1.) Peer feedback can be more powerful than feedback from a parent or therapist. In the group, feedback is offered from a variety of role models. This allows for more ideas, and in turn leads to greater problem solving skills.
2.) To teach social skills in individual therapy, the therapist must “pretend” to be a child to role-play with the client. In the group format, children have the ability to role-play with real-life peers. The group format is far more effective.
3.) I often view the group as a “microcosm” for real-world experiences. That is, if a child can learn and implement a skill in the office, the skill is likely to be transferred to real-world experiences.
4.) When teaching social skills individually, the therapist must solely rely on the observations of parents and teachers. In group therapy, the therapist not only has that valuable information, but is able to witness the child first-hand with peer interactions. This gives the therapist a significant advantage in the assessment and treatment process.
5.) Group treatment allows for immediate interventions in a social situation. In individual sessions, the therapist teaches the skill, the child goes out and attempts to implement the skill, and then the child comes back to report how he/she did. In the group modality, the therapist makes interventions in-the-moment and can assess with his/her own eyes how the child responds. Additional feedback and skill building can then be done – again, in the moment.
6.) My most basic goal for any group member is that group is a safe place to come and interact with peers. Unfortunately, at school and in the community many children do not feel safe and secure around their peers. At the very least, group can be a safe haven to develop new, positive peer relationships.
7.) One of the most important aspects in life for children and teens (and even adults) is acceptance. Group is a wonderful opportunity to gain acceptance from peers.