Group therapy gives therapists an opportunity to see how kids relate to one another in a group setting. For kids struggling with social anxiety, poor social skills, or inattentiveness, the group setting offers the therapist a chance to help kids work through their obstacles with other kids as they occur. Group therapy can also be a source of support for kids dealing with grief, bullying, anxiety and depression, and other mental health issues.

Group therapy is effective. One meta-analysis of 56 studies found that kids or adolescents treated with group therapy were better off at the end of treatment than 73% of those who were not.

When a child struggles with social interaction skills, parents often seek help to improve the child’s ability to communicate and connect with others. In individual therapy, the child will work on specific goals to address these skills. An example might be making one new friend by initiating a conversation and using active listening skills. This helps the child practice a specific skill set. In a group setting, however, the child has the opportunity to work on these skills with other kids in the room. If a child struggles with social interaction skills because of anxiety, the child can work on initiating a conversation with another child in the safety of the group.