Group Therapy for Teenagers
Teen Group Therapy
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
Previous Group Therapy
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
Blogs Written by the Teen Group Therapy Lead Counselor
How to Help a Teenager With Anxiety
Teenagers often have worries and intrusive thoughts that can lead to ongoing anxiety. One of the most common types is Generalized Anxiety. The DSM-V explains Generalized Anxiety Disorder as, “excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities such as work or school performance.” Anxiety can have physical and...
Learn More
Therapist Recommendations For Loving Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder
There has been a lot of recent media attention surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder—Pete Davidson has been open about his diagnosis and more recently Amber Heard was evaluated to have Borderline Personality Disorder by a forensic psychologist who was hired by Johnny Depp’s legal team. I am hoping that I can show you the positive side of Borderline Personality Disorder and offer...
Learn More