Groups

Group Therapy for Children

Some children need therapy in a group of peers in order to make progress. They may have developed behavior patterns that make it hard for their peers to get to know them or to like them. Because of developmental, learning, or other problems, they may not have developed positive social skills so that they can make and sustain age-appropriate friendships. Additionally, some children particularly need to learn how to have a close friendship, not just how to get along in a group.

I do group therapy with groups as small as two children, as well as with larger groups. These groups are not didactic, but provide children an opportunity to learn about social skills through relationships with the other children and the therapist. When the group is larger, or the needs of the children require, I use a co-therapist.

The agenda of a group session will depend on the type of children in the group and the goals of the group. I plan activities for a group which will address the current level of social skills and group cohesion. Sometimes the initial goal is simply that each child have fun in the presence of other children. In the beginning sessions, I usually need to be very active. Over time I expect the children to take more responsibility for self-expression, communication, problem-solving, and organizing group activities.

Parent involvement with the groups usually takes the form of parent conferences on a monthly or as needed basis. I also ask parents for weekly news about the child's life at home and school via a written form. This helps me understand the child's behavior in the group, and respond to parental questions.

Groups can be harder to arrange because of the importance of selecting a compatible group, and the difficulty of merging several families’ schedules. Thus, it may take some time to arrange a group after the need has been identified. Because of families’ schedules, children’s groups usually start in the Fall and end in the early Summer. Sometimes it is possible to organize a Summer group.