Social Media & Teens Therapy Group

We interviewed Bec Miller about the teen therapy group she created to help teens explore and understand their relationship to social media.  Check out the interview below!

To sign your teen up for this group, click here.

Where did the idea for this group therapy come from?

The idea for this group came from my thinking about how social media has affected my life as an adult and how I’ve seen it change since I was a teenager.

Like most adults, I’ve found social media to be a very unhealthy habit in my personal life at times. In the past whenever I would use it, I would notice myself feeling more irritable and tired. I wondered if there was a reason for that so I did research into how social media affects the brain and how it is designed to keep the user on it for hours and hours.

I WAS SHOCKED at what I learned about the impact of social media on our brains, I knew I had to help others learn this information as well and to normalize cutting down on social media or creating a social media plan.

Why is it important for teens to learn about social media use?

So here’s the thing: social media use affects a teen brain MORE than an adult brain.

Teen brains are more malleable than adults, because they are still in development. In fact, many researchers say that your brain isn’t done “developing” until you are almost 30! If you add improper social media use to this equation, it is a recipe for disaster. 

More than ever, teens are using social media and spending more time on it.

What are the negative impacts of social media use on teens and their mental health?

There have been many studies to show the effects of this on teenage brains including:

• their ability to sleep
• their appetite
• and the way that they interact with the world
• the way they view themself and their self esteem

Aside from those things, social media is also a huge source of bullying, which has risen dramatically over the past decade or two.

How can teens benefit from this counseling group?

Teens who are struggling with their social media use will benefit from this group by being able to discuss their feelings and experiences with social media with a group of their peers. They will also learn how social media is affecting their emotions and brain in ways they may not even be aware of. 

All in all, social media can be a great tool if used correctly. However, if it’s used incorrectly then it can cause some damage. It’s all about striking the right balance and giving your teen the appropriate information to make healthy, informed decisions about their use.

Sign up for this group here!