Contributed by Emma Gaba, M.Y.T.E Mission Programmes
Do you remember your teenage years?
Think back to the rollercoaster of emotions. The excitement, the challenges, and the pressure to fit in. It wasn’t always easy, right? It was a time of self-discovery, learning from mistakes, and trying to understand your place in the world.
Maybe there were moments when you felt lost or unsure of yourself. Having the right support can make all the difference, and that’s where the best therapy games for teens come in. They offer a fun, engaging way to help teens explore their emotions, build confidence, and feel understood.
Now, picture yourself as a teenager today.
While the core experiences, the ups and downs, the rush of excitement, and the struggle to find your place, haven’t changed much. The world teens are currently navigating is so much different than it was years ago. In today’s world, teenagers are dealing with the constant noise of social media, pressure to perform like never before, and an overwhelming amount of information coming at them 24/7. It’s easy to forget just how tough that must be for them.
The real challenge for young people isn’t just figuring out who they are, it’s also handling their emotions in a fast-paced world with ever-growing expectations. It’s no wonder so many teens feel stuck or misunderstood. But here’s the good news: managing thoughts and feelings doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming.
Why Therapy Games for Teens Work
Getting teenagers to open up isn’t always easy, but when they feel safe and understood, real growth happens. No one likes feeling judged, right? That’s why creating a supportive space is so important, and that’s exactly where therapy games come in.
Through fun and engaging activities, teens can build confidence, express their emotions, and navigate life’s ups and downs, all while feeling comfortable and understood.
In this article, you’ll discover 15 creative and fun therapy games for teens that will help them solve problems, connect with others, and navigate life’s challenges. These games not only encourage self-expression, but also foster emotional resilience and confidence
15 Fun Therapy Games for Teens
Before we dive into the best therapy games for teens, let’s take a moment to remember the power of play. Therapy games are designed not just to engage teens but to allow them to express themselves in ways that feel natural and safe. Each of these games offers a unique opportunity to explore emotions, improve communication, and foster emotional resilience, all while having fun.
Game 1: Emotional Wheel of Fortune
How it Works:
Create a spinner with various emotions instead of numbers (e.g., happy, sad, angry, excited). Teens take turns spinning the wheel and then describe a situation when they’ve felt that emotion.
Why It Works:
This game helps teens expand their emotional vocabulary and gives them a chance to express their feelings in a safe and fun way.
How to Play:
- Create a spinner (or a list of emotions on paper).
- Teens take turns spinning or choosing an emotion.
- After each spin, the teen shares a moment they’ve felt that emotion and how they dealt with it.
Game 2: Role-Playing Empathy
What It Is:
Teens act out scenarios that require understanding and empathy (e.g., a friend feeling excluded or dealing with peer pressure).
How it Works:
This game encourages empathy, helping teens put themselves in others’ shoes and think about how they would respond in emotionally charged situations.
How to Play:
- Prepare scenarios related to common teenage struggles (e.g., friendship issues, peer pressure).
- Teens take turns acting out these scenarios, practicing different responses.
- Discuss how each response shows empathy and could resolve the situation.
Game 3: Feelings Bingo
How it Works:
A bingo game where the squares are filled with different emotions or coping strategies (instead of numbers). After each match, teens discuss the chosen square and share a personal experience.
Why It Works:
This lighthearted game creates an open space for teens to talk about their emotions, making it easier to have conversations about feelings.
How to Play:
- Create bingo cards with emotions or coping strategies.
- As you call out emotions or strategies, teens mark their cards.
- After each match, ask the teen to share a moment they’ve experienced that emotion or used that coping strategy.
Game 4: Coping Skills Card Game
How it Works:
Teens create a personalised deck of coping mechanisms (e.g., deep breathing, listening to music) and play it like a traditional card game.
Why It Works:
This game makes coping mechanisms accessible and fun, reinforcing healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety.
How to Play:
- Teens create their own set of coping cards, listing healthy strategies they use to manage stress.
- Play a card game where each card is played in response to a stressful situation.
- After each turn, discuss how the coping mechanism helps manage the situation.
Game 5: Thought-Action-Feeling Cards
How it Works:
Teens categorise cards into three sections: thoughts, feelings, and actions. They then discuss how each relates to real-life situations.
Why It Works:
This game helps teens recognise the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, empowering them to manage their emotions more effectively.
How to Play:
- Create or use a set of cards that feature different thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Teens sort the cards into the correct category.
- Discuss how these elements relate to each other in real-life situations (e.g., “If you think you’re not good enough, how does that make you feel? What do you do next?”).
Game 6: Iceberg Activity
How it Works:
Teens draw an “iceberg” to represent visible behaviours (above water) and hidden emotions (below the surface).
Why It Works:
This game promotes self-awareness by showing how actions can be a reflection of deeper, hidden feelings.
How to Play:
- Have teens draw an iceberg on paper, with the top showing behaviours (e.g., angry outbursts) and the bottom showing hidden emotions (e.g., fear, insecurity).
- Discuss the connection between the visible and hidden parts of the iceberg.
- Talk about how understanding both can help with emotional self-regulation.
Game 7: Gratitude Relay
How it Works:
A collaborative relay where teens share things they’re grateful for, which can be written, drawn, or shared verbally.
Why It Works:
This game helps teens focus on positive thoughts and fosters group bonding through shared gratitude.
How to Play:
- Teens take turns sharing something they’re grateful for. This can be written, drawn, or spoken.
- You can make it a relay, where each teen adds something new to the list.
- Reflect on how gratitude can shift mindset and improve mental well-being.
Game 8: Mask Making
How it Works:
Teens create masks that show how they present themselves versus how they feel inside.
Why It Works:
This activity encourages teens to explore their vulnerability and self-perception, helping them understand the difference between their public persona and private emotions.
How to Play:
- Provide art materials for teens to make masks.
- One side represents how they present themselves, and the other side represents how they feel inside.
- After creating the masks, discuss the differences between the two sides and why they may exist.
Game 9: Mirror Me
How it Works:
Teens work in pairs to mirror each other’s movements and facial expressions.
Why It Works:
This game strengthens nonverbal communication skills and enhances emotional attunement between peers.
How to Play:
- Pair teens up.
- One teen starts by making simple movements or facial expressions.
- The other teen mirrors those movements or expressions.
- Afterward, discuss how it felt to communicate without words.
Game 10: Story Dice
How it Works:
Teens use dice with pictures or prompts to craft collaborative stories, focusing on emotions or overcoming challenges.
Why It Works:
Storytelling is a powerful way to explore emotions and build creative problem-solving skills in a relaxed, engaging way.
How to Play:
- Provide dice with pictures or prompts (e.g., emotions, situations).
- Teens take turns rolling the dice and creating a story together.
- Afterward, reflect on the emotions and lessons conveyed in the story.
Game 11: Circle of Strength
How it Works:
Teens identify their personal strengths and share them in a group setting, using visual aids like diagrams or drawings.
Why It Works:
This game boosts self-esteem and fosters a sense of community by recognising personal strengths and positive qualities.
How to Play:
- Have each teen write down or draw their personal strengths (e.g., kindness, creativity).
- Share these strengths with the group.
- Reflect on how these strengths can help navigate life’s challenges.
Game 12: The Stress Ball Toss
How it Works:
Teens toss a stress ball and answer a question written on it (e.g., “What makes you happy?”).
Why It Works:
This informal game encourages teens to share and reflect in a relaxed, fun environment.
How to Play:
- Write different reflective questions on a stress ball.
- Teens take turns tossing the ball and answering the question they land on.
- Discuss the answers and how different activities or thoughts help reduce stress.
Game 13: Life Timeline
How it Works:
Teens create a visual timeline of key life events (past, present, and future hopes) and reflect on their feelings about these milestones.
Why It Works:
This game helps teens reflect on their personal journeys, goals, and the emotions tied to significant events in their lives.
How to Play:
- Provide materials for teens to create a timeline on paper or whiteboard.
- Ask them to place key life events on the timeline and share feelings associated with each.
- Discuss how they hope to shape the future and what steps they can take to achieve their goals.
Game 14: Values Auction
How it Works:
Teens “bid” on values (e.g., honesty, friendship, success) using play money and discuss why they chose those values.
Why It Works:
This game encourages self-discovery and helps teens clarify their personal priorities and values.
How to Play:
- Create a list of values and assign a price to each one.
- Teens are given a set amount of play money to bid on the values they prioritise.
- After bidding, discuss why they chose those values and how they reflect their personality and life choices.
Game 15: Music and Mood
How it Works:
Teens listen to snippets of songs and describe the emotions they evoke, then share songs that resonate with their own feelings.
Why It Works:
Music is a powerful tool for connecting emotions to creative expression, helping teens process feelings in a non-threatening way.
How to Play:
- Play short snippets of different songs.
- Ask teens to share how each song makes them feel.
- Allow teens to share songs they listen to when they want to express their emotions or cope with challenges.
Integrating Therapy Games For Teens Into Sessions
Therapy games are a powerful tool for engaging teens and helping them explore their emotions in a safe, supportive environment. Whether you’re a therapist, parent, or group leader, integrating these games into your sessions can create an opportunity for meaningful conversations.
To make these activities really effective, it’s important to create a safe and welcoming space where teens feel comfortable sharing. This means making sure everyone’s feelings are respected and no one feels judged.
It’s also helpful to adjust each game to fit the needs of the teen or the group. This might mean changing the game a little bit so it works for everyone involved. When you do this, the game becomes more meaningful and helps teens connect, grow, and understand themselves better.
When and Where to Use Therapy Games
Therapy games can be used in a variety of settings, from schools and group therapy sessions to family gatherings and one-on-one therapy. They’re a flexible tool that can fit into different environments, making them perfect for any situation where teens need support.
When choosing the right game, think about what challenges the teen might be facing. E.g. If a teen is dealing with anxiety, a calming game that focuses on relaxation might be helpful. If they struggle with self-esteem, a game that encourages positive self-reflection can build confidence. For communication challenges, games that promote sharing and listening can be great for improving those skills. By selecting games that align with each teen’s specific needs, you can make sure the activity is both enjoyable and meaningful.
Additional Tips for Success
To make therapy games even more effective, it’s important to encourage active participation without putting pressure on teens. The goal is to make them feel engaged and motivated, but not overwhelmed. It’s also key to strike a balance between having fun and achieving the therapeutic objectives, ensuring the games are both enjoyable and meaningful.
After each activity, take the time to provide feedback and discuss the lessons learned, helping teens reflect on their experiences. This helps them gain deeper insights and reinforces the skills they’ve practiced. If you’re looking for more resources to support emotional well-being for teens, you can take a look at our very own M.Y.T.E programmes, designed to provide tools for building self-awareness, emotional growth, and resilience.
FAQs
Why are therapy games effective for teens?
Therapy games are effective because they make it easier for teens to express their emotions and work through challenges in a fun, non-threatening way. They help build skills like communication, empathy, and emotional regulation while creating a supportive environment.
What age group is best suited for these games?
These games are designed for teens, typically ranging from 12 to 18 years old, but can be adapted to suit younger or older individuals depending on their developmental stage and needs.
Can these games be adapted for different group sizes?
Yes, many therapy games can be adjusted to fit different group sizes, whether you’re working with a small group or a large class. Some games might need minor tweaks to ensure everyone can participate and engage.
Are these activities suitable for at-home use?
Absolutely! Many of these games are perfect for use at home, especially in family or one-on-one settings. They help teens open up and work through their emotions in a comfortable environment.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! These therapy games aren’t just fun – they’re powerful tools to help teens connect with their emotions, build confidence, and improve communication. Whether you’re a therapist, parent, or group leader, introducing these games into your sessions can spark real growth.
Remember, even small steps can lead to big changes. It’s all about creating space for teens to express themselves and feel understood. So, take a breath, dive in, and let the magic unfold!
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