It is not uncommon for families to have conflict. Although family members might love each other, there could also be a need for stronger communication skills. However, the act of finding ways to communicate can be stressful for family members. Children–especially teens–might feel like their parents do not listen or value their ideas. Parents might feel like they just need to protect their children. Yet, communication is essential to building and maintaining a solid family—the solution: teen family therapy. At Destination for Teens, we understand the delicate balance between parents and children and have developed family therapy programs to help bridge the gap. Learn more by calling 877.466.0620.
What Are Family Therapy Activities?
During therapy sessions, families will participate in various activities that will help them understand each other’s points of view. Families can share:
- Hope and desires
- Clarify individual needs and desires
- Learn methods of not using hurtful language and focus on healing relationships
Teen family therapy is an outpatient treatment service provided by Destinations for Teens. If your family needs therapy to support your teen, reach out to us at 877.466.0620 to help. Family therapy does not begin and end during a session; it is an ongoing process. Families should use the activities they have participated in during therapy sessions on their own. Here are three fun family therapy activities to try at home with your family:
Feelings Walk
Do you remember playing musical chairs? As the music plays, members will walk around in a circle and sit when the music stops. If you are left standing, you’re out of the game. Feelings walk builds on this process but has a bit of a twist! You will arrange your seats in a circle. On every chair, there will be sticky notes with expressive words. Family members will walk around until the music stops. When they sit, they will say the expression on their sticky notes. In addition, they will let other family members share their emotions related to the word as well. This game helps family members to understand their beliefs and values easily.
Mime For A Minute
Have you ever noticed how mimes can convey their feelings to audience members without ever saying a word? Mimes use their facial expressions, hand gestures, eye movement, and their entire body to share their ideas. Like mimes, our nonverbal communication patterns are just as powerful as verbal communication, as our actions show people how we feel. In this activity, members of your family will take turns communicating messages without speaking. You will have to guess the message and share its importance with the group.
Let Your Art Speak!
Art is the perfect way to share your creativity and self-expression with others. You can use paint, markers, crayons, colored or plain construction, or any other materials to create a dynamic piece of artwork. Each family member will create either a drawing, painting, sketch, or collage. This artwork should express how they feel about their role in your family. Every family member will describe their art project and share how they are essential to your family’s structure.
Family and Teen Therapy Programs at Destinations for Teens
In today’s world, families are diverse and need to understand how to communicate effectively. It is not unusual for families to find ways to share their emotions and learn how to strengthen their family bonds. If your family needs to find better ways of communicating, a family therapy program can help. Many families also use group sessions in conjunction with teen therapy programs to support the needs of the young adults in their lives. At Destinations for Teens, we provide teen family therapy programs to support adolescents and their families. Remember that it is never too late to learn how to create a strong family bond. Contact us today at 877.466.0620.Â