Week 8: The Teen Group
Amita B -
Hi Everyone!
Over the past two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to work more closely with the teen grief group at Billy’s Place. It’s been a very different experience from my time with the younger kids, especially those in the 8–10 age range.
One of the biggest challenges Billy’s Place is facing is how to better support and engage teens. The teen group is currently the smallest group at Billy’s Place, which creates both opportunities and obstacles. On one hand, the small size can make sessions feel more personal. But on the other, it can be harder to build momentum or encourage open sharing, especially when only one or two teens show up at a time, like in our virtual group.
Through my research and now through personal observation, I’ve learned that teenagers often grieve very privately. They’re in a stage of life where peer approval and social pressures are intense, and grief can feel like something that sets them apart. This can lead to emotional isolation and a strong desire to mask what they’re feeling.
During our Billy’s Place training, we discussed how grief presents differently across age groups. For kids ages 12 and up, peer relationships become especially important. Supporting teens often means listening more than talking and allowing them to open up on their own terms. As one of the guides from our handbook emphasized, “The best thing to do with teens is to listen first.”
Thank you for reading!