Group Therapy: Complete Guide to Types, Benefits, and Finding the Right Fit
Group therapy brings together 5-15 people with similar experiences under a licensed therapist's guidance to share struggles, learn coping strategies, and reduce isolation. It's effective for depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction, typically costs $40-100 per session (less than individual therapy), and works best when combined with one-on-one counseling.
Struggling with mental health challenges can feel incredibly isolating. You might believe you're the only person who feels this way, or that no one could truly understand what you're going through. That isolation often makes the struggle harder, creating a cycle where loneliness compounds emotional pain.
Group therapy offers a unique solution by connecting you with others who share similar experiences. Unlike individual therapy, where you work one-on-one with a counselor, group therapy creates a supportive community where healing happens through shared stories, mutual support, and collective learning. Among the various therapeutic approaches available, group therapy stands out for its unique interpersonal dynamics and peer support elements. This therapeutic approach has helped millions of people realize they're not alone and discover practical strategies for managing their mental health.
This comprehensive guide explains what group therapy is, how it works, the different types available, and how to find the right group for your needs. Whether you're considering group therapy for yourself or exploring a career as a group therapist, you'll find evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions.
Table of Contents
- What Is Group Therapy?
- How Group Therapy Works: Core Principles
- Types of Group Therapy
- Benefits of Group Therapy
- Conditions Commonly Treated in Group Therapy
- Online Group Therapy: What You Need to Know
- How to Find Group Therapy Near You
- Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy
- Becoming a Group Therapist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a small group of people (typically 5-15 individuals) meet regularly with a licensed mental health counselor to work through mental health challenges together. Unlike informal support groups, group therapy follows a structured therapeutic approach with specific clinical goals, professional oversight, and evidence-based techniques.
The foundation of effective group therapy is shared experience. Group members typically have common concerns, whether that's struggling with depression, recovering from trauma, managing anxiety, or navigating major life transitions. This common ground creates a unique therapeutic environment where participants can learn from each other's perspectives while receiving guidance from a trained facilitator.
Group therapy sessions typically last 60-90 minutes and meet weekly, though frequency can vary based on the type of group and treatment intensity. The facilitator must hold proper credentials, such as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or a doctoral-level psychologist (PhD or PsyD). These professionals have specialized training in group dynamics and therapeutic facilitation.
The group setting isn't a free-for-all conversation. The therapist carefully structures sessions to ensure everyone has opportunities to participate, maintains psychological safety, manages conflicts productively, and guides discussions toward therapeutic goals. This professional facilitation distinguishes therapeutic groups from peer support groups, which may lack clinical structure and trained leadership.
Group therapy has deep roots in psychological research. Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom's groundbreaking work in the 1970s identified the core therapeutic factors that make groups effective, principles still used by therapists today. Organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Group Psychotherapy Association recognize group therapy as an evidence-based treatment supported by decades of research.
How Group Therapy Works: Core Principles
Understanding how group therapy creates change helps you appreciate its power and decide if it's right for you. The therapeutic benefits don't come from magic but from specific psychological mechanisms that trained facilitators know how to activate and nurture.
Yalom's 11 Therapeutic Factors
Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom identified 11 therapeutic factors that explain why groups help people heal. These principles apply across different types of groups and provide the foundation for effective group therapy:
Instillation of Hope: Seeing other group members who've made progress creates optimism about your own potential for change. When someone who struggled with panic attacks six months ago shares how they now manage anxiety effectively, it becomes easier to believe recovery is possible for you, too. This hope is particularly powerful in the early stages of treatment when motivation might be fragile.
Universality: The profound realization that "I'm not alone" reduces shame and normalizes your struggles. Many people believe their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are uniquely terrible or abnormal. Hearing others describe similar experiences breaks through isolation and self-judgment. This factor is especially healing for conditions that carry social stigma.
Imparting Information: Groups provide education about mental health conditions, coping strategies, and recovery processes. The therapist shares clinical expertise while group members contribute practical wisdom from their lived experience. This combination of professional knowledge and peer insight creates rich learning opportunities you won't find in individual therapy.
Altruism: Helping others builds self-esteem and provides a sense of purpose. When you're struggling, it's easy to feel like a burden with nothing to offer. Discovering that your experiences and insights help fellow group members shifts this narrative. Contributing to others' healing reminds you of your inherent worth and strengths.
Corrective Recapitulation of Primary Family Group: Group dynamics often mirror family relationship patterns, creating opportunities to work through unresolved family issues in a safer environment. If you learned unhealthy communication patterns in your family of origin, the group becomes a place to practice healthier ways of relating with immediate feedback and support.
Development of Socializing Techniques: Groups provide a laboratory for practicing interpersonal skills. You can try new communication approaches, receive feedback on how others perceive you, and learn from observing how other members navigate social interactions. This real-time practice is invaluable for people who struggle with relationships.
Imitative Behavior: Watching others successfully cope with challenges provides models you can adapt to your own life. When a group member describes a strategy that helped them manage intrusive thoughts or set boundaries with family, you gain concrete techniques to try yourself. Learning through observation and imitation is a powerful human capacity that groups leverage effectively.
Interpersonal Learning: Groups offer honest feedback about how your behavior affects others, insights you might not get from friends or family who have complicated relationships with you. Understanding that your tendency to change the subject when emotions arise makes others feel dismissed, for example, creates an opportunity for meaningful change. This interpersonal feedback is a unique strength of group therapy.
Group Cohesiveness: The sense of belonging to a supportive community provides a foundation for all other therapeutic factors. When you feel accepted despite your vulnerabilities, you're more willing to take emotional risks, share difficult truths, and challenge yourself to grow. Cohesiveness develops as groups meet consistently over time and as members demonstrate care for one another.
Catharsis: Expressing difficult emotions in a safe, validating environment brings relief and healing. Many people suppress feelings because they lack safe places to express them. The group becomes a container where you can release pent-up grief, anger, fear, or shame, with others bearing witness and offering compassion.
Existential Factors: Groups help members recognize and accept fundamental human realities like personal responsibility for life choices, the inevitability of suffering, and the importance of finding meaning despite challenges. These existential recognitions, while sometimes difficult, contribute to psychological maturity and resilience.
Group Development Over Time
Psychologist Bruce Tuckman identified predictable stages that groups evolve through as members become comfortable with each other and the therapeutic process. Understanding these stages helps you recognize that initial awkwardness is normal and temporary.
In the forming stage, members are polite but cautious, testing boundaries and figuring out group norms. The storming stage brings conflict as members challenge each other and the facilitator, working out power dynamics and differences. During norming, the group establishes working agreements, and cohesiveness develops. Finally, in the performing stage, the group operates smoothly with members doing deep therapeutic work together.
Early sessions may feel uncomfortable or superficial. This doesn't mean the group won't work for you. Most groups need several sessions to move past politeness into genuine connection and therapeutic depth.
Types of Group Therapy
Group therapy isn't one-size-fits-all. Different formats serve different therapeutic needs, and understanding the distinctions helps you find the right match for your situation and goals.
Process Groups
Process groups focus on interpersonal dynamics and the here-and-now interactions between members. Rather than following a curriculum, these groups explore relationship patterns, emotional responses, and personal insights as they emerge naturally in sessions. The facilitator helps members examine how they relate to others in the group, recognizing that these patterns likely mirror relationships outside the group.
Process groups work best for people seeking personal growth, wanting to understand relationship patterns, or working through interpersonal difficulties. They're typically ongoing rather than time-limited, with members staying anywhere from several months to years. This format requires more tolerance for ambiguity and emotional exploration than structured groups.
Psychoeducational Groups
Psychoeducational groups combine teaching with therapeutic support, following a structured curriculum over a set number of sessions. These groups educate members about specific conditions (like bipolar disorder or anxiety), teach coping skills, and provide information about treatment options. The facilitator acts partly as educator and partly as therapist.
These groups typically run 8-12 weeks with predetermined topics for each session. They work well for people newly diagnosed with a condition, those wanting to understand their mental health challenges better, or anyone who prefers structured learning environments. Many hospital-based programs and community mental health centers offer psychoeducational groups.
Skills Training Groups
Skills training groups teach specific behavioral techniques through instruction, practice, and homework assignments. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups exemplify this format, teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Social skills training groups similarly focus on building specific communication and relationship abilities.
These groups are highly structured with clear learning objectives. Members practice techniques in sessions and complete homework between meetings. This format suits people who want practical tools, learn well through practice, or need to develop specific capabilities rather than explore emotional dynamics.
Support Groups
Support groups emphasize mutual support and shared experiences, typically focusing on specific conditions or life circumstances like grief, chronic illness, or parenting challenges. While therapeutic, they're generally less intensive than therapy groups and may or may not have professional facilitation. Peer-led support groups like 12-step programs fall into this category.
Support groups can be ongoing or time-limited, highly structured or loosely organized. They work well as complements to individual therapy or for people managing chronic conditions who benefit from ongoing peer connection. The emphasis is more on mutual aid than clinical treatment, though professional facilitators can enhance effectiveness.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Groups
Cognitive-behavioral therapy groups use structured protocols to help members identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. These evidence-based groups typically follow treatment manuals with specific exercises and homework. CBT groups have strong research support for treating depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.
Sessions include teaching cognitive and behavioral concepts, identifying personal thought patterns, challenging distorted thinking, and planning behavioral experiments. The time-limited format (typically 12-20 weeks) appeals to people who prefer goal-oriented treatment with measurable outcomes.
Comparing Group Formats
| Group Type | Structure Level | Duration | Best For | Professional Facilitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process Groups | Low (flexible) | Ongoing | Relationship issues, personal growth | Always required |
| Psychoeducational Groups | High (curriculum) | Time-limited (8-12 weeks) | Learning about conditions, coping skills | Always required |
| Skills Training Groups | High (structured) | Time-limited (varies) | DBT, social skills, specific techniques | Always required |
| Support Groups | Low-Medium | Ongoing | Chronic conditions, shared experiences | Sometimes |
| CBT Groups | High (protocol) | Time-limited (12-20 weeks) | Depression, anxiety, PTSD | Always required |
Additional Group Distinctions
Beyond these major types, groups differ in other important ways. Open groups allow new members to join at any time, while closed groups maintain fixed membership throughout their duration. Open groups work well for ongoing support, while closed groups build deeper cohesion since everyone starts and progresses together.
Homogeneous groups bring together people with the same diagnosis or situation (like a depression group or cancer survivors group), while heterogeneous groups include people with diverse issues. Homogeneous groups offer more immediate understanding and condition-specific strategies. Heterogeneous groups provide broader perspectives and help members realize problems differ in content but share similar underlying themes.
Groups can be time-limited with a set endpoint or ongoing without predetermined endings. Time-limited groups create urgency and defined goals, while ongoing groups allow deeper work and sustained support over extended periods.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy offers unique advantages you can't get from individual counseling alone. Understanding these benefits helps you appreciate what makes the group format powerful and whether it matches your needs.
Group therapy effectively addresses habits that harm mental health, especially social isolation and withdrawal, by providing structured support and accountability from peers facing similar challenges.
Reduced Isolation and Shame
Mental health struggles often come with profound loneliness. You might feel like the only person who experiences intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, or overwhelming grief. This isolation amplifies suffering and shame, creating beliefs that something is fundamentally wrong with you.
Group therapy shatters this isolation powerfully and immediately. Hearing others describe experiences that mirror yours creates the healing recognition that you're not alone, not uniquely broken, and not beyond help. This universality reduces shame more effectively than individual therapy because you receive validation from peers, not just a therapist.
This factor is particularly powerful for stigmatized conditions. Whether you're recovering from addiction, living with bipolar disorder, or working through trauma, connecting with others who understand firsthand reduces the burden of carrying your struggles alone.
Multiple Perspectives and Support
In individual therapy, you receive the perspective of a single person. In group therapy, you gain insights from multiple people with diverse backgrounds, coping strategies, and viewpoints. When you're stuck on a problem, you might hear five different approaches, one of which resonates perfectly with your situation.
The support extends beyond sessions as well. Knowing others are going through similar challenges throughout the week provides comfort during difficult moments. Many groups allow members to contact one another outside sessions (with appropriate boundaries), creating an extended support network.
Learning from others' experiences accelerates your own growth. You witness what works and what doesn't work for various approaches, essentially learning from others' experiments without having to make all the mistakes yourself.
Real-Time Interpersonal Practice
Individual therapy involves talking about your relationships. Group therapy lets you practice relationship skills in real time with immediate feedback. If you struggle with assertiveness, you can practice speaking up in a group and get supportive responses. If you tend toward people-pleasing, you can experiment with setting boundaries and discover the world doesn't end.
The group becomes a safe laboratory where interpersonal patterns that cause problems outside therapy emerge naturally. The difference is that you have a skilled facilitator helping you recognize these patterns and group members offering supportive feedback as you try new approaches.
This real-time practice is invaluable for social anxiety, relationship difficulties, communication problems, and interpersonal aspects of depression or trauma. You're not just talking about change, you're actively practicing it with people who support your growth.
Cost-Effectiveness
Group therapy typically costs $40-100 per session compared to $100-200+ for individual therapy. This significant price difference makes mental health treatment accessible to more people. Many insurance plans cover group therapy with the same copay as individual sessions, and some community mental health centers offer sliding-scale fees for groups.
The lower cost doesn't mean lower quality. Research consistently shows that group therapy produces outcomes comparable to individual therapy for many conditions. You're paying less per session while receiving effective treatment, making it possible to attend therapy regularly even on a limited budget.
This affordability allows some people to attend both group and individual therapy simultaneously, creating a comprehensive treatment approach that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
Accelerated Learning
Groups compress learning that might take years to acquire through individual experience alone. A group member might share a coping strategy that took them months to develop, giving you that tool immediately. Another member's mistake becomes your learning opportunity without the consequence of making that error yourself.
This accelerated learning applies to understanding your condition, developing coping skills, recognizing unhelpful patterns, and building healthier behaviors. The collective wisdom of the group, combined with the facilitator's expertise, creates a rich learning environment that's hard to replicate in one-on-one therapy.
Accountability and Motivation
Committing to attend group sessions regularly, knowing others are counting on you, creates healthy accountability. You're less likely to skip sessions or give up when you know your absence affects the group. This external motivation helps during times when internal motivation falters.
Witnessing others' progress inspires continued effort. When you see a group member who was deeply depressed three months ago now experiencing genuine joy, it reinforces that change is possible and worth the hard work. This positive peer influence creates momentum that individual therapy sometimes lacks.
Research Evidence
Meta-analyses examining dozens of studies confirm group therapy's effectiveness for treating depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. The research shows outcomes comparable to individual therapy for many conditions, with some studies finding group therapy superior for interpersonal problems and social anxiety.
Group therapy works particularly well for conditions where shame and isolation are significant factors, where interpersonal skills need development, or where peer support enhances motivation and adherence to treatment. The evidence base continues growing as more research examines specific protocols and populations.
Combining Group and Individual Therapy
Many therapists recommend attending both group and individual therapy simultaneously. This combination leverages each format's strengths: individual therapy for personal processing, deep trauma work, and customized attention, and group therapy for interpersonal practice, peer support, and perspective-taking.
The integrated approach is especially effective for complex presentations. You might process difficult emotions privately in individual sessions, then practice interpersonal skills learned in those sessions within your group. Material that emerges in a group can be explored more deeply in individual therapy.
Conditions Commonly Treated in Group Therapy
Group therapy addresses a wide range of mental health concerns and life challenges. Understanding which conditions respond well to group treatment helps you assess whether this approach might benefit your specific situation.
Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Group therapy is highly effective for depression and various anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy groups help members identify negative thought patterns, challenge distorted thinking, and develop behavioral activation strategies. The group format adds peer support and the powerful recognition that others understand the exhausting weight of depression or the constant worry of anxiety.
Social anxiety disorder benefits particularly from group therapy because the group itself becomes exposure therapy. Practicing social interaction in a safe, supportive environment while receiving feedback and encouragement directly addresses the core fear. Research shows CBT groups for social anxiety produce outcomes comparable to individual treatment.
Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Trauma-focused groups require careful facilitation by therapists with specialized training, but they can be profoundly healing. The shared experience of trauma survivors, whether from military combat, childhood abuse, sexual assault, or other events, creates powerful universality and reduces the shame many survivors carry.
Groups using evidence-based protocols like Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure in group format show effectiveness comparable to individual trauma treatment. The group setting allows trauma survivors to witness others' healing journeys, providing hope and modeling recovery.
Safety is paramount in trauma groups. Skilled facilitators carefully screen potential members, establish strong safety agreements, manage re-traumatization risks, and pace the work appropriately. Not all trauma survivors are ready for group therapy immediately; individual therapy often is the necessary first step.
Substance Use Disorders
Group therapy forms the foundation of most substance abuse treatment programs. The combination of education about addiction, skills training for managing cravings and triggers, and peer support creates a powerful treatment approach. Twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous represent peer-led support groups that have helped millions achieve and maintain sobriety.
Professional therapy groups for substance use typically address underlying mental health issues contributing to addiction, teach relapse prevention skills, and provide accountability through regular attendance and honest sharing. The group helps members challenge each other's justifications and excuses while offering support during difficult recovery stages.
Many people combine professionally-led therapy groups with peer support groups, attending both throughout recovery. Research consistently shows that group-based treatment for substance use disorders produces positive outcomes, particularly when integrated into comprehensive treatment programs.
Grief and Loss
Bereavement groups provide a normalized space for mourning where members don't have to explain why they're still grieving months or years after a loss. Friends and family often expect grief to resolve on a timeline, but fellow grievers understand that healing isn't linear and takes however long it takes.
Grief groups may focus on specific types of loss (losing a child, suicide loss, losing a spouse) or welcome people grieving various losses. The shared experience of loss creates immediate connection, and hearing how others cope with anniversaries, holidays, and painful reminders provides practical guidance.
Some grief groups are time-limited (8-12 weeks), while others are ongoing. Both formats help, though needs may differ depending on how recent the loss is and how complicated the grief process becomes.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorder groups typically combine psychoeducation about nutrition and the physical effects of eating disorders with processing underlying emotional issues. Groups address distorted body image, perfectionism, control issues, and trauma that often underlie eating disorders.
The group format helps challenge eating disorder thoughts through peer feedback and reduces the isolation common in these conditions. Seeing others at different recovery stages provides hope and models successful recovery strategies.
Eating disorder groups usually form part of comprehensive treatment that includes individual therapy, medical monitoring, and often nutritional counseling. The combination addresses the multiple facets of these complex conditions.
Life Transitions and Adjustments
Groups help people navigate major life changes like divorce, career transitions, retirement, becoming parents, empty nest syndrome, or chronic illness diagnosis. These transitions often involve losses (of relationships, identity, health, or life structure) alongside opportunities for growth.
Transition groups provide space to process complex feelings, learn from others who've successfully navigated similar changes, and develop new skills or perspectives needed for the next life chapter. The group reminds members that struggle during transitions is normal, not a sign of weakness or failure.
Relationship and Family Issues
Couples groups bring multiple couples together to work on relationships with a therapist's guidance. Members learn from other couples' challenges and solutions while receiving support for their own relationship work. Parent groups help people navigate parenting challenges through shared problem-solving and mutual support.
Divorce recovery groups help people process the end of marriages while planning for healthy post-divorce lives. The combination of grief work, practical planning, and peer support addresses the multiple dimensions of divorce adjustment.
Chronic Mental Health Conditions
Psychoeducational groups for bipolar disorder help members understand mood cycles, recognize early warning signs of episodes, and adhere to treatment plans. Family psychoeducation groups for schizophrenia teach relatives about the illness and effective communication strategies, reducing relapse rates.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups, originally developed for borderline personality disorder, teach skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills benefit people with various emotional regulation challenges beyond personality disorders.
Important Limitations and Safety Considerations
Not all conditions or all individuals are appropriate for group therapy at all times. Active psychosis typically requires stabilization before group participation. Severe suicidality requiring hospitalization needs immediate crisis intervention rather than group therapy. Some personality presentations may initially benefit more from individual therapy before joining a group.
A professional assessment determines group therapy appropriateness. This evaluation considers symptom severity, ability to tolerate group settings, current crisis status, and treatment goals. Sometimes the answer is "not yet" rather than "never," with individual therapy preparing someone for eventual group participation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, immediate help is available:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Online Group Therapy: What You Need to Know
The shift toward telehealth dramatically accelerated during 2020, and online group therapy has become widely available and accepted. This format addresses accessibility barriers while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness for many people and conditions.
How Online Group Therapy Works
Online group therapy uses HIPAA-compliant video platforms like Zoom for Healthcare, Doxy.me, or SimplePractice's telehealth features. These secure platforms protect your privacy while allowing real-time video and audio communication with the facilitator and other group members.
You'll need a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and a microphone (computer, tablet, or smartphone), and a private space where you can speak freely without being overheard. Headphones help ensure confidentiality by preventing others in your home from hearing the session.
Session structure mirrors in-person groups. You'll see everyone's video feeds, hear their voices, and interact naturally through the screen. Some facilitators use breakout rooms for dyad exercises or screen sharing to present educational content. Many practices use client portals for homework assignments and resources.
Technical requirements are typically straightforward, but you should test your setup before the first session. Most platforms offer practice rooms or technical support to ensure everything works properly.
Benefits of Online Group Therapy
Online format eliminates travel time and transportation barriers, making therapy accessible for people in rural areas, those with mobility challenges, or anyone with transportation limitations. You save time and money by attending from home.
Geographic constraints disappear online, allowing access to specialized groups that might not exist in your area. If you need a group for a rare condition or specific identity, you're more likely to find it when drawing from a national or regional pool rather than only local options.
Scheduling becomes more flexible when groups can meet across time zones. This benefits people with demanding work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or other constraints that make attending in-person sessions difficult.
Some people find participating from home more comfortable, especially initially. The familiar environment reduces social anxiety for some participants, making it easier to engage authentically. Managing childcare or other obligations becomes simpler when you don't need to leave home.
Limitations and Challenges
Technology issues can disrupt participation and break therapeutic flow. Internet connectivity problems, audio glitches, or platform difficulties interfere with the sense of connection and presence that groups require. While usually manageable, these disruptions can be frustrating.
"Zoom fatigue" is real. Extended screen time can be mentally draining, and some people find connecting through screens less satisfying than in-person interaction. The lack of physical presence changes the relational experience in subtle but meaningful ways.
Reading non-verbal communication becomes harder online. You see less body language, miss subtle facial expressions, and lose peripheral awareness of the full group. These limitations can reduce facilitators' ability to track everyone's engagement and members' capacity to pick up on others' emotional states.
Confidentiality requires a truly private space at home, which not everyone has. Family members, roommates, or others in your household might overhear sessions despite your best efforts. Screen visibility is another concern if others can see your device.
Some group types work better online than others. Process groups and psychoeducational formats typically translate well to virtual settings. Highly interactive or experiential groups may lose something in translation. Skills training groups often work fine online, especially when practicing skills happens outside sessions anyway.
Research on Online Group Therapy Effectiveness
Research examining online group therapy shows effectiveness comparable to in-person groups for many conditions and populations. Studies on CBT groups for depression and anxiety delivered via telehealth demonstrate positive outcomes with patient satisfaction rates similar to traditional formats.
Dropout rates appear similar between online and in-person groups, suggesting engagement and commitment aren't significantly impacted by format. Some studies find reduced no-show rates for online groups, possibly because eliminating travel makes attendance easier.
The evidence base continues growing as more research examines specific protocols, populations, and long-term outcomes. Current data support online group therapy as a viable treatment option, not merely an emergency substitute for in-person care.
Comparing Online and In-Person Group Therapy
| Factor | Online Group Therapy | In-Person Group Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | High (location-independent) | Limited by geography |
| Cost | Often lower (no travel costs) | Higher (includes travel) |
| Sense of Connection | Moderate (screen-mediated) | High (physical presence) |
| Technical Requirements | Internet, device, privacy | None |
| Schedule Flexibility | More options available | Limited to local offerings |
| Privacy Concerns | Requires private home space | Private therapy office |
| Non-verbal Communication | Limited (video only) | Full body language visible |
| Specialized Groups | Wider selection possible | Limited to the local area |
How to Find Group Therapy Near You
Finding the right group therapy requires knowing where to look and what questions to ask. The process might take some effort, but connecting with an appropriate, well-facilitated group is worth the time invested.
Where to Search for Group Therapy
Psychology Today's Therapist Directory includes a group therapy search filter allowing you to find facilitators who lead groups in your area. The directory provides therapist credentials, specialties, insurance information, and contact details. You can filter by location, issue, and therapy type to narrow your search efficiently.
Your current therapist or doctor can be an excellent referral source. They know your situation and can recommend groups that match your needs and readiness. Many therapists lead groups themselves or have professional networks that include group facilitators they trust and respect.
Insurance provider directories list in-network mental health professionals, including those who offer group therapy. Calling your insurance company's behavioral health line and asking specifically about group therapy coverage and providers can save significant money. Verify that the therapist actually leads groups since directories aren't always current.
Community mental health centers typically offer various group therapy options, often at a lower cost than private practice. Many use sliding-scale fees based on income, making therapy accessible regardless of financial resources. These centers frequently have specialized groups for specific populations or conditions.
Hospitals and medical centers run groups related to health conditions, grief, and family support. Cancer centers offer support groups for patients and caregivers. Psychiatric hospitals provide groups as part of partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Hospital-based groups are usually led by experienced clinicians.
SAMHSA's Treatment Locator is a federal resource particularly useful for finding substance abuse treatment programs that include group therapy. The database includes both inpatient and outpatient programs nationwide.
University counseling centers and training clinics often offer group therapy led by graduate students under licensed supervision. These groups typically cost less than private practice options while providing quality care. Graduate programs in clinical psychology, counseling, and social work frequently run training clinics open to the community.
Questions to Ask When Evaluating a Group
Before committing to a group, gather information to assess whether it matches your needs. Don't hesitate to ask detailed questions. Reputable facilitators expect and welcome questions from potential members.
About the Group Structure:
- What is the group's specific focus or therapeutic purpose?
- Is it an open group (new members can join ongoing) or a closed group (fixed membership)?
- How long has this particular group been meeting?
- How many members typically attend each session?
- How long are sessions, and how frequently does the group meet?
- Is there a set duration, or is it ongoing?
About the Facilitator:
- What are your professional credentials and licenses?
- How long have you been facilitating group therapy?
- What specific training do you have in group therapy?
- What theoretical approach do you use?
- How do you handle conflicts or crises that arise in a group?
About Logistics:
- What is the cost per session?
- Do you accept insurance, and which plans?
- What is your cancellation or absence policy?
- Is there a minimum commitment period?
- What happens if I need to leave the group before it ends (for time-limited groups)?
About Screening and Fit:
- Is there a screening or intake process?
- Can I meet with you individually before deciding to join?
- What happens in a typical session?
- Can I observe a session first? (Some groups allow this, though many don't for confidentiality reasons)
- What are the ground rules regarding confidentiality and member behavior?
Red Flags to Watch For
Certain warning signs suggest a group may not be professionally conducted or safe. Trust your instincts if something feels off.
Facilitator lacks proper credentials: The leader should hold appropriate licensure (LMFT, LPC, LCSW, PhD, PsyD) unless it's explicitly a peer-led support group rather than therapy. Ask about credentials directly and verify licenses through your state's professional licensing board if concerned.
No confidentiality policy: Every therapy group should have clear confidentiality agreements that all members sign. The absence of these agreements suggests inadequate professional standards.
Overly large groups: Therapeutic groups typically include 5-15 members. Larger groups make it difficult for everyone to participate meaningfully and for the facilitator to track all members' needs.
Pressure to share prematurely: Good facilitators allow members to participate at their own pace. Forced sharing or shaming people for not opening up immediately violates therapeutic principles.
Facilitator dominates rather than facilitates: The therapist's role is guiding discussion and maintaining safety, not lecturing endlessly or making themselves the center of attention. Excessive self-disclosure by the facilitator is concerning.
No screening process: Responsible group facilitators screen potential members to ensure appropriate fit and readiness for group therapy. Accepting anyone without assessment suggests inadequate clinical judgment.
Boundary violations: Dual relationships (facilitator socializes with members outside the group, has business relationships with members, etc.) create conflicts of interest and compromise therapeutic boundaries.
Trial Period and Assessing Fit
Most groups allow 2-3 sessions to assess fit before making a longer commitment. This trial period lets you experience the group's dynamic, evaluate the facilitator's skills, and determine whether you feel safe and hopeful about participating.
Initial discomfort is normal. Most people feel awkward in their first group sessions. However, distinguish normal adjustment anxiety from gut feelings that something is wrong. If you don't feel respected, if confidentiality seems questionable, or if the facilitator's approach concerns you, keep looking for a better match.
Consider whether you connect with at least some group members, whether the facilitator seems skilled and trustworthy, whether the group's focus matches your needs, and whether you leave sessions feeling hopeful rather than worse. Not every group is right for every person, and finding the right fit matters significantly for outcomes.
Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy
Understanding the differences between group and individual therapy helps you choose the best approach for your situation and goals. Many people benefit from combining both formats rather than viewing them as competing options.
| Aspect | Group Therapy | Individual Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Interpersonal dynamics, shared experiences, peer learning | Personal history, individual concerns, customized treatment |
| Cost Per Session | $40-100 | $100-200+ |
| Therapist Attention | Shared among 5-15 people | Undivided one-on-one attention |
| Confidentiality | Cannot be fully guaranteed (other members present) | Complete privacy between you and the therapist |
| Scheduling | Fixed time to accommodate all members | Flexible scheduling between you and the therapist |
| Learning Sources | Multiple perspectives, peer insights, others' experiences | Therapist expertise, personalized interventions |
| Pacing | Group sets collective pace | You set the pace entirely |
| Best Suited For | Social anxiety, addiction recovery, interpersonal issues, and conditions where peer support is valuable | Complex trauma, need for privacy, severe symptoms requiring intensive attention |
Combining Both Approaches
Many mental health professionals recommend combining group and individual therapy, especially for complex presentations or when working on multiple treatment goals simultaneously. This integrated approach leverages the unique strengths of each format.
Individual therapy provides space for personal processing, deep trauma work that may not be appropriate for group settings, and customized attention to your specific situation. Your individual therapist can help you process difficult material that emerges in group, work through personal history and patterns, and address concerns too private for group discussion.
Group therapy offers interpersonal practice, peer support, diverse perspectives, and cost-effective treatment frequency. Skills and insights developed in individual therapy can be practiced and refined in the group setting. The group provides ongoing support and accountability between individual sessions.
Research supports combined treatment effectiveness for many conditions. The approaches complement each other, with individual therapy offering depth and personalization while group therapy provides breadth and interpersonal learning. Budget and schedule permitting, this combination often produces the best outcomes.
Choosing One Approach
When combining both isn't feasible due to time or money constraints, consider which format better addresses your primary needs and goals.
Group therapy alone may be sufficient when:
- Your primary concerns are interpersonal or relational
- You're learning specific skills (like DBT or social skills training)
- Peer support and shared experience are your main needs
- Cost is a significant barrier to accessing therapy
- Your symptoms are moderate rather than severe
Individual therapy may be essential when:
- You're processing complex or severe trauma
- You need complete privacy for highly personal material
- Your symptoms are severe and require intensive attention
- You have difficulty tolerating group settings due to social anxiety or other factors
- Your concerns are highly specific and wouldn't benefit from group discussion
A professional assessment helps determine the best starting point. Sometimes the answer begins with individual therapy to stabilize symptoms, then adding or transitioning to group therapy. Other times, starting with group therapy works well, with individual sessions added if deeper work becomes necessary.
While group therapy works well for many conditions, individual therapy may be more appropriate initially for certain personality disorders like narcissistic personality disorder, though group work can become valuable later in treatment.
Therapeutic Relationship Considerations
The therapeutic relationship differs significantly between formats. Individual therapy builds one deep, focused alliance with your therapist. This singular relationship becomes a secure base from which you explore difficult territory. The consistency and privacy allow profound vulnerability.
Group therapy creates multiple relationships simultaneously—with the facilitator and with each group member. This network of connections provides diverse types of support and mirrors the complexity of relationships outside therapy. You practice relating to various personalities and receiving feedback from multiple sources.
Some people thrive on the depth of individual work, while others find the community of group therapy more healing. Many benefit from both types of therapeutic relationships, each serving different needs at different times.
Becoming a Group Therapist
For those interested in mental health careers, specializing in group therapy offers unique opportunities to help multiple people simultaneously while building a rewarding professional practice. The path requires specialized training beyond general clinical preparation.
Educational Foundation
Becoming a group therapist begins with earning a graduate degree in a mental health field. Master's degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA or MS), Clinical Social Work (MSW), or Marriage and Family Therapy (MA or MS) provide entry-level credentials. Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology (PhD or PsyD) or Counseling Psychology (PhD) offer advanced training and expanded career options.
Graduate programs vary in their group therapy coverage. Some offer dedicated courses in group dynamics, group psychotherapy theory, and group facilitation techniques. Others provide minimal group therapy training, requiring students to seek additional preparation post-graduation. When selecting graduate programs, ask specifically about group therapy curriculum and practicum opportunities.
Core coursework typically includes psychotherapy theory and techniques, psychopathology, psychological assessment, ethics, cultural diversity, and research methods. Understanding individual therapy provides a foundation for understanding how group therapy differs and what unique dynamics emerge when multiple clients interact therapeutically.
Practicum and internship experiences ideally include opportunities to observe experienced group therapists, co-facilitate groups under supervision, and eventually lead groups independently with supervision. These practical experiences are invaluable for developing group facilitation skills that can't be learned from textbooks alone.
Licensure Requirements
All states require licensure to practice psychotherapy independently, whether individual or group format. Common licenses include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Psychologist (state-specific license after PhD or PsyD).
Licensure typically requires completing your graduate degree from an accredited program, accumulating 2,000-4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience (depending on state and profession), and passing a national examination. The supervised experience period provides an opportunity to develop group therapy skills under seasoned clinicians' guidance.
Most states don't require separate credentials specifically for group therapy; your clinical license covers both individual and group work. However, ethical practice means only conducting group therapy if you've received adequate training and supervision in this specialized modality.
Specialized Group Therapy Training
Beyond basic licensure, serious group therapists pursue specialized training through workshops, certificate programs, and ongoing continuing education. The American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) offers the Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) credential.
Earning CGP certification requires meeting education and experience requirements, including minimum hours of group therapy training, documented experience leading therapy groups, supervision specifically focused on group work, and participation in AGPA-approved training events. This credential demonstrates advanced competency in group psychotherapy.
Specialized training covers group dynamics theory, stages of group development, managing difficult group situations (monopolizers, silent members, conflicts), screening potential members appropriately, and adapting evidence-based treatments to group format. Training also addresses how therapists' own issues and reactions (countertransference) manifest differently in groups than in individual therapy.
Essential Skills and Personal Qualities
Effective group therapists need clinical skills beyond those required for individual therapy. Managing multiple personalities simultaneously, tracking various conversations and emotional threads, intervening at optimal moments, and balancing attention among all members requires practice and natural aptitude.
The ability to tolerate ambiguity and unpredictability matters significantly. Groups are less controlled than individual sessions. You can't predict what members will say or how they'll interact. Comfortable presence amid this uncertainty allows the organic unfolding necessary for powerful group work.
Cultural competence and sensitivity to diversity are crucial. Groups bring together people with different backgrounds, values, and perspectives. Facilitators must create environments where all members feel respected and included, managing conflicts that arise from differences productively rather than avoiding them.
Strong conflict resolution skills help navigate disagreements between members therapeutically. Conflicts in groups can be healing opportunities when well-managed, but destructive when poorly handled. The facilitator must remain non-anxious while helping members work through tensions directly.
Career Settings and Opportunities
Group therapists work in diverse settings. Private practice allows control over which groups you offer and how you structure your practice. Many private practitioners lead several groups weekly while also seeing individual clients, creating professional variety and efficient use of time.
Community mental health centers typically rely heavily on group therapy to serve large client populations cost-effectively. These settings offer opportunities to lead various group types with diverse populations, building broad experience quickly.
Hospitals and medical centers employ group therapists for partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and specialty groups (eating disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes management). Medical settings often integrate group therapy into comprehensive treatment approaches.
Substance abuse treatment facilities make extensive use of group therapy, considering it the cornerstone of addiction treatment. These positions offer opportunities to specialize in addiction treatment while leading groups at various treatment intensity levels.
Universities and college counseling centers lead groups for students addressing academic stress, social anxiety, eating concerns, and other common college student issues. These positions combine direct service with opportunities to train graduate students.
Correctional facilities hire group therapists to lead anger management, substance abuse treatment, trauma recovery, and reentry preparation groups. This challenging work serves underserved populations with significant mental health needs.
Specialization Options
Group therapists often specialize by population (adolescents, older adults, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals), condition (eating disorders, trauma, addiction, specific mental health diagnoses), or modality (DBT groups, process groups, psychoeducational groups).
Specialization allows you to develop deep expertise, market your services effectively, and create targeted referral networks. You might offer multiple types of groups addressing different needs while focusing your continuing education and professional development in your specialty areas.
Income and Career Outlook
Group therapy can enhance income potential by allowing therapists to see more clients per hour than in individual sessions. A therapist earning $100-150 per individual session might charge each group member $50-80 for a 90-minute group, generating $400-800 per session with 8-10 members.
Demand for group therapy continues to grow as healthcare systems seek cost-effective treatment options and as research demonstrates group therapy's effectiveness. Telehealth capabilities expand reach, allowing therapists to offer online groups to clients across broader geographic areas (within their licensure state).
Salary depends on setting, credentials, location, and experience. Licensed therapists in community mental health centers typically earn $45,000-$65,000 annually. Private practitioners' income varies widely based on caseload, fees, and business management. Hospital-based positions often pay $55,000-$85,000. Doctoral-level psychologists generally earn higher salaries across settings.
Professional Development and Community
The American Group Psychotherapy Association provides essential resources for group therapists, including annual conferences, regional training events, journal subscriptions, and networking opportunities. AGPA membership connects you with colleagues who share your interests and can provide consultation about challenging group situations.
Many group therapists participate in consultation groups specifically for group therapists, where they discuss cases, receive peer supervision, and continue developing skills throughout their careers. This ongoing learning community helps you manage the unique challenges and rewards of group therapy work.
Continuing education requirements for license maintenance can be met through group therapy-focused workshops and trainings, allowing you to maintain credentials while deepening your group therapy expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy
How long does group therapy last?
The duration depends on the type of group. Time-limited groups like CBT or psychoeducational groups typically run 8-20 weeks with predetermined end dates. Process groups and support groups may be ongoing for months or years, with members joining and leaving at different times. Individual sessions are usually 60-90 minutes, and groups typically meet weekly, though some meet twice weekly or biweekly, depending on intensity and purpose.
How much does group therapy cost?
Group therapy typically costs $40-100 per session, significantly less expensive than individual therapy which ranges $100-200+ per session. The cost varies by location, facilitator credentials, and group type. Many insurance plans cover group therapy with the same copay structure as individual sessions. Community mental health centers often offer sliding-scale fees based on income, making group therapy accessible regardless of financial resources.
Is group therapy confidential?
Group facilitators are bound by professional confidentiality and won't discuss what happens in group outside of sessions (except in mandated reporting situations like imminent harm). However, complete confidentiality can't be guaranteed because other group members aren't legally bound by confidentiality agreements. Reputable groups establish strong confidentiality norms and have all members sign agreements, but there's always some risk when sharing personal information with multiple people.
Can I do group therapy online?
Yes, online group therapy has become widely available, and research shows comparable effectiveness to in-person groups for many conditions. You'll need a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and a microphone, a private space where you can speak freely, and access to a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Many people find online groups more accessible due to the eliminated travel time and increased scheduling flexibility.
What's the difference between group therapy and support groups?
Group therapy is led by a licensed mental health professional (LMFT, LPC, LCSW, psychologist) with specific therapeutic goals and structured clinical interventions. Support groups may be peer-led or professionally facilitated, but focus primarily on mutual support and shared experiences rather than psychological treatment. Both have value, but therapy groups involve more intensive clinical work while support groups emphasize community and practical advice.
How do I find a group therapy program near me?
Start with Psychology Today's therapist directory which includes group therapy search filters, ask your current therapist or doctor for referrals, check your insurance provider's directory for in-network options, contact community mental health centers which typically offer various groups, or use SAMHSA's treatment locator for substance abuse-related groups. Many hospitals and university counseling centers also offer group therapy programs open to the community.
Is group therapy as effective as individual therapy?
Research consistently shows group therapy produces outcomes comparable to individual therapy for many conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. Some studies find group therapy particularly effective for interpersonal problems and social anxiety. The best approach often combines both formats, using individual therapy for personal processing and deep trauma work while group therapy provides interpersonal practice and peer support.
What size should a therapy group be?
Most effective therapy groups include 5-15 members, with 8-10 being ideal for balancing intimacy with diversity. This size is small enough that everyone can participate meaningfully and the facilitator can track all members' needs, yet large enough to provide multiple perspectives and interpersonal learning opportunities. Smaller groups offer more individual attention while larger groups provide broader viewpoints and experiences.
Can I do both individual and group therapy at the same time?
Yes, and many therapists recommend this combination for comprehensive treatment. Individual therapy allows deep personal work, trauma processing, and private attention to your specific situation. Group therapy provides interpersonal practice, peer support, diverse perspectives, and cost-effective treatment frequency. The integrated approach is especially effective for complex presentations, with each format complementing the other's strengths.
What conditions are NOT appropriate for group therapy?
Active psychosis typically requires stabilization before group participation since the person may have difficulty distinguishing reality and following group discussions. Severe suicidality requiring immediate crisis intervention or hospitalization needs individual attention first. Some personality presentations may benefit from preparatory individual therapy before joining groups. Acute crisis situations generally need one-on-one care. A professional assessment determines group therapy appropriateness and timing for your specific situation.
What happens in a typical group therapy session?
Sessions typically begin with brief check-ins where members share how they're doing. The middle portion involves focused discussion, skill-building activities, or processing interpersonal dynamics, depending on group type. Structured groups may include educational content or homework review. Process groups explore emerging themes and relationships. Sessions end witha summary or reflection on what was learned. The facilitator guides conversation, ensures everyone has an opportunity to participate, manages time, and maintains therapeutic focus and emotional safety.
How do I know if a specific group is right for me?
Most groups allow 2-3 trial sessions to assess fit before requiring a longer commitment. Consider whether you feel emotionally safe in the group, whether the group's focus matches your needs and goals, if the facilitator demonstrates competence and creates appropriate structure, and whether you connect with at least some other members. Trust your instincts about respect and safety. Normal initial discomfort is different from persistent feelings that something is wrong with the group's dynamics or facilitation.
Key Takeaways
- Group therapy brings together 5-15 people with similar experiences under a licensed therapist's guidance to work through mental health challenges through shared support, interpersonal learning, and therapeutic interventions.
- The therapeutic power of groups comes from 11 core factors, including universality (realizing you're not alone), interpersonal learning (feedback from peers), and hope (witnessing others' recovery), as identified in research by psychiatrist Irvin Yalom.
- Different group types serve different needs: process groups for interpersonal issues, CBT groups for depression and anxiety, skills training for specific techniques, psychoeducational groups for learning about conditions, and support groups for ongoing peer connection.
- Group therapy costs significantly less than individual therapy ($40-100 vs. $100-200+ per session) while research shows comparable effectiveness for many conditions, making it a cost-effective treatment option often covered by insurance.
- Online group therapy has become widely available and effective, eliminating geographic barriers and travel time while maintaining therapeutic benefits, though it requires reliable internet and a truly private space at home.
- Finding appropriate groups involves searching Psychology Today's directory, asking for referrals from your current providers, checking insurance networks and community mental health centers, and carefully evaluating facilitator credentials and group structure before committing.
- Many therapists recommend combining group and individual therapy for comprehensive treatment, using individual sessions for personal processing and group therapy for interpersonal practice and peer support.
- Becoming a group therapist requires a graduate degree in a mental health field, state licensure, and specialized training in group dynamics and facilitation, with career opportunities in private practice, community mental health, hospitals, addiction treatment, and other settings.
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