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GROUP THERAPY FOR TEENAGERS:  How it's Used to Promote Adolescents' Mental Health~ Clinical and Empirical Evidence

Shechtman, Zipora. MDPI, Department of Counseling and Human Development, Haifa University, Aba Hushi 199, Haifa 3498838, Israel, Oct 2025

Why Group Support Can Be a Game-Changer for Teens

Being a teenager today isn’t easy. Between school pressure, family stress, friendships, social

media, and everything happening in the world, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, lonely,

or even angry at times. The good news? Research shows there’s a powerful way teens can feel

better—and it doesn’t mean facing everything alone.

What Is Group Therapy (and Why It’s Not as Awkward as It Sounds)?

Group therapy is when a small group of teens meets regularly with a trained adult (like a

counselor) to talk, share experiences, and learn skills together. It’s not about being put on the

spot or forced to talk—it’s about having a safe space where people get it.

Studies show that group support fits teens especially well, because adolescence is all about

connection, belonging, and figuring out who you are. In fact, teens in groups often improved just

as much as teens in one-on-one therapy—and sometimes even more.

Why Being in a Group Helps

● Research with thousands of teens found that groups can help in big ways:

● Less stress and anxiety

● Better mood and confidence

● Improved self-control and focus

● Fewer conflicts with parents

● Better behavior at school

● Feeling less alone

Groups at School Really Work

Some groups happen right at school, which makes them easier to join and less stressful. For

example:

In classes that included emotional discussions (like talking about feelings in stories or poems),

students became kinder, calmer, and more motivated—and still did well academically.

Teens who joined small counseling groups learned better ways to handle arguments with parents

and saw real improvements at home.

Groups helped teens dealing with anger, aggression, ADHD, or trauma feel safer, calmer, and

more in control. It’s not just talking, many groups use creative activities to make sharing easier

and less intimidating. Activities include, art and drawing, music or videos, photos or story cards,

movies or short clips. These activities help teens express feelings even when it’s hard to find the

right words.

The Biggest Healing Factor: Feeling Connected

One of the strongest findings from the research is this: feeling accepted and supported by others

makes a huge difference. Teens who felt closer to their group and counselor showed the biggest

improvements in anxiety and stress.

Simply knowing that others struggle too—and that you’re not “weird” or “broken”—can be

incredibly powerful.

What If You Don’t Want to Join a Group?

That’s okay too. Sometimes parents join groups to learn how to better support their teens, and

research shows this can still help teens feel more confident and less stressed—even without

attending themselves.

The Takeaway

You don’t have to go through tough stuff on your own. Whether it’s stress, family conflict, anger,

or just feeling lost, connecting with others can help you grow stronger.

Group support isn’t about “fixing” you—it’s about understanding yourself, learning new skills,

and realizing you belong. If your school or community offers groups, it might be worth checking

out. You might be surprised by how much it helps.

Read more here! 

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7051/5/4/57