Therapy Activities for Teens

The teen years can be the most challenging years of childhood with fluctuating emotions, peer pressure, and issues with self-esteem. Therapy activities for teens are beneficial to help with self-awareness on knowing why teens feel certain emotions. These activities help with self-regulation in choosing how teens respond to those emotions.

THERAPY GAMES FOR TEENS

Trust and rapport are critical in working with teens. Introducing games to teens in group therapy sessions increases self-confidence, decision-making, and communication skills. These games reinforce good behavior and positive interactions among teen peers.

  • board games – games can be altered to ask simple questions related to teens (i.e. Jenga)
  • emotions card game – assign emotions to the color of the cards and have teens share a feeling based on the color
  • escape room game – make your own escape room using different problem-solving tasks or puzzles so teens work together
  • hot potato/musical chairs game – use a music playlist and when the music stops, share what teens are feeling or something that makes them happy
  • colored candy game – assign emotions to each color of candy (i.e. M&M, Skittles) and have teens share an event that made them feel that emotion
  • soccer ball or volleyball game – add different open-ended questions to each space on the ball and toss to teens in a circle to answer the question their thumb lands on (i.e. coping, motivation, all about me topics)
  • bingo game – make your own bingo cards (i.e. healthy relationships bingo, self-esteem bingo, stress reduction bingo)

GROUP THERAPY ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS

Group therapy activities for teens help teen clients realize they are not alone in the world. These activities help teens improve their social skills and establish positive relationships with other group members. Creative art therapy activities allow teens self-expression and communication through different innovative methods.

Holistic therapy activities help teens develop a better understanding of who they are. Family activities help teens and loved ones reconnect and grow together as a family. Teen participation in these activities can help reduce stress and anxiety symptoms, establish healthy habits, and strengthen positive emotions for a productive future.

CREATIVE ART ACTIVITIES

  • paint competition – use different color paints to show self-expression of feelings and ideas
  • vision board – a collage of phrases, pictures, or photographs of what teens enjoy
  • clay or tinfoil sculpture – construct a sculpture from only a chunk of clay or sheets of tinfoil within a specific time limit
  • journaling – express feelings and thoughts in writing with just a pencil and a piece of paper
  • letter to future self – teens write a letter from their present self on their goals, desires, and aspirations to their future self
  • poetry – teens in small groups are given a word and told to write a poem from that word
  • music – teens create lyrics to a song or create a playlist of favorite songs

HOLISTIC ACTIVITIES

  • yoga – good relaxation for the body and the mind
  • walk and talk – take a walk and communicate with someone while enjoying the outdoors
  • meditation – motivate each other and calm the mind
  • adventure therapy – learn life skills outdoors (i.e. paddle boarding, hiking, kayaking, ropes courses)
  • dance – improve mood and allows for self-expression

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

  • cooking activities – bring families together and provide opportunities for creativity and mindfulness (being present)
  • pet therapy activities – bathe, feed, groom, or interact with pets while receiving unconditional love in return

THERAPY WORKSHEETS FOR TEENS

Worksheets are great resources for teens! Worksheets allow teens to express their feelings on paper and see their own positive progress over time. Check out these four useful worksheets that will help teens with emotional and self-regulation skills.

Emotional Intelligence Activities for Teens Packet – This packet includes 9 activities: an emotions checklist, matching worksheets, a memory game, matching cards, fill-in-the-blank worksheet, clip cards, scoot/write the room, two levels of I Spy, and two levels of a word search. Teens are more willing and able to learn if they are exposed to emotional regulation and social-emotional skills.

Teen Self-Regulation and Emotions Adapted Book Packet – This interactive adapted book is a simple emotion-sorting activity that can also be used to make individual student books. It includes the emotions/feelings and tools/strategies that can help manage those feelings to work on self-regulation skills and coping skills.  Help students learn to identify their emotions and choose strategies that will help them regulate their behaviors to match the situation.

FREE Goal Setting and Mood Chart Worksheet – A mood chart for kids can provide a visual representation of how someone is feeling on any given day. By tracking moods, individuals are more aware of their own emotions and understand why they may feel a certain way at different points in time. In addition, mood charts also help to identify patterns in emotional behavior and therefore lead to making positive changes. 

This comprehensive set of Emotional Regulation Worksheets includes 4 different My Emotions Journals to help boys and girls identify and manage emotions and behaviors.  

CONCLUSION

Adolescence can be a difficult and challenging time for families. In fact, the teenage years bring an increased risk for mental health disorders such as isolation, depression, and addiction. Families play a significant role in giving teenagers emotional support, safety, and belonging.

Mental health disorders require counseling or intervention from childhood professionals. The above-suggested therapy activities for teens are not a substitute for therapy and medical intervention. If you know a teen struggling, please contact therapists or counselors who specialize in helping young adults.

Teenage Life Skills Checklist PDF – a FREE printable checklist to equip teenagers with the life skills they need to succeed.

SMART Goals for Teens – use of the SMART goal method to stay motivated and accomplish goals.

15 Valuable Life Skills to Teach Teens – 15 valuable life skills that are important to teach teens before adulthood.

Anger Management for Teens – anger management behavior issues and tips on how to help adolescents with anger management problems.

Things Tweens and Teens Can Do Instead of Social Media – alternative activities to get tweens and teens off of their smartphones.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY:

Kimberly Orlando, MOTR/L – Kimberly Orlando received her Master of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2001, and received her Level 1 Handwriting Specialist Certification through Handwriting Without Tears in 2012 in the areas of Pre-K Readiness, Printing, Cursive, and The Print Tool Evaluation. With 21 total years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, she has 6 years of experience providing services in hospital and home health care settings and 15 years of experience in early intervention and school settings (Pre-K through middle school levels). Kimberly also has experience tutoring children with fine motor and handwriting concerns.

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