Before Pre-Employment Services, many VR counselors had little experience working with youth in group settings. The following is a brief heads-up on what to expect.

Adolescents in group environments may exhibit a lack of development with the following interpersonal skills:

• Listening and waiting for their turn in conversations
• Appropriately expressing their feelings and opinions
• Understanding the feelings of others & demonstrating empathy for others
• Accepting that differences and disagreements among people are normal

They may also display the following behaviors:

• Sensitivity (e.g., threatening to leave the group if they feel mistreated or misunderstood)
• Competitiveness (e.g., one or more members vie for the top spot or to occupy key roles: the comedian, the flirt, the sick one, etc.)
• Pre-occupation with themselves (e.g., talking at the same time, cutting each other off, not listening)
• Fidgetiness (e.g., moving in their seats, drumming their fingers on the table, touching each other)

In the following pages, we'll explore ways to help youth build insight and skills.

Wise, R. (2020) Building Confidence and Improving Behavior in Children: A Guide for Parents and Teachers, https://educationandbehavior.com/social-skills-activities-for-teens/

Wood, D. (2021) Group Therapy for Teens: Clinical Paper, https://mhmatters.com/group-therapy-for-teens-clinical-paper/

Niehaus, L. (2020) Adolescent Group Therapy, California Society for Clinical Social Workers newsletter Winter 2020 edition,https://www.leahmniehaus.com/blog/adolescent-group-therapy