Our LGBTQ+ Teen Group is our most popular support group for a reason. Most teens could use extra support from their peers to relate to and see that they are not alone in their struggles. Teens who identify as LGBTQ+ have a higher level of mental health issues and are in need of more support, acceptance, and guidance. When someone is questioning their identity, it is typically hard to know what to do about the possibility of coming out to others or how to process what they are feeling. Being in a group can help teens not only get support from likeminded peers, but it can also help them explore themselves more and find out who they truly are. A LGBTQ+ specific group provides the safe space needed to build a teen’s confidence.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with psychotherapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, and couples with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, and life transitions. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing telehealth (video/phone) sessions to residents of New Jersey and New York.
Learn Coping Skills
One of the best benefits of attending therapy sessions is to gain coping skills. In a support group, you will also gain new coping skills. It is common that LGBTQ+ teens experience stress and anxiety. In psychotherapy support groups, it is run by a licensed mental health therapist. The therapist is there to facilitate the group conversation and will provide additional coping skills to decrease stress and anxiety as well.
Develop healthy relationships
This is a big benefit of joining group therapy for anyone. In our everyday lives, we interact with others and build all different types of relationships. Some relationship examples include a parent and child relationship, a romantic relationship, a teacher and student relationship, etc. All of these relationships will build on each other in your life and some may not be healthy or they may not end in a healthy way. What group therapy brings to the table is how to develop healthy relationships.
In our LGBTQ+ group, teens will learn how to support one another by listening and reflecting as well as being open themselves so that they are able to receive support from others. The group also has a clear ending point (12 sessions) so there is a nice trajectory of the teens getting to one another, building strong relationships and bonds, and ending the group all together in a positive way. The therapist who is facilitating the group is trained in how to model these positive relationship skills. Attending a support group like this will help teens have more healthy relationships in their life.
Increase confidence and self-esteem
Teens typically struggle with their confidence and self-esteem as they are trying to find their identity and where they fit in within this world. A LGBTQ+ teen usually has an even harder time with this and it may lead them to feel alone or like they’re not good enough. Our LGBTQ+ teen support group is here to lift up teens so that they can feel confident in their own skin. By providing them the freedom and safety to be their whole selves, their self-esteem will increase along with it.
Experience a safe space
While it is the year 2021, people have become more accepting and educated about people who identify as LGBTQ+, but some people are still not accepting or comfortable around people who are “different” from them. Cultural and religious beliefs are some common aspects that can cause someone to not be accepting of someone who is LGBTQ+. High schools have become more accepting and welcoming to teens who identify as LGBTQ+, but not all are. Teens who identify as LGBTQ+ will most likely pick up on it if anyone around them may not be accepting of who they are. If it does not feel like a safe space then a teen will feel like they need to hide who they are which never feels good. Joining this group, teens know that automatically it is a safe space for them to openly be whoever it is that they truly are. The biggest piece of this group is that everyone is accepting of each other and will respect their pronouns, preferred name, etc. without any judgement.
This LGBTQ+ group will also be a space for teens who are questioning who they are. This is not just a group for teens who know that they are gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. but it is for teens who are trying to figure out what they do identify as and how to verbalize that. There is never any pressure to come out to the group unless the teen wants to. The group is a space to support one another and along with that it will provide a safe space for anyone who does want to discuss anything along the lines of their gender and/or sexual identity. Other topics will definitely arise in the group as well such as relationships with others, school stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
Feel empowered!
In our LGBTQ+ teen group, we want our teens to feel empowered through social support. This group will validate that who they are is exactly who they are meant to be in this world. They may feel empowered to identify more like themselves on the outside or by coming out to others. They may also feel empowered to provide support for other teens who identity as LGBTQ+. There are a lot of benefits of any teen to feel good about who they are and to understand themselves more.
We have an upcoming LGBTQ+ teen virtual support group starting Thursday, January 21. Our group is being led by our psychotherapist Lauren Mandelbaum, LPC, NCC, CCMHC who led our most popular group which was also for LGBTQ+ teens last summer. Since the group was so popular and successful, we will be running another LGBTQ+ ten group that will be 12 sessions. Due to COVID-19, the group will be virtual on Google Meet for business and any teen ages 13-16 who is a NJ resident can join!
The group is limited to 8 members so that everyone will have a chance to share and bond. If you are interested in more information or you want to register head to: https://www.anchortherapy.org/groups
Courtney Glashow, LCSW
is a licensed psychotherapist practicing in Hoboken, New Jersey. She specializes in helping teens and adults with anxiety, depression, and life transitions through counseling. Courtney can help NY or NJ residents through telehealth (video/phone) therapy sessions as well.
