Support Groups in Oakland, CA
White Male Resilience -- Unlearning the "isms"
This three month group therapy course is for white men who want to make a social difference in their families, communities, and the world. This group will teach you skills necessary to stay present and connected in difficult and uncomfortable ...
Hosted by Aaron Wilson
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
This three month group therapy course is for white men who want to make a social difference in their families, communities, and the world. This group will teach you skills necessary to stay present and connected in difficult and uncomfortable ...
Grief Support Group
It's important to talk about your loved one, honor your emotions and recognize the various stages of mourning. With loss also comes changes in self-identity and the role a person plays in life. This group is a safe space where ...
Hosted by Cathy Trenary
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, APCC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
It's important to talk about your loved one, honor your emotions and recognize the various stages of mourning. With loss also comes changes in self-identity and the role a person plays in life. This group is a safe space where ...
Doing Life in Recovery, Relapse Prevention Group
You might find after some time in recovery, challenges come up in navigating an often stressful world, that could sabotage your clean days. Sharing your challenges as well as your successes with other like minded people, problem solving together while ...
Hosted by Jann Scott
Drug & Alcohol Counselor
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
You might find after some time in recovery, challenges come up in navigating an often stressful world, that could sabotage your clean days. Sharing your challenges as well as your successes with other like minded people, problem solving together while ...
Group Therapy for Gay and Bisexual Men-Online only
Gay, bisexual, and queer men face distinct challenges in connecting emotionally with other men. Struggling with societal expectations, it is easy to fall into isolation or unfulfilling relationships. Processing the “here and now” interpersonal dynamics in group therapy, men may ...
Hosted by Adam MacDonald
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Gay, bisexual, and queer men face distinct challenges in connecting emotionally with other men. Struggling with societal expectations, it is easy to fall into isolation or unfulfilling relationships. Processing the “here and now” interpersonal dynamics in group therapy, men may ...
Girls Group!
Girls Group is for 7th and 8th grade girls who want to build supportive friendships and feel more confident in themselves. Group runs from March 6th through April 24th. The cost is $500 for 8 sessions.
Hosted by Andrea Weicker
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
Girls Group is for 7th and 8th grade girls who want to build supportive friendships and feel more confident in themselves. Group runs from March 6th through April 24th. The cost is $500 for 8 sessions.
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 ...
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 ...
Emotional Regulation and Social Skills
Emotional Regulation & Social Skills: Could your child use help managing big feelings and impulses? This group draws from Michelle Garcia-Winner's social thinking curriculum, using a narrative-based approach to these behaviors by externalizing them as "Unthinkables" characters that your child ...
Hosted by Kate Ekman
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Emotional Regulation & Social Skills: Could your child use help managing big feelings and impulses? This group draws from Michelle Garcia-Winner's social thinking curriculum, using a narrative-based approach to these behaviors by externalizing them as "Unthinkables" characters that your child ...
Consultation Group
Meet with at least 3 clinicians for weekly consultation about clinical material.
Hosted by Angie N Branham
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Meet with at least 3 clinicians for weekly consultation about clinical material.
Solace:Online Support Group for Navigating Anxiety
This online group will provide community and support for living with anxiety. Many of us were experiencing high levels of anxiety before the COVID19 crisis. If you are feeling overwhelmed, fearful, alone and unsure about what to do, this is ...
Hosted by Jennifer Lilly
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
This online group will provide community and support for living with anxiety. Many of us were experiencing high levels of anxiety before the COVID19 crisis. If you are feeling overwhelmed, fearful, alone and unsure about what to do, this is ...
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 ...
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 ...
Yoga Therapy Groups
Hosted by Sarah Campbell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT, RYT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Support Group for New/First Time Dads
The impact of bringing a child into the world can be challenging to navigate, but as fathers we can strengthen one another. In this group we will be looking at our own experiences in childhood and what was modeled by ...
Hosted by Scott Silverstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94606
The impact of bringing a child into the world can be challenging to navigate, but as fathers we can strengthen one another. In this group we will be looking at our own experiences in childhood and what was modeled by ...
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 ...
Attachment Focused EMDR Practicum Group
Hosted by Elena Felder
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94601
For the Loved Ones of Alcoholics and Addicts
An intimate, rich process group of 4-9 members who seek support around coping with a loved one's addiction or mental illness, and are ready to engage in self-care. Designed for high functioning individuals interested in embracing life's confounding challenges as ...
Hosted by Cecilia S. Kardel
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
An intimate, rich process group of 4-9 members who seek support around coping with a loved one's addiction or mental illness, and are ready to engage in self-care. Designed for high functioning individuals interested in embracing life's confounding challenges as ...
Ecotherapy Group (Currently Not Occuring)
This ongoing group is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in taking their process outdoors-into the beautiful oak, bay, and redwood forests of the Oakland hills. This group is for those who would like a respite from the bustle and ...
Hosted by Matthew McKernan
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
This ongoing group is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in taking their process outdoors-into the beautiful oak, bay, and redwood forests of the Oakland hills. This group is for those who would like a respite from the bustle and ...
CalPsychiatry
CalPsychiatry is a group of informed, empathetic and team-oriented psychiatrists. We have specialties in treatment of mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders (including OCD), ADHD, addiction and women's mental health. We have practices in San Francisco, Oakland, Palo Alto ...
Hosted by Juliet Morgan
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
CalPsychiatry is a group of informed, empathetic and team-oriented psychiatrists. We have specialties in treatment of mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders (including OCD), ADHD, addiction and women's mental health. We have practices in San Francisco, Oakland, Palo Alto ...
1) Living with Cancer 2) Surviving Infertility
1) Living with Cancer-a support group for individuals living with cancer from Diagnosis to Post-Treatment 2)Infertility- a support group for surviving Infertility emotionally and practically
Hosted by Jackie Fine Dahan
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
1) Living with Cancer-a support group for individuals living with cancer from Diagnosis to Post-Treatment 2)Infertility- a support group for surviving Infertility emotionally and practically
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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.