Group therapy is one of the most successful interventions for adolescents. This is because of the nature of this stage of development and the need to belong to a group. Hearing the stories of other teens and knowing that their experiences and feelings are similar is very therapeutic. Another characteristic of the adolescent stage is a short attention span, so the clinical social worker should tailor exercises that initiate and sustain discussion for adolescents.

For this Assignment, watch the “Bradley” video.

In a 2- to 4-page paper, identify two opening exercises that you might recommend for a group of adolescent girls who were victims of human trafficking.

• Describe the exercises in detail so that another social worker would be able to implement them.
• Explain ways these exercises might be effective in creating a comfortable environment for these teenage girls.
• Support your rationale with the literature. For example, what does the literature say about teenage girls who have been arrested for prostitution/human trafficking and who openly discuss their experiences?
• How do these exercises promote group cohesion and encourage these teens to talk openly?

Required Media

Laureate Education. (Producer). (2013a). Bradley (Episode 1) [Video file]. In Sessions. Baltimore, MD: Producer. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload TranscriptCredit: Provided courtesy of the Laureate International Network of Universities.

Recommended Resources

Holosko, M. J., Dulmus, C. N., & Sowers, K. M. (2013). Social work practice with individuals and families: Evidence-informed assessments and interventions. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Chapter 3 “Assessment of Adolescents”
Chapter 4 “Intervention with Adolescents”

 Bradley Family Episode 1 Program Transcript THERAPIST: First off, Tiffany, I want you to know how really glad we are that you’re here. There’s a lot that we do here that I think would be very good for you. Can I tell you about them? TIFFANY: Sure. THERAPIST: One of the services that I’m really excited about is the Teens First program we offer. It’s been open a little less than a year, but it’s already doing great things. TIFFANY: What does it do? THERAPIST: Well, it’s really the only organization of its kind. It provides treatment to women who’ve been in your type of situation. That’s the only group we treat. TIFFANY: My situation? Why don’t you just say what you mean? I’m a whore. THERAPIST: That’s just it, Tiffany. We don’t see you that way. Young women who’ve been arrested for prostitution, we see them as victims of human trafficking. You’re not a criminal. You’re a survivor. TIFFANY: I don’t understand why I have to be here. I was fine where I was. I want to go back with my boyfriend. THERAPIST: The one named Donald? TIFFANY: Yeah. THERAPIST: You said he was acting as your pimp. You said he bought you from someone else. Is that what a boyfriend does? TIFFANY: I think it’s great you have all these services. But I don’t need them. THERAPIST: Well, that’s something that I definitely want you to talk to me about over the next several weeks. The plan is for you and I to meet alone a couple times a week. And we’ll also meet in a group with some other young women like yourself. TIFFANY: There’s no one like me. ©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1                  Bradley Family Episode 1 THERAPIST: You’re right. There is no one like you. I just meant other young women who’ve gone through similar experiences. You also get three meals a day. They’re pretty good, actually. Healthy. And a room to sleep in. And then there’s a case manager who will talk to you about jobs, going back to school, what you might want to do for a living. It’s really a great opportunity. TIFFANY: I want to go to college. Design clothes. THERAPIST: Well, that’s great. I think that sounds really, really good. So do you want to see your room?