Tweens & Teens
Level 4 Group
Next Group:
Anxiety Teen Groups coming up:
Saturdays 4pm-5:30pm - meets 2x/month
11/09/2024, 11/23/2024, 12/07/2024, 12/21/2024, 1/04/2024, 1/18/2024
Wednesdays 5pm-6:30pm - meets 2x/month
12/04/2024, 12/18/2024, 01/08/2024, 01/22/2024, 02/05/2024, 02/19/2024
Wednesdays 5pm-6:30pm - meets every other week
03/05/2024, 03/19/2024, 04/02/2024, 04/16/2024, 04/30/2024, 05/14/2024
Why should I prioritize Group Therapy?
Life is packed—between school, activities, and family time, finding space for one more thing feels impossible. But what if that one thing could make a real difference? Group therapy isn’t just another item on the schedule; it’s a powerful tool that helps teens build resilience, find connection, and thrive in ways that impact everything else they do.
Generations Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Alpha (born between 2013 and 2025) face challenges unlike those of previous generations. Rapid technological advancements and the constant connectivity of smartphones have reshaped teen life, widening the gap between today’s teens and their parents’ experiences. Studies show that anxiety disorders among teens rose significantly between 2007 and 2012, paralleling the surge in smartphone accessibility. If your pre-teen or teen seems more anxious, worried, or insecure than you remember feeling at their age, you're not alone—1 in 3 teens now experience an anxiety disorder. Group therapy is powerful in three key ways, offering a supportive space where teens can connect, grow, and navigate these unique pressures together.
Three ways ATSA’s Teen Group Therapy for Anxiety is powerful:
- The ATSA Therapist facilitates challenge and the collective strength fostered by shared vulnerability. Teens often adopt a 'fake it till you make it' approach, hiding their true feelings or opinions to fit in. This need to mask vulnerability can create distance between their inner experiences and how they present themselves to others. In group therapy, however, the Group Therapist opens up discussions around these pressures, setting a new standard: it’s okay, accepted, and even encouraged to share these stressors. This shift fosters a culture where authenticity replaces the need to 'mask up,' helping teens realize that they don’t have to carry the weight of these pressures alone.
- The ATSA Therapist’s role and the power of authenticity helps teens feel more connected and supported. Shared vulnerability creates a safe space where teens can explore new perspectives and build confidence in expressing themselves. When the Group Therapist normalizes stepping out of one's comfort zone, it affirms the courage required to speak up, especially for Generations Z and Alpha—the most anxious generations on record, with 1 in 3 teens experiencing an anxiety disorder. For many in this group, the fear of judgment can be paralyzing, so seeing others take risks in sharing openly helps them feel less alone and more empowered to engage. This shared courage becomes a foundation for growth, as each contribution deepens trust and builds resilience within the group.
- The ATSA Therapist encourages a safe space for growth and learning through supportive experimentation. Group therapy offers pre-teens and teens a chance to experience something different—curiosity instead of criticism, validation instead of dismissal, and appreciation rather than judgment. In this space, they can speak up and take risks without the high stakes that often exist in everyday life. Here, mistakes are part of the process, with room for trial and error, allowing them to explore their thoughts and emotions without fear of devastating consequences. This unique environment becomes a powerful foundation for building confidence and learning through experience.
Group Therapy for Tweens & Teens provides a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, DNA-V), and exposure-based therapy to teens and tweens coping with anxiety. Therapeutic goals include increasing knowledge about the relationship between brain and behavior, increasing mindfulness of how one reacts to stress/anxiety, increasing awareness of self and others, and learning how to identify and apply adaptive coping instead of anxious avoidance.
Learning alongside other tweens and teens with similar experiences helps your child realize they’re not alone. Being part of a group is essential for social development, self-confidence, and identity formation during these formative years. For those with selective mutism, social anxiety, or other anxieties, socializing with peers can feel daunting—especially in a culture that often misinterprets quieter personalities. Group therapy offers a supportive space where they can gain a better understanding of anxiety and develop effective coping skills, empowering them to face the challenges of adolescence with confidence.
The group is considered Level 4 in our group therapy hierarchy at ATSA. Click here to learn more about our group therapies and levels.
Prerequisites
Readiness for this group can be demonstrated by the following:
In the Past 6 months, any of the following:
- Previous experience in group therapy (e.g., Social Thinking Group, etc.) is an indicator of readiness for this advanced group.
- Has participated in Adventure Camp or Winter Adventure (1:1 Camper to Counselor ratio)
- Has participated in level 5 Social Exposures Group (1:5 ratio) at ATSA
- Has seen or is seeing a therapist (at ATSA or outside ATSA)
If you are not sure if your teen meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's therapist. If it has been over six months since your teen has been in treatment at ATSA, your teen may need a 1:1 session with the group therapist to become reacquainted before starting group therapy. If your child has never received treatment at ATSA, and you think this group is ideal for your teen's needs, please contact ATSA at 630-230-6505 to set up an intake evaluation or click here to request an appointment.
What to Expect
6-8 Group Sessions
In response to parents' and teens' busy schedules, as well as some traveling from longer distances, we have updated our format to provide more flexibility. Some groups run 2x/month to accommodate schedules better. Some programs are six sessions long, some are eight. As we create teen programs, we will list them on this page. Check back often to see what groups are coming up!
Fees
Group sessions run either 1.5 hr or 2 hours, depending on the programing. Click to register and see associated fees. If you cancel before the first session, you will be refunded for the full fee amount less a $25 administrative fee.
If your teen attends the first session and it is determined that they need more therapy before participating in this level group, you will be refunded for the rest of the group sessions, and no administrative fee will be applied. Insurance CPT code is 90853. Statements will be provided to those who wish to submit to their insurance for reimbursement.
When
GROUP SESSIONS DATES
Saturdays 4pm-5:30pm - meets 2x/month: 11/09/2024, 11/23/2024, 12/07/2024, 12/21/2024, 1/04/2024, 1/18/2024
Wednesdays 5pm-6:30pm - meets 2x/month: 12/04/2024, 12/18/2024, 01/08/2024, 01/22/2024, 02/05/2024, 02/19/2024
Wednesdays 5pm-6:30pm - meets every other week: 03/05/2024, 03/19/2024, 04/02/2024, 04/16/2024, 04/30/2024, 05/14/2024
If you have any problems with registration, contact info@advancedtherapeuticsolutions.org or call 630-230-6505.
Looking for our Intensive Teen Anxiety Group?
Where
ATSA Group Room, 600 W 22nd Street, Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL
Contact
info@advancedtherapeuticsolutions.org