 4: Final Session (May 10)
- What did participants think of chapters read? The book as a whole?
- How did characters change throughout the book? How have participants changed during group?
- Wrap up/end with discussion of Grief Rituals
- Create Memory Box
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will this Teen Group Therapy be held?
A: This group will be held virtually. You will receive a secure link to join.
Q: What day and time is the Teen Therapy Group?
A: Group sessions will take place Wednesdays at 7pm from April 19, 2023 through May 10, 2023. Each group session is 1 hour.
Q: How many weeks is Teen Group Therapy?
A: This Teen Therapy Group is 4 weeks long.
Q: Can anyone join the Teen Group Therapy?
A: Yes, this group is open to any teen aged 13-17. You do not have to be in therapy at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh to participate.
Q: Is there an age range for this Teen Therapy Group?
A: Yes, group members must be 13-17 years old.
Q: How many people will be in the Teen Group Therapy?
A: It is limited to 8 participants.
Q: Does this Teen Group Therapy accept health insurance?
A: Yes, we accept UPMC, Highmark, Cigna, Evernorth
Q: What is the self-pay fee for Teen Group Therapy?
A: If you elect to self pay, the fee is $20 per session.
Q: Do participants have to sign up for all sessions or can they drop in on topics that interest them?
A: Participants must attend all sessions since each class builds on the previous one.
Q: Who is leading this Teen Therapy Group?
A: The group will be led by Kathryn Auen, LPC and Rayeann Milne, Counseling Intern.
Q: How do I sign up for Teen Group Therapy?
A: Please email info@counselingwellnesspgh.com or call 412-322-2129 ext. 3 if you are interested in joining the group.
Teen Group Therapy Counselors
Group Therapy for Teenagers: Teen Art Group
This in-person Group Therapy for Teenagers occurs every Monday from 6pm – 7pm starting September 26, 2022 for 8 weeks. The final session is November 14, 2022. It takes place at our Monroeville location.
Teen Group Therapy: Teen Art Group will help teens learn Social Skills, Depression Coping Skills, Anxiety Strategies, and How to Handle Anger all within the context of making art.
Group therapy is a unique opportunity to gain skills and new behaviors with the benefit of an expert-led experience while being accelerated through the lens of social learning that can only come from peer support. Group formats have been used to successfully manage a variety of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Teen Group Therapy Weekly Topic Outline
Sept 26: Intro to Group: Ice Breaker Activity, Review Rules and expectations
Oct 3: Social Skills: Healthy relationships and make bracelets for friends
Oct 10: Depression Coping Skills: Jeopardy game
Oct 17: Anxiety Strategies/Discuss Group Topic choice
Oct 24: *Group topic Choice and craft*
Oct 31: Halloween!-Mask Craft and discuss different “sides” of self
Nov 7: Anger: role plays
Nov 14: Closure *Apples to Apples type game to review Group Skills *discuss future groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will this Teen Group Therapy be held?
A: This group will be held at our Monroeville location located at 2539 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville PA 15146.
Q: What day and time is the Teen Therapy Group?
A: Group sessions will take place Mondays at 6pm from September 26, 2022 through November 14, 2022. Each group session is 1 hour.
Q: How many weeks is Teen Group Therapy?
A: This Teen Therapy Group is 8 weeks long.
Q: Can anyone join the Teen Group Therapy?
A: Yes, this group is open to any teen aged 14-18. You do not have to be in therapy at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh to participate.
Q: Is there an age range for this Teen Therapy Group?
A: Yes, group members must be 14-18 years old.
Q: How many people will be in the Teen Group Therapy?
A: It is limited to 15 participants.
Q: Does this Teen Group Therapy accept health insurance?
A: Yes, we accept UPMC, Highmark, Cigna, Evernorth
Q: What is the self-pay fee for Teen Group Therapy?
A: If you elect to self pay, the fee is $40 per session.
Q: Do participants have to sign up for all sessions or can they drop in on topics that interest them?
A: Participants can drop in on individual sessions.
Q: Who is leading this Teen Therapy Group?
A: The group will be led by Rachel Taylor, LPC, who has worked in the Mental Health field for over 17 years. Rachel has created and facilitated groups for adolescents and adults for the past 8 years. Group Therapy for Teenagers: Fall Teen Art Group was born in 2014 when teens requested a trusting place to talk while making crafts. The tradition continues each year with new topics and activities.
Q: How do I sign up for Teen Group Therapy?
A: Please email info@counselingwellnesspgh.com or call 412-322-2129 ext. 3 if you are interested in joining the group.
Teen Group Therapy Lead Counselor
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