4 Amazing Benefits of Emotional Regulation and Social Skills Groups
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Emotional regulation and social skills are a foundation for long-term academic, personal and social success, and help us to move through challenges faced in our daily lives with greater ease. But none of us are born with these skills; they are learned through our childhood, adolescence, and yes, even adulthood to strengthen and improve, just like you build any other muscle in the body.
If your child struggles with emotional regulation or social skills, then getting support through therapeutic individual or group sessions with an allied health professional is a wonderful way to develop, practice, and strengthen these skills. It is entirely normal to struggle with emotional regulation and social skills, and by engaging in an individual or group therapeutic setting, your child will have an opportunity to grow in ways that you cannot begin to imagine.
The Top 4 Benefits of Emotional Regulation and Social Skills Groups 1. Grow by Doing
Learning skills from a book or video is one thing but having the opportunity to practice these skills in real-time is something entirely different. In a group setting, your child can genuinely engage in the practical application of emotional regulation and social skills with the other group participants. This opportunity to interact is vital for growing these skills in a safe and monitored setting where they can be supported along the way.
2. Build Friendships
In a group therapeutic setting, the participants often bond deeper due to their shared experiences and the vulnerability of witnessing each other’s struggles and growth. Connection and community are essential components in everyone’s life. In emotional regulation and social skills groups, your child will have the opportunity to create connections with others that are deeper and more long-lasting.
3. Practice Coping Skills
Often in group settings, there can be uncertainty and variability in what happens due to the presence of other group participants. During these times of change or transition, there is a wonderful opportunity to practice the coping skills learned. Even in a small way, such as when the conversation moves to different group participants these moments provide a safe environment to practice coping skills and strengthen these skills in daily life.
4. Learn Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation is often learned best through being around others, engaging in those skills, and observing their own behavior. In a group setting, emotional regulation skills are continuously reinforced by the group facilitator and by the other participants, providing many different opportunities for modeling the skills and integrating this understanding on a deeper level.
The Benefits of Social Skills Groups Versus Individual Session
Individual sessions can provide your child with personalised guidance and feedback in real-time. The comfort of one-on-one attention is an excellent way to get in-depth support and increase the growth of emotional regulation and social skills.
But at the end of the day, the many skills learned and practiced in a group setting simply cannot be emulated in an individual session due to the presence of other participants that give a real-time opportunity to engage in social skills building.
Whether you choose to have your child experience individual sessions or social skill groups, both are excellent ways to improve daily functioning and overall wellbeing. Perhaps even a combination of the two steadily increases the benefits and provides a truly well-rounded experience. Your child will undoubtedly benefit from the added support no matter what you choose.