Support Groups in Oakland, CA
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 ...
Moving with the Seasons: Ecotherapy Circle
This year long circle and training offers a balance of self-growth and deepening earth practices, practical ecotherapy tools and discerning and refining one’s unique gifts for Earth supportive work. You will gain: Earth-based practices and inspiration for deepening your daily ...
Hosted by Ariana Candell: Brainspotting
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, Somatic
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
This year long circle and training offers a balance of self-growth and deepening earth practices, practical ecotherapy tools and discerning and refining one’s unique gifts for Earth supportive work. You will gain: Earth-based practices and inspiration for deepening your daily ...
Self Esteem for Teens
In this group we give an open space for teen girls to learn and discuss their issues while providing psychoeducation to build self esteem and healthy relationships.
Hosted by Kale Woods
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
In this group we give an open space for teen girls to learn and discuss their issues while providing psychoeducation to build self esteem and healthy relationships.
Anger Management: Opening Doors to Change
NOTE: AT THIS TIME, I'M NOT OFFERING A GROUP BUT MAY BE OFFERING IT IN THE FUTURE. Recognize how and why your anger gets triggered and out of control. Identify feelings and underlying emotions. Interrupt the cycle before it causes ...
Hosted by Gloria Namkung
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
NOTE: AT THIS TIME, I'M NOT OFFERING A GROUP BUT MAY BE OFFERING IT IN THE FUTURE. Recognize how and why your anger gets triggered and out of control. Identify feelings and underlying emotions. Interrupt the cycle before it causes ...
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 ...
Recovery Group
We will discuss sorting out your different sources of stress and identifying and prioritizing specific actions that are in your power to take to address them.
Hosted by Women's Support Groups
LPC Intern, APCC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
We will discuss sorting out your different sources of stress and identifying and prioritizing specific actions that are in your power to take to address them.
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 ...
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", ...
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 ...
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 ...
Online Therapy Group for Gay Men
This group is for adults (21+) in CA who identify as gay and male. The purposes of this group are to receive and give support, increase compassion for yourself and others, and co-create a safe space for gay men to ...
Hosted by Max Littman
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94619
This group is for adults (21+) in CA who identify as gay and male. The purposes of this group are to receive and give support, increase compassion for yourself and others, and co-create a safe space for gay men to ...
Take Up Space, Amiga! Support Group
An 8-week virtual support group open to early career Latinx women in California, who are seeking to build community and engage in conversations about the unique challenges experienced in the workplace. In addition, we will discuss marianismo and cultural expectations ...
Hosted by Nancy Rodriguez
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
An 8-week virtual support group open to early career Latinx women in California, who are seeking to build community and engage in conversations about the unique challenges experienced in the workplace. In addition, we will discuss marianismo and cultural expectations ...
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 ...
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.
Girls with Anxiety
Hosted by Being: A Psychological Corporation
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Yoga Therapy Groups
Hosted by Sarah Campbell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT, RYT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
Your Therapy Room
Hosted by Brittaney Latta
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94603
Creative Community: Winter Expressive Arts
Start the new year with mornings of guided creativity and connection. This online group introduces participants to expressive arts therapy. This 4-week process is designed to: Invite centered relaxation, process emotions, connect deeply to self and others, explore creative self ...
Hosted by Yoshiko Hedges Powell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
Start the new year with mornings of guided creativity and connection. This online group introduces participants to expressive arts therapy. This 4-week process is designed to: Invite centered relaxation, process emotions, connect deeply to self and others, explore creative self ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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.