Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a therapist conducts a session with several people at once, usually those who share a common or similar issue. Unlike individual therapy, where the client works one-on-one with the therapist, group therapy typically includes 6 to 12 participants. Sessions last about two hours, and the frequency depends on the goals of the group — ranging from once a week to once a month.
The group is led by a psychotherapist who, alone or with a co-facilitator, observes the group’s dynamics, asks questions, explains psychological concepts, and moderates communication. This ensures that if conflicts arise, group members remain in a stable emotional state afterward. During the process, participants can share their experiences or opinions, offer feedback to one another, and provide mutual support.
The information shared within the group is confidential and should remain within the group. The feeling of safety also depends on the format: closed groups have a fixed set of participants and run for a certain duration, while open groups allow new members to join at any time.
Benefits of Group Therapy:
- Opportunity to communicate within a group setting
- Ability to work in pairs or small subgroups to practice specific skills
- More affordable compared to individual therapy
- Chance to hear others’ perspectives and receive support from fellow participants
Group therapy is particularly helpful for those seeking social support, a sense of belonging, relief from loneliness, exposure to others’ experiences with similar challenges, and insights into self-care and self-support strategies.
Before choosing group therapy, consider whether you currently have the internal resources and readiness to communicate openly with strangers, listen to others’ struggles, and provide feedback.
Most importantly, if your concern involves intense personal distress or you're going through a crisis and find it difficult to trust a group, it’s best to begin with individual therapy and consider transitioning to group work over time.
You can read more about individual therapy in the section "Individual Sessions".