Teen DBT Skills Group
Teen DBT Skills Group Now Enrolling! Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a straightforward and effective treatment for teens struggling with emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, and more. Delivered in a virtual group setting, this course will begin in January 2023 ...
Teen DBT Skills Group Now Enrolling! Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a straightforward and effective treatment for teens struggling with emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, and more. Delivered in a virtual group setting, this course will begin in January 2023 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Art As A Pathway
The aim of this group is to practice and develop tools for processing emotions, letting go of perfection, gaining insight into and challenging thought patterns, through art and writing. The group is open to people who identify as female age ...
Hosted by Marhya Kelsch
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Hayward, CA 94545
The aim of this group is to practice and develop tools for processing emotions, letting go of perfection, gaining insight into and challenging thought patterns, through art and writing. The group is open to people who identify as female age ...
Mindful Recovery
This group will utilize mindfulness practices to help individuals overcome destructive behaviors and reconnect with their innate capacities for joy, love, and fulfillment.
Hosted by Zoya K Hynes
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94709
This group will utilize mindfulness practices to help individuals overcome destructive behaviors and reconnect with their innate capacities for joy, love, and fulfillment.
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 ...
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 ...
Parenting through the College Application Process
This group is to help parents during the stressful period of their child's college application process. It will provide both support and information about your role and how to best help your child. It will provide guidance about when to ...
Hosted by Alison Trules
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
This group is to help parents during the stressful period of their child's college application process. It will provide both support and information about your role and how to best help your child. It will provide guidance about when to ...
In Real Life Men's Group- Tuesdays- In-Person
**3 OPENINGS** Are you struggling to get to the bottom of your relationship struggles in individual therapy? Are you missing the intimacy you crave in friendships and romantic relationships? It's time to look deeper. IRL Men's Groups offer a space ...
**3 OPENINGS** Are you struggling to get to the bottom of your relationship struggles in individual therapy? Are you missing the intimacy you crave in friendships and romantic relationships? It's time to look deeper. IRL Men's Groups offer a space ...
Black Women in the Boardroom
A safe therapeutic support group for professional black women that are navigating workplace isolation and/or experiencing Pet to Threat. The goal of this group is to rebalance professional energy, thinking and self-care.
$30 Per Session that refreshes in attendees ...
Hosted by Carrie Ann Gray
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94703
A safe therapeutic support group for professional black women that are navigating workplace isolation and/or experiencing Pet to Threat. The goal of this group is to rebalance professional energy, thinking and self-care.
$30 Per Session that refreshes in attendees ...
Group Therapy
A welcoming, supportive group setting where participants work together to support one another in working towards their goals.
Hosted by Darrah Whitman Jones
Pre-Licensed Professional, MSW, ACSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Albany, CA 94706
A welcoming, supportive group setting where participants work together to support one another in working towards their goals.
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 ...
Support Group for New Moms
You knew being a mom was going to be work, but you didn't expect it to be this much work. You're trying to juggle it all, but you're feeling overwhelmed and tired. You love your child so much, but sometimes ...
Hosted by Kristin Miyoko Papa
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CHWC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94703
You knew being a mom was going to be work, but you didn't expect it to be this much work. You're trying to juggle it all, but you're feeling overwhelmed and tired. You love your child so much, but sometimes ...
White Anti-Racist Study Group for Clinicians
An ongoing white anti-racist study group for mental health clinicians looking to unpack what it means to be white in American culture and how being white effects how we live, love and work.
Hosted by Rae Walker Mountz
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94704
An ongoing white anti-racist study group for mental health clinicians looking to unpack what it means to be white in American culture and how being white effects how we live, love and work.
Women: Anger & Assertiveness Psychotherapy Group
** NOW OFFERING INDIVIDUAL & COUPLE TELEHEALTH ANGER & ASSERTIVENESS SESSIONS until COVID-safe to resume group** Safe, supportive, confidential place for women ready to learn anger management & assertiveness skills. Heal trauma, abuse, bullying from adult, teen, childhood.. Share, witness ...
Hosted by Debra Milinsky
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, MA, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94704
** NOW OFFERING INDIVIDUAL & COUPLE TELEHEALTH ANGER & ASSERTIVENESS SESSIONS until COVID-safe to resume group** Safe, supportive, confidential place for women ready to learn anger management & assertiveness skills. Heal trauma, abuse, bullying from adult, teen, childhood.. Share, witness ...
Wednesday Group for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
This therapy group for male survivors of sexual abuse, began in Spring of 2015 and accepts new members as space opens up. I meet on-going with anyone interested in being considered for membership and willing to join a waitlist. Please ...
Hosted by Bill Burmester
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94710
This therapy group for male survivors of sexual abuse, began in Spring of 2015 and accepts new members as space opens up. I meet on-going with anyone interested in being considered for membership and willing to join a waitlist. Please ...
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 ...
Brain Injury Recovery
Support group/cognitive function course in brain injury recovery. Each group will start with a short lesson followed by group discussion. With a group of peers you will learn how to manage lingering symptoms, and build healthy habits. Common topics include: ...
Hosted by Next Steps Neuropsychology
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Support group/cognitive function course in brain injury recovery. Each group will start with a short lesson followed by group discussion. With a group of peers you will learn how to manage lingering symptoms, and build healthy habits. Common topics include: ...
Girls with Anxiety
Hosted by Being: A Psychological Corporation
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Langniappe Therapy
Hosted by Lisa M De Geneste
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CHT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94602
See more therapy options for Alameda County
FAQs - About Group Therapy and Support Groups
How can I find a support group in Alameda County?
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.