Support Groups in Oakland, CA
DBT Skills Group
A DBT skills group uses a psycho-educational class format where the emphasis is on learning and practicing behavioral skills. These skills include mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. Skills are taught in a series of three modules, each ...
Hosted by Charese Allen
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
A DBT skills group uses a psycho-educational class format where the emphasis is on learning and practicing behavioral skills. These skills include mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. Skills are taught in a series of three modules, each ...
Men's Group
This group is an opportunity for men to cultivate more fulfilling relationships with themselves, loved ones, and other men. Through self-exploration and receiving the support of others, participants have the opportunity to find a deeper strength within. This strength can ...
Hosted by Nick Wightman
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
This group is an opportunity for men to cultivate more fulfilling relationships with themselves, loved ones, and other men. Through self-exploration and receiving the support of others, participants have the opportunity to find a deeper strength within. This strength can ...
Mixed/Multi-heritage Identity group- online
As someone who identifies as bi/multiracial, bi/multicultural, or in some other way that doesn't quite fit these boxes, this group is an opportunity to come together with other multi-heritage folks to share experiences, be seen and heard, "take up space", ...
Hosted by Jennie Powe Runde
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, REAT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
As someone who identifies as bi/multiracial, bi/multicultural, or in some other way that doesn't quite fit these boxes, this group is an opportunity to come together with other multi-heritage folks to share experiences, be seen and heard, "take up space", ...
Childhood Trauma Processing Group
Childhood trauma is defined as an event or events experienced by a child that is emotionally painful, frightening, or distressful, which can often lead to lasting mental and physical effects. Symptoms of childhood trauma in adults can include but are ...
Hosted by Christine Rivlin
Counselor, LPCC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Childhood trauma is defined as an event or events experienced by a child that is emotionally painful, frightening, or distressful, which can often lead to lasting mental and physical effects. Symptoms of childhood trauma in adults can include but are ...
Jessica Engle
Does dating scare you? Do you worry you'll die alone but also feel too scared to open your heart to someone? Our dating and social anxiety group can help you find companionship; learn practical, evidence-based techniques for working with and ...
Hosted by Bay Area Dating Coach
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, RDT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94612
Does dating scare you? Do you worry you'll die alone but also feel too scared to open your heart to someone? Our dating and social anxiety group can help you find companionship; learn practical, evidence-based techniques for working with and ...
Ongoing adult therapy group
This ongoing group consists of mental health professionals or graduate students who wish to enhance their personal growth and development. It is a very stable group whose participants are interested in expanding their ability to trust, support and gently challenge ...
Hosted by Jeff Sharp
Psychologist
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
This ongoing group consists of mental health professionals or graduate students who wish to enhance their personal growth and development. It is a very stable group whose participants are interested in expanding their ability to trust, support and gently challenge ...
The Relational Self
This group offers a holistic, trauma-informed and experiential therapeutic approach. The group aims to help members discover strengths, uncover and realign belief systems, improve their ability to relate and interact with others, receive feedback, and identify how societal/cultural themes influence ...
Hosted by Erica S Wheeler-Dubin
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
This group offers a holistic, trauma-informed and experiential therapeutic approach. The group aims to help members discover strengths, uncover and realign belief systems, improve their ability to relate and interact with others, receive feedback, and identify how societal/cultural themes influence ...
Free Yourself: Somatic-IFS Skills Group
Listening to your body’s wisdom is re-learning how to trust yourself. This skills group is for those interested in practicing how to quiet the mind for greater connection to one’s intuition. Weekly sessions will include psychoeducation using somatic and IFS ...
Hosted by Lauren Massell
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
Listening to your body’s wisdom is re-learning how to trust yourself. This skills group is for those interested in practicing how to quiet the mind for greater connection to one’s intuition. Weekly sessions will include psychoeducation using somatic and IFS ...
Workshop-Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work
New dates to be determined. Save Your Marriage/Relationship - an 8 hour relationship workshop based on the research of John Gottman, PhD and his book the Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work. Visit my website for registration information.
Hosted by John R. Edwards
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
New dates to be determined. Save Your Marriage/Relationship - an 8 hour relationship workshop based on the research of John Gottman, PhD and his book the Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work. Visit my website for registration information.
addiction recovery group
This group is designed specifically for people who are in recovery from drug or alcohol use issues.
Hosted by Peter V. Curtin
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, BA, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
This group is designed specifically for people who are in recovery from drug or alcohol use issues.
Suicide Bereavement Group
Hosted by La Cheim Behavioral Services
Hosted by Susan Futterman
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Hosted by La Cheim Behavioral Services
Build Confidence, Find Companionship
Hello shy introvert! Do you have an Inner Critic that won’t quit? From morning to night, that critical voice in your head says things like, “what’s wrong with me?” & “I’m going to disappoint everyone!” Our dating & social anxiety ...
Hosted by Social Anxiety Support Center
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT, RDT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94612
Hello shy introvert! Do you have an Inner Critic that won’t quit? From morning to night, that critical voice in your head says things like, “what’s wrong with me?” & “I’m going to disappoint everyone!” Our dating & social anxiety ...
Growing Older with Grace
Finding peace of mind in the mayhem of growing older can be challenging. As our bodies age, we can benefit from sharing our stories, and seeing our experiences reflected in our community. We are, none of us, alone in this ...
Hosted by Uma Kahn Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, MBA
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Finding peace of mind in the mayhem of growing older can be challenging. As our bodies age, we can benefit from sharing our stories, and seeing our experiences reflected in our community. We are, none of us, alone in this ...
Mindfulness for Women of Color
Women of Color: Learn mindfulness skills to help you increase your calm, sense of peace and comfort within yourself, and to lessen your overwhelm. A six week online course with lessons delivered by email, then followed up with live online ...
Hosted by Cindi Rivera
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
Women of Color: Learn mindfulness skills to help you increase your calm, sense of peace and comfort within yourself, and to lessen your overwhelm. A six week online course with lessons delivered by email, then followed up with live online ...
Moving Throughout Emotional Crisis
Offering a blend of didactic skill based training and supportive group process, the Moving Through Emotional Crisis Group offers support to anyone suffering from intense depression, anxiety or trauma related symptoms. This 90 minute group is divided into approximately 30 ...
Hosted by Mary Deyo
Psychologist, MA, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
Offering a blend of didactic skill based training and supportive group process, the Moving Through Emotional Crisis Group offers support to anyone suffering from intense depression, anxiety or trauma related symptoms. This 90 minute group is divided into approximately 30 ...
detoxing masculinity: group for men of color
This facilitated weekly group will utilize a combination of psychoeducation, group process/discussion and experiential activities (mindfulness, trauma-release, expressive arts,etc) to explore our diverse experience as men of color. Part of our work as self-identified men of color is to unlearn ...
Hosted by Sarwang Parikh
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
This facilitated weekly group will utilize a combination of psychoeducation, group process/discussion and experiential activities (mindfulness, trauma-release, expressive arts,etc) to explore our diverse experience as men of color. Part of our work as self-identified men of color is to unlearn ...
True Yang Somatic Ketamine Therapy
True Yang Somatic Ketamine Therapy offers somatic and ketamine-assisted therapy for the healing of trauma. Somatic therapy is based in the neuroscience of attachment. Together, you and your therapist will navigate an exploration of the “imprints” in your nervous system ...
Hosted by Angela Allan
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
True Yang Somatic Ketamine Therapy offers somatic and ketamine-assisted therapy for the healing of trauma. Somatic therapy is based in the neuroscience of attachment. Together, you and your therapist will navigate an exploration of the “imprints” in your nervous system ...
Moving Through Emotional Crisis Group
Offering a blend of didactic skill based training and supportive group process, the Moving Through Emotional Crisis Group offers support to anyone suffering from intense depression, anxiety or trauma related symptoms. This 90 minute group is divided into approximately 30 ...
Hosted by Mary Deyo
Psychologist, MA, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
Offering a blend of didactic skill based training and supportive group process, the Moving Through Emotional Crisis Group offers support to anyone suffering from intense depression, anxiety or trauma related symptoms. This 90 minute group is divided into approximately 30 ...
Embodied Authenticity
Gain awareness of how attachment styles, internal working models and defensive patterns close off one's energy and experiences. Explore the effects of somatic holding patterns. The group will use strengths & capacities that group members already have to explore living ...
Hosted by Trisha Rowe
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
Gain awareness of how attachment styles, internal working models and defensive patterns close off one's energy and experiences. Explore the effects of somatic holding patterns. The group will use strengths & capacities that group members already have to explore living ...
Please visit our website for more details.
Hosted by Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center
Pre-Licensed Professional
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
See more therapy options for Oakland
FAQs - About Group Therapy and Support Groups
How can I find a support group in Oakland?
Search for nearby support groups by inputting your city, zip 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 zip 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 counseling is typically less expensive than individual counseling, with each session costing on average between $60 to $75. Meanwhile, individual therapy sessions can run anywhere from $100 to $200 and up, even after insurance. It is possible to find low-cost group therapy options and many therapists offer group sessions free of charge.
Does insurance cover group therapy?
As with individual therapy, many insurance companies do offer coverage for group therapy sessions. However, the coverage varies based on your insurance plan details and whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network mental healthcare provider. Individuals are encouraged to check with their insurance providers to verify coverage.
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.