How to Mentally Prepare for Birth
A 6 Week - 6 Module Group Workshop to empower you with tools & techniques leading up to and for your birthing day. As a mother myself I noticed a need for this type of preparation. I found much focus ...
Hosted by MindFul Space Counselling Loren Thompson
Counsellor, RTC, RPC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Vancouver, BC V6H
A 6 Week - 6 Module Group Workshop to empower you with tools & techniques leading up to and for your birthing day. As a mother myself I noticed a need for this type of preparation. I found much focus ...
Organizer Wanted! Online or in person groupwork
Only one-on-one email Rebuilding sessions available at the moment - I will be starting a private online group soon to support those Rebuilding their lives after separation, working with the book by Bruce Fisher and progressing chapter by chapter through ...
Hosted by Julie E Taylor
Counsellor, RTC, MTC, RCS
Verified Verified
Group meets in Victoria, BC V8P
Only one-on-one email Rebuilding sessions available at the moment - I will be starting a private online group soon to support those Rebuilding their lives after separation, working with the book by Bruce Fisher and progressing chapter by chapter through ...
Women's Embodied Integration Group
Monthly Integration Group held on Wednesday closest to the new moon. Nanaimo. A co-collaborated safe space to process experiences of non-ordinary states of consciousness - Experiential embodiment practices including but not limited to breath, mindfulness, visualization, intuitive movement, play, sounding, ...
Hosted by Brittany Sirtonski
Registered Psychotherapist, BAHons, MACP, ExA, RP
Verified Verified
Group meets in Nanaimo, BC V9T
Monthly Integration Group held on Wednesday closest to the new moon. Nanaimo. A co-collaborated safe space to process experiences of non-ordinary states of consciousness - Experiential embodiment practices including but not limited to breath, mindfulness, visualization, intuitive movement, play, sounding, ...
Psychedelic Integration
Group that comes together to discuss non-ordinary states of consciousness and how to integrate them into daily life.
Hosted by Eleonora Molnar
Counsellor, BA, MA, RTC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Roberts Creek, BC V0N
Group that comes together to discuss non-ordinary states of consciousness and how to integrate them into daily life.
ED Support Circle
Support Group for adult women (18+) who are currently battling an ED. This group will offer: a safe space to share your victories and your struggles; an opportunity to learn about your ED, if you so desire; skills for managing ...
Support Group for adult women (18+) who are currently battling an ED. This group will offer: a safe space to share your victories and your struggles; an opportunity to learn about your ED, if you so desire; skills for managing ...
Online Clinical Supervision/Consultation
Group Supervision/Consultation for 2 – 4 participants: I offer clinical supervision and consultation to individuals and small groups of beginning, intermediate and experienced counselling professionals. My role is to create a supportive safe space, where you feel comfortable to share, ...
Group Supervision/Consultation for 2 – 4 participants: I offer clinical supervision and consultation to individuals and small groups of beginning, intermediate and experienced counselling professionals. My role is to create a supportive safe space, where you feel comfortable to share, ...
A Purposeful Life Men's Group
Group therapy that helps men to live fully and authentically with responsibility. A space of acceptance, belonging, and support. A space for men who are searching for greater meaning and purpose in their life. We support each other in discovering ...
Hosted by Graham Nelson-Zutter
Counsellor, RPC, CT, RTC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Vancouver, BC V6C
Group therapy that helps men to live fully and authentically with responsibility. A space of acceptance, belonging, and support. A space for men who are searching for greater meaning and purpose in their life. We support each other in discovering ...
Chronic Pain, and Eating Disorders Wellness Clinic
CHRONIC PAIN:This is a group for Chronic Pain sufferers using Visual Language from the psyche to befriend and ally with the pain and use it to heal. REBONDING THE BODY: this is a group for EATING DISORDER issues using Visual ...
Hosted by Emilie Kemlo Psychologist -Active Practice
Psychologist, MA, R, Psych, ACTIVE, PRACTIC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Victoria, BC V8V
CHRONIC PAIN:This is a group for Chronic Pain sufferers using Visual Language from the psyche to befriend and ally with the pain and use it to heal. REBONDING THE BODY: this is a group for EATING DISORDER issues using Visual ...
Practical Psychology Skills for IBD
Practical Psychology Skills for Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Hosted by Joshua P Paulton
Counsellor, MC, BA, CHT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Vancouver, BC V6B
Practical Psychology Skills for Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Mindfulness Healing in Japanese-Spa Setting
I will offer group mindfulness sessions conducted in a comfortable Japanese spa-like setting with tiles treated with anti-oxidant, nutrient-rich solutions that may help to reduce oxidative stress. Mindfulness can help to decrease severity of psychopathological symptoms as well as improve ...
I will offer group mindfulness sessions conducted in a comfortable Japanese spa-like setting with tiles treated with anti-oxidant, nutrient-rich solutions that may help to reduce oxidative stress. Mindfulness can help to decrease severity of psychopathological symptoms as well as improve ...
Sex Addiction Recovery Group
Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Groups and Individual Therapy; each person's treatment plan is specific to that person and individualized. With the help of the therapist(s), a healthy sex plan that discourages problematic behaviors and encourages healthy behaviors is developed. It ...
Hosted by David A Burns
Drug & Alcohol Counsellor, MA, ICADC, CCS-AC, CCAC, CSAT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Victoria, BC V9A
Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Groups and Individual Therapy; each person's treatment plan is specific to that person and individualized. With the help of the therapist(s), a healthy sex plan that discourages problematic behaviors and encourages healthy behaviors is developed. It ...
Lions Roar Transform Anger into Illumination
Course for Men. Power. Triggers. Self-Mastery. A different angle of transforming anger into fuel for assertive leadership. Anger vs aggression, the roots of anger, boundaries, compassion, empathy, and the power of peaceful conflict transformation. An embodied approach to the neurophysiology ...
Hosted by Gabriel Keczan Executive Coaching
Counsellor, RTC, DKATI
Verified Verified
Group meets in Nelson, BC V1L
Course for Men. Power. Triggers. Self-Mastery. A different angle of transforming anger into fuel for assertive leadership. Anger vs aggression, the roots of anger, boundaries, compassion, empathy, and the power of peaceful conflict transformation. An embodied approach to the neurophysiology ...
Caregiver Support Group
Being a caregiver for people with an illness or disability is extremely challenging and exhausting. This is a space place to share thoughts and feelings about being a caregiver. Can send zoom link if interested.
Being a caregiver for people with an illness or disability is extremely challenging and exhausting. This is a space place to share thoughts and feelings about being a caregiver. Can send zoom link if interested.
Paper Collage Making Circle for Women
It is an online 6-session art therapy group focusing on the use of paper collages to express, explore, and connect as the power of creativity and making is trusted and valued to generate healing and growth. This space is created ...
Hosted by Xia Wu
Counsellor, MA, RCC, AT-P, DKATI
Verified Verified
Group meets in Vancouver, BC V6T
It is an online 6-session art therapy group focusing on the use of paper collages to express, explore, and connect as the power of creativity and making is trusted and valued to generate healing and growth. This space is created ...
Tending To Your Emotions Can Save Your Life!
Tending to your Emotions Can Save Your Heart (and your Life!)
Information, skills and support for anyone recovering from/ living with cardiac health issues, and anyone living with chronic health problems as well as family members, friends and caregivers. Meets ...
Hosted by Catherine Moore
Counsellor, MA, RCC
Verified Verified
Group meets in North Vancouver, BC V7M
Tending to your Emotions Can Save Your Heart (and your Life!)
Information, skills and support for anyone recovering from/ living with cardiac health issues, and anyone living with chronic health problems as well as family members, friends and caregivers. Meets ...
Parenting Teens Support Group
LIfe Dances Counselling offers a support group for parents of teens, held in the spring and fall. Here is a safe space to talk about and feel the struggles and blocks you are experiencing with your teen or in your ...
LIfe Dances Counselling offers a support group for parents of teens, held in the spring and fall. Here is a safe space to talk about and feel the struggles and blocks you are experiencing with your teen or in your ...
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy DBT Skills Training
DBT skills training is a weekly group, run more like a coaching class, which teaches skills across four main areas of wellbeing: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance skills. Clients are required to complete homework assignments in which ...
Hosted by Johanne Soden
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Surrey, BC V4A
DBT skills training is a weekly group, run more like a coaching class, which teaches skills across four main areas of wellbeing: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance skills. Clients are required to complete homework assignments in which ...
Seahorse Counselling, Courtenay
Hosted by Lianne Labistour
Pre-Licensed Professional, BA, MA, (Cand)
Verified Verified
Group meets in Courtenay, BC V9N
Motherhood Circle
Motherhood Circle is a pre-registered, weekly group for women who want to explore their experiences as new mothers and build community in a supported and nurturing environment. It is an opportunity to connect with other moms, share personal experiences and ...
Motherhood Circle is a pre-registered, weekly group for women who want to explore their experiences as new mothers and build community in a supported and nurturing environment. It is an opportunity to connect with other moms, share personal experiences and ...
Sex Therapy online in British Columbia & Alberta
Dr. Hersh is also seeing patients online. It is an exciting technology that is efficient and effective.
Many of our patients are in Calgary - Edmonton, AB and Nelson - Kelowna - Vancouver, BC. People who live anywhere can now have ...
Hosted by Dr. David Hersh - Hersh Ctr for Sexual Wellness
EdD, LMFT, CST, ABS, FAACS
Verified Verified
Group meets in Nelson, BC V1L
Dr. Hersh is also seeing patients online. It is an exciting technology that is efficient and effective.
Many of our patients are in Calgary - Edmonton, AB and Nelson - Kelowna - Vancouver, BC. People who live anywhere can now have ...
See more therapy options for British Columbia
FAQs - About Group Therapy and Support Groups
How can I find a support group in British Columbia?
Search for nearby support groups by inputting your city, postal code, or the name of the group into the search bar. From there, you can filter to find a group that suits your needs, whether you are looking for support for a teenager, a group that focuses on a specific issue, such as depression, or a particular program type, such as one geared toward developing social skills. To navigate between locations within the same country, enter a new city or postal code into the search bar.
How does group therapy work?
Therapy groups are led by one or more therapists and serve to help people process their experiences and learn from others who understand their challenges firsthand. They can be based on a specific issue, such as addiction, grief, physical illnesses, parenting, and caregiving. They can involve a specific type of program or therapy, such as a social skills group or CBT group. They can also be specific to a particular population or community, such as teens or LGBTQ.
Support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, also focus on a specific issue, but are typically led by members with lived experiences and are less structured than therapy groups. Most therapy groups will meet for a fixed length of time with a consistent group of members, while many support groups meet for an indefinite period of time with members coming and going.
Support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, also focus on a specific issue, but are typically led by members with lived experiences and are less structured than therapy groups. Most therapy groups will meet for a fixed length of time with a consistent group of members, while many support groups meet for an indefinite period of time with members coming and going.
What are the benefits of group therapy?
Support groups help connect people with shared challenges or physical and mental health conditions. In a group setting, participants can receive support and feedback from peers and can acquire new skills, strategies and perspectives by listening to one another. Discussing your experience with someone who also has a cancer diagnosis, or whose son also struggles with addiction, for example, can help you feel less alone, reduce distress, find empathy and connection, and learn practical or medical information that has helped others. Group therapy can also be a more affordable option than individual therapy and just as effective.
Is group therapy as effective as individual therapy?
Support groups can be deeply valuable for both emotional support and/or treatment outcomes. It’s difficult to make a blanket statement on efficacy due to the many different types of support groups and conditions treated, but group therapy has been found to be just as effective as individual therapy in establishing long-term abstinence for conditions such as substance abuse, addiction and alcohol abuse.
How much does group therapy cost?
Group counselling is typically less expensive than individual counselling, with each session costing on average about $90 to $100. Meanwhile, individual therapy sessions can run anywhere from $100 to $200. It is possible to find low-cost group therapy options and many therapists offer group sessions free of charge.
Does insurance cover group therapy?
If you have private insurance, your plan may cover some if not all of your group therapy sessions. You should contact your insurance provider to determine if they provide coverage for group therapy sessions and to determine what, if any, requirements they might have in order for your sessions to be covered, such as a referral from your GP or medical specialist.
How long does group therapy last?
The length of a support group session is often one hour but can fall anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours. The amount of time that people remain in a support group varies based on their specific needs and goals and the type of therapy. Some individuals may seek a shorter-term group, such as a bereavement group, that may last between six and 20 weeks. Some may seek a longer-term group that lasts for a year or indefinitely.
What are the limitations of support groups?
Support groups have many benefits, but there are a few limitations as well. Support groups do not constitute formal therapeutic or medical treatment, and are not run by licensed mental health professionals, so some people may opt for group therapy or individual therapy instead. Additionally, support groups can depend on the other participants, so a disruptive individual has the potential to mar the group dynamic, and the anecdotal information shared may sometimes be unhelpful or inaccurate. Because it is a group setting, confidentiality can be more difficult to guard and participants receive less personalized attention than they would in an individual therapy session.