It Hurts When You Don't Know How to Help

Having a teen that gives you the silent treatment hurts. They may be struggling and they would never say a word.

Some teens are shy. Most have difficulty talking about what is going on with them.  

Not knowing what is going on with your child is stressful. Getting them to talk may almost seem impossible.

How We Get Your Teen Talking

In our group therapy, we use a game called Dungeons and Dragons. This is a role playing game, meaning they assume the role of a character. This is like playing a part in a play but with no lines given.

Your teen, along with other teens in the group, will learn social skills through role playing. This will help excel at communicating different ways.

The therapist will guide the role play and help your teen try out and practice new social skills.  They will learn how to be more confident conversationally. 

Benefits

• Trained therapist running the game and group
• Fun environment to learn critical social and problem solving skills
• Similar aged people in group
• 6-8 person group to create good mix of social element and individual focus
• No prior knowledge needed to play the game or be in the group

Format and Costs

The full session will be a total of 3 hours. This will be about 1-2 hours of game play and 1-2 hour of therapeutic group to talk and process before and after the game. (Parents will not be required to be at the office and wait during the session). 

Sessions will be held either weekly.

The cost will be $400 per month for the weekly group  The fee is paid on a per month basis.

The cost will also cover the materials for the game that will be used. This group can also be joined virtually but in person is preferred!

The group takes place on Tuesdays 1-4pm for the young adult group and 5-8pm for the teen group. 

An interview process will be used to form groups and to assess appropriateness. This process will consist of a meeting between the therapist, participant, and parents if the participant is an adolescent. 

For any other questions, please contact us!

Group Age Ranges: Teen Group 13-17, Young Adult Group 18-24. More age ranged groups will be added as needed!

While playing the game, many different situations will be encountered. The emotional context that builds as the group participants become more able to step into their characters shoes, will be the primary tool used in the therapeutic group. 

The therapist will craft specific encounters to help the group members manage frustration, surprises, betrayal, loss, money management, problem solving, cooperation, and anxiety. 

In order to get group members to the place where they can more immerse themselves in their character, and thus make the maximum benefit from this type of work, it takes multiple sessions. 

If this is something you are considering for yourself or your teen, please make sure you are willing to commit to at least 8 sessions (two months).

Giving that time to commit will allow that emotional immersion to occur and create a greater likelihood in seeing tangible results. 

Role playing normally takes time for some to be comfortable with but that comfort level does come over time! With that comfort level will come a more social teen.