When a person of any age is struggling with their mental health, they can feel tempted to withdraw and isolate themselves from others. Everyone struggles with their mental health every now and then. We may find it difficult to lean on others for support because we don’t want to feel like a burden or be thought of differently. But we all deserve to feel supported and heard.

Teenagers are at a stage in their life where they’re trying to figure out who they are. This chapter of self-discovery often includes comparison to others and trying to “fit in.” If no one around them appears to be struggling with their own mental health, or talking openly about it, they may feel like an outsider. The truth is that receiving support and comfort from one’s peers can make a significant difference in their own mental health. That’s why group activities are a core aspect of effective mental health treatment for teens.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about group activities that can be helpful for a teen’s mental health treatment. 

6 common group therapy activities for teens during mental health treatment

Group therapy for teens often goes beyond going in a circle and each person discussing their current mental health struggles. While opening up in a safe space plays an essential role in understanding their mental, psychological and behavioral patterns, there are also plenty of activities that are often incorporated into group therapy.

The goal of group therapy activities for teens is to increase engagement during treatment, strengthen interpersonal skills and encourage one another to continue on their mental health journey. 

Here are six group activities that are often helpful during teen mental health treatment:

• Music therapy — Research has shown how music can have a positive effect on your mental health. It can boost your mood and encourage relaxation to ease anxiety. And it can also be a way for your teen to express their emotions while connecting with others. Music therapy for teens can involve working together to make music, or playing a song that they all know. They can also discuss the song’s meaning and how it made them feel. Music therapy is a regulated practice typically conducted by credentialed professionals who use evidence-based music interventions to address therapeutic goals.
• Collaborative drawing — Similar to music, drawing can help a person express themselves while soothing negative emotions. Collaborative drawing refers to multiple people working together to create one piece of art. The goal is to increase cooperation and improve communication skills. It can help teens learn how to lean on one another and guide each other toward a common goal, including improved mental health.
• Gratitude mapping — When a teen is struggling with their mental health, it can be easy to focus only on their negative thoughts. But it’s important to find gratitude for the bright spots in their life. In this activity, the facilitator provides each teen with a topic, such as a place or experience. Then the teen will write down and share parts of that topic they are grateful for. An example topic could be a park, and they could be grateful for flowers. 
• Human knot — If the teens are comfortable with physical contact, the human knot is a challenge that improves problem-solving, which is a vital skill for alleviating negative thoughts and emotions. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment. While standing shoulder to shoulder in a circle, everyone grabs the hands of two separate people across the circle. The goal is to untangle the “human knot” without releasing hands.
• Two truths and a lie — This is a common party game among teens. It can also be used as a way to discuss themselves and their feelings. Every teen writes down three facts about themselves, one of which isn’t true. Then, the rest of the group guesses which fact is the lie. The goal of this activity is for the participants to get to know one another and build a supportive bond, while the facts can bring up productive discussion questions. Facilitators or therapists can guide the activity to ensure that it’s handled in a supportive and psychologically safe way.
• Feelings walk — When a teen is struggling with their mental health, it can manifest in a physical way, and that can be shown through a feelings walk activity. The facilitator states a specific feeling, such as defeat or content. Each teen will walk in a way that represents that feeling. It helps them become more aware of how their body movements react to certain emotions, increasing their self-awareness as well as empathy for others.

Lightfully Teen treatment involves engaging group activities for mental health wellness

It’s important for teens to stay actively engaged throughout their mental health treatment to make sure they get the most out of it. Although talking one-on-one with an adult can be effective, activities with other teens who are going through similar challenges can help them address their mental health distress in unique ways while building a support system.

At Lightfully, we incorporate group activities into every level of care to help teens along their mental health journey. These activities consist of evidence-based and data-driven care provided by deeply compassionate experts. They cover everything from skills training to movement-based therapies and mindfulness activities. The group activities are incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan alongside other forms of treatment, such as individual therapy and medication.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to get help for your teen’s mental health, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.