The Benefits of Mixed-Age Therapy Groups
“My advice would be to lean into the process and be as vulnerable as you can.”
-Previous Lotus Client
At The Lotus Collaborative, one of the most common questions we hear is: “Why do you treat adolescents and adults together?” It’s a fair question, and the answer lies at the heart of our clinical philosophy.
We believe true community thrives on diversity. Healing deepens when people of different ages, identities, and life experiences come together to learn from and support one another.
Trusting the Process
When you begin treatment, whether at 14 or 74, it’s natural to want to be surrounded by people who feel familiar. But recovery isn’t only about comfort; it’s about growth. Healing asks us to step outside the familiar and practice new ways of relating, listening, and connecting. In mixed-age therapy groups, that practice happens in real time.
For adolescents, sitting alongside adults can normalize their struggles, reduce shame, and expand their vision of what recovery can look like.
Adults are reminded of the honesty, courage, and raw truth that younger clients bring to the circle.
Both ends of the spectrum stretch and grow.
The result is a dynamic exchange of wisdom, vulnerability, and resilience.
Individual Fit Matters
At Lotus, we always prioritize what is best for each individual client and for the group as a whole. We are not tied to any single treatment strategy; our programming is flexible and adapts to the needs of the current community.
While mixed-age groups can be incredibly powerful, they aren’t the right fit for everyone at every stage. If it ever feels like a mismatch, we adjust. That may mean referring you to another trusted program or ___.
What we’ve seen time and again is this: when clients lean into the process, opening up, allowing themselves to be seen, and fully engaging with the work, things begin to shift.
Trusting the process is one of the most common lessons our graduating clients pass along to incoming clients. It’s not always easy at first, but it’s where real transformation occurs.
The Heart of Our Work
When people reflect on their time at Lotus, they rarely mention the ages of the people in the room. What they remember are the moments of connection, the tears, the laughter, the breakthroughs, and the first time they spoke their truth and realized they weren’t alone.
We understand that mixed-age groups can feel surprising at first. But in practice, they often become one of the most powerful parts of treatment. With skilled facilitation, the group becomes a microcosm of the real world, where recovery is practiced in ways that carry over into daily life.
By the time clients graduate, they’ve had opportunities to rehearse returning home, reconnecting with their community, and navigating everyday experiences like going to the grocery store, shopping for clothes, eating at restaurants, and interacting with people of all ages.
At Lotus, we trust the process because we’ve seen it work. Healing happens when people come together, across generations, to hold space, share wisdom, and remind each other: recovery is possible.
Taking Your First Step
Our client turned the unfamiliar into healing by being curious enough to lean in and brave enough to open up. Embracing diversity in recovery creates a community where differences become strengths. Healing has many paths, each one adding depth, perspective, and richness to the space we share.
If you or someone you support is ready for compassionate care, our admissions team is here to talk.
📞 Call 855-852-4968
📧 Email info@thelotuscollaborative.com
📋 Fill Out a Consultation Request Form
