Beachside Teen Treatment Center
Trusted, Accredited Teen Treatment
Group Therapy
Connect your teen with a supportive group of peers and skilled clinicians in Los Angeles—contact Beachside Teen today to explore group therapy options that foster growth and resilience.
Parenting a teenager can feel like navigating uncharted waters. Adolescence is a period of growth, self-discovery, and change, but it can also come with challenges such as mood swings, academic pressure, social struggles, and behavioral concerns. For teens facing mental or behavioral health conditions, the journey can be even more overwhelming. At Beachside Teen Treatment Center in Malibu, we provide evidence-based therapies to help young people heal and grow—including group therapy for teens and adolescents in Los Angeles. Group therapy gives teenagers a safe, supportive environment to share, connect, and learn from peers who are experiencing similar struggles.
Learn more about our teen treatment programs or call us now at 888-254-0916.
What is Group Therapy?
At Beachside, group therapy sessions are carefully structured and led by trained clinicians who specialize in working with adolescents. Each group is composed of teens close in age and with shared therapeutic needs, which ensures that discussions are relevant and relatable.
During a typical session, the therapist may introduce a theme—such as stress management, healthy relationships, or coping strategies—and guide teens through activities, open dialogue, and reflective exercises. This process not only promotes emotional awareness but also builds confidence and resilience.
Group therapy works best when adolescents feel safe, respected, and understood, which is why Beachside emphasizes confidentiality, empathy, and trust in every group setting.
How Teen Group Therapy Works
When your teen enters our inpatient program, they will be surrounded by a team of experienced and compassionate professionals dedicated to their care. The process begins with a thorough assessment to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to their specific challenges and goals.
During their stay, your teen will:
- Participate in individual therapy sessions with licensed clinicians to explore underlying issues and build coping skills.
- Attend group therapy sessions to foster connection and learn from peers facing similar challenges.
- Engage in family therapy to improve communication and strengthen relationships within the family unit.
- Benefit from structured daily routines that promote stability and healthy habits.
- Enjoy therapeutic recreational activities such as art therapy, yoga, and outdoor adventures.
- Receive educational support to ensure they stay on track academically while focusing on their well-being.
Tour our inpatient programs near Los Angeles.
Types of Teen Group Therapy Modalities
Group therapy can take many forms, and at Beachside, we incorporate a variety of modalities to meet the unique needs of each adolescent. Each group is tailored to support growth and healing in a way that feels both safe and engaging for teens.
Some of the most common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Groups – Helps teens identify negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier coping strategies.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Groups for Teens – Focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and building healthier relationships.
- Psychodynamic Group Therapy – Explores underlying emotions and patterns of behavior rooted in past experiences.
- Interpersonal Therapy Groups – Supports teens in improving communication, managing conflict, and developing healthier peer and family relationships.
- Expressive Therapy Groups – Uses creative outlets such as art, music, or writing to process emotions and encourage self-expression.
- Equine and Outdoor Group Therapy – Provides hands-on, experiential activities that promote trust, teamwork, and confidence.
What Parents Can Expect in Group Therapy
Parents often wonder what role they play in their child’s group therapy journey. At Beachside, we believe that family involvement is crucial. While group sessions are reserved for teens, parents receive ongoing updates and opportunities to participate in family therapy and educational workshops.
Parents can expect their child to:
- Gain new skills for managing emotions.
- Build healthier peer relationships.
- Develop problem-solving and communication strategies.
- Grow in self-awareness and self-confidence.
Group Therapy Dynamics for Teens in Los Angeles
Living in Los Angeles comes with unique pressures for teenagers. Academic competition, social media influence, and cultural expectations can contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress. Group therapy for teens and adolescents in Los Angeles offers a local, supportive space where teens can connect with peers who understand these challenges firsthand.
In group therapy, teens quickly learn that they are not alone in facing issues like school stress, family conflict, or social anxiety. This sense of shared experience reduces isolation and fosters hope. It also provides an opportunity for teens to practice real-life communication skills in a safe environment before applying them in their day-to-day lives.
What Happens in Teen Group Therapy
While each group therapy session has its own unique flow depending on the needs of the teens present, most follow a general structure that gives participants a sense of safety, routine, and purpose. This structure is designed to help adolescents learn, practice, and internalize new skills in an environment that feels supportive, interactive, and relatable.
Check-In
Sessions typically begin with a check-in, where each teen is invited to share how they are feeling and any challenges they are currently facing. This not only helps the therapist gauge the group’s overall mood, but it also encourages teens to practice naming and expressing their emotions—something that can feel intimidating outside of a therapeutic space. Hearing that peers are going through similar struggles often reduces feelings of isolation and helps adolescents feel understood.
Discussion or Activity
After check-ins, the therapist introduces a theme or structured activity. Topics may include managing stress, navigating social media pressures, handling conflict with parents, or learning to set healthy boundaries. Activities can range from guided conversations and interactive worksheets to art-based projects or mindfulness exercises. By using different approaches, therapists keep sessions engaging and ensure that learning appeals to a variety of personalities and learning styles.
Skill Practice
The heart of group therapy lies in practicing new coping skills in real time. Teens may role-play scenarios, such as refusing peer pressure or resolving a conflict with a friend, while others in the group provide feedback and encouragement. This active practice builds confidence, strengthens communication skills, and helps adolescents apply therapeutic tools in ways that feel natural and attainable.
Reflection and Feedback
To close, group members are invited to reflect on what they learned and share takeaways from the session. Teens often offer one another encouragement, which fosters a sense of accountability and belonging. This reflection stage reinforces skills, allows participants to celebrate progress, and helps them recognize that growth often happens in small, meaningful steps.
Groups as an Important Aspect of Our Teen Programs
At Beachside, group therapy is an integral part of all levels of care. Regardless of where a teen enters treatment, they will participate in group sessions designed to meet them where they are in recovery. Group therapy is woven throughout these programs to ensure continuity, consistency, and long-term growth.
- Residential Treatment: Teens live onsite and participate in daily group sessions that build structure and community.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A step down from residential, PHP includes several group therapy sessions each week while still providing a high level of support.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Teens attend group therapy multiple times per week while beginning to transition back to school and home life.
- Therapeutic Education Program: Academic support is integrated with group therapy, ensuring teens can grow emotionally while keeping up with schoolwork.
- Aftercare: Alumni groups and ongoing support groups help maintain progress and prevent relapse after treatment.
Mark Paladini
Director of Education
Last Updated on March 12, 2025
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At Beachside, our programming meets the highest standards for quality adolescent healthcare.
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Benefits of Adolescent Group Therapy
The benefits of group therapy extend far beyond the treatment setting. For many teens, these groups are where they first learn to trust others, open up emotionally, and build genuine connections. When combined with individual and family therapy, group therapy for teens and adolescents in Los Angeles offers a powerful path toward healing and growth.
Key benefits include:
- Reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Improved communication and social skills.
- Increased self-confidence and self-esteem.
- A stronger ability to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Opportunities to give and receive feedback from peers.
- A supportive community that fosters accountability and resilience.
Take the First Step Today
If your teenager is struggling, you don’t have to face this journey alone. At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, our team provides compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of adolescents. Group therapy is just one of the many ways we help teens build strength, resilience, and connection.
Reach out today to learn more about our programs and how we can support your family. Together, we can help your teen heal, grow, and thrive.
Meet Our Trusted, Compassionate Care Team
When left untreated, adolescent behavioral health issues can lead to lifelong struggles with mental health and addiction. We’re here to help your child discover healthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress and mental health symptoms. Our team is a diverse group of professionals who are here to provide for your child’s needs throughout their treatment program.
Eli Wayne
Dr. Michael Louie
Dr. Shilpa Jindani
Physician
Mark Paladini
Eli Wayne
Dr. Michael Louie
Dr. Shilpa Jindani
Mark Paladini
Begin Adolescent Inpatient Treatment in Los Angeles Today
At Beachside Teen Treatment Center, we understand how challenging it can be to see your teen struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. Our inpatient treatment program offers a serene, supportive environment where your teenager can begin their journey to healing and recovery.
Call us now at 888-254-0916 or verify your insurance.
Together, we can help your teen build a brighter future..
Inpatient Treatment FAQs
Residential treatment is typically recommended when a teen is struggling with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues that are not improving through outpatient care. Signs your teen may benefit from residential treatment include severe anxiety or depression, self-harm, substance use, intense mood swings, academic decline, or risky behaviors. A professional assessment can help determine the best level of care for your child.
Teens in residential treatment follow a structured daily schedule that includes individual therapy, group therapy, academic support, recreational activities, and healthy routines like regular meals and sleep. The program is designed to provide consistency, emotional safety, and skill-building opportunities to help teens regulate emotions, develop coping skills, and improve overall mental health.
Yes—family involvement is a crucial part of the healing process. Most programs include regular family therapy sessions, parent workshops, and scheduled calls or visits. Treatment teams work closely with families to help rebuild communication, set healthy boundaries, and ensure long-term success after discharge.
At Beachside Teen, we have an accredited therapeutic education program with licensed teachers who work with your teen. The goal is to help students maintain academic progress, complete necessary schoolwork, and transition smoothly back to their home school after treatment.