Are Youth and Adults in the Same Group?
The short answer is no: teens and adults never share a group, and the line between them is drawn by age.
No. The practice runs two separate groups that never meet together. The youth group is for adolescents 13 to 17. The Adult Sexual Behavior Treatment Group is for adults 18 and older. Adults working on anger are seen in individual sessions rather than a group, and whether anyone joins a group at all is decided at the assessment, based on needs and any program requirements.
Kept Apart
Two Groups, Never Combined
Youth and adult groups are always separate. A teen in the youth group does not share sessions with adults, and an adult in the adult group does not share sessions with teens. Each group has its own members, its own approach and its own expectations.
The dividing line is age. Group work for adolescents 13 to 17 happens in the youth group, and group work for adults 18 and older happens in the adult group. Children under 13 are not seen at the practice.
Who Attends the Youth Group
The youth group is for adolescents 13 to 17 whose plan includes group work. In it, teens:
- Work on anger management, behavioral challenges and impulse control
- Look honestly at poor decision-making and what better choices would look like
- Address problematic sexual behavior
- Learn through guided discussions, interactive activities and skill-building
- Commit to regular attendance, participation, respect and the group's rules
Who Attends the Adult Group
The Adult Sexual Behavior Treatment Group is for adults 18 and older in sexual offense treatment whose plan includes group work. Members:
- Identify harmful sexual behavior patterns and work to understand offense cycles
- Recognize triggers and practice managing urges
- Work on healthy boundaries and empathy for people harmed
- Learn cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention
- Work through guided discussions, educational materials and practical exercises
- Are expected to attend consistently, participate, complete assigned work and follow group guidelines
Why the Groups Stay Separate
Teens and adults are at different stages of life and come to treatment with different pressures and responsibilities. Each group is built around its own members: the youth group leans on interactive activities and skill-building, while the adult group uses educational materials and practical exercises written for adults.
Separation also matters to families. A parent agreeing to group work for a teenager needs to know who else will be there, and the answer is other adolescents, never adults. For adult members, the separation keeps the group focused on adult accountability and the assigned work each member is expected to complete.
Where Anger Management Fits
Teens working on anger may be seen in individual counseling, the youth group or both, since anger management is one of the youth group's main topics. Adults working on anger are seen in individual sessions. They are not placed in the adult group, which is specific to sexual behavior treatment.
How Group Placement Is Decided
Free Consultation
A free 20 to 30 minute call where you can explain the situation broadly and ask whether group work might be part of treatment.
Assessment
A one to two hour assessment identifies areas of concern and makes treatment recommendations, including whether group work belongs in the plan.
Plan
The plan sets individual sessions, group or both, based on the assessment, needs and any program requirements. Acceptance by any court, OJA, probation office or program is that body's decision.
Ongoing Review
Progress is reviewed over time, and the balance of individual and group work can change as the plan adjusts.
Questions About Groups and Ages
How long is a group session?
Both the youth group and the adult group run 45 to 60 minutes.
Is anyone under 13 in the youth group?
No. The youth group is limited to adolescents 13 to 17, and younger children are not part of the practice's services.
What happens if a teen turns 18 during treatment?
Ask the office about that situation directly. The plan is reviewed over time, and the age lines stay the same: the youth group is for 13 to 17, and the adult group is for 18 and older.
Does everyone in treatment join a group?
No. Some clients are seen individually, some in a group and some in both, depending on the assessment and any program requirements.
Keep Reading
- Youth ServicesCounseling for adolescents 13 to 17, one on one and in the youth group
- Adult GroupStructured group treatment for adults 18 and older, never mixed with teens
- What Happens in the Youth GroupA closer look at how youth group sessions run
- What Happens in an Adult Treatment GroupHow the adult group runs and what members work on
- Group or Individual Sessions?How the two formats compare and how the mix is set
Ask Which Setting Fits
Not sure whether group work, individual sessions or both would apply? Call (405) 205-6314 for a free 20 to 30 minute consultation and ask.
Free 20 to 30 minute consultation. Monday through Friday, by appointment.