People are social by nature. From childhood through adulthood, our relationships shape our emotional world, our capacity for empathy, and how we see ourselves. Healthy relationships don’t just support emotional growth — they also boost our physical health, offering protection against illness and improving overall well-being.
Children start learning social skills right at home—their very first community. These early interactions form the basis for future relationships. As they grow, friendships with peers become vital, shaping their self-esteem and social development. Skills like making eye contact, taking turns, understanding different perspectives, and showing empathy are all built through these peer relationships.
However, kids and teens dealing with ADHD, ASD, or other challenges often find making and keeping friends harder. Impulsivity, distractibility, and occasional aggressive behaviors can lead to misunderstandings and social rejection, limiting real opportunities to grow those skills.
That’s where group therapy can help. Group therapy closely resembles everyday environments—family gatherings, schools, sports teams, and clubs—where kids naturally practice social skills. Within these safe and supportive group sessions, children and adolescents can try out new ways of interacting, get immediate feedback, and learn from peers facing similar challenges. Group facilitators guide these interactions compassionately, modeling empathy and teaching participants how to recognize and adjust behaviors that might get in the way of positive relationships.
In a typical session, kids might practice recognizing emotions, reading nonverbal cues, and navigating tricky social situations. This is often done through role-playing, games, and open discussions. These experiences build their ability to handle real-world interactions and grow their self-awareness and empathy.
Research consistently shows that group therapy reduces disruptive behaviors, improves anger management, and promotes positive social interactions. Perhaps most importantly, children and teens learn they’re not alone, building a sense of belonging and mutual support.
We also offer groups for parents. Here, parents learn strategies to support and reinforce the skills their children gain, exchange insights with others facing similar situations, and get guidance from experienced facilitators.
I’m thrilled to announce two new groups starting this fall: one specially designed for young adults, and another focused on middle-school-age girls. To learn more about our current group offerings, please visit: https://drvaldes.net/current-groups/.
Group therapy gives kids and teens real tools to connect, manage their emotions, and build friendships that last.