Being With Bodies in Pain
An integrative support group for women and gender expansive folks to process the lived experience of being in a body with pain. Through psychotherapy, art therapy, yoga therapy and other valuable mind/body techniques, participants will learn valuable tools to utilize ...
Hosted by Zara Drapkin
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MA, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
An integrative support group for women and gender expansive folks to process the lived experience of being in a body with pain. Through psychotherapy, art therapy, yoga therapy and other valuable mind/body techniques, participants will learn valuable tools to utilize ...
APA - Asian Pacific-Islander American Group
Centering restorative justice, COVID-19, and the APA experience.
Hosted by Lai Chien
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Centering restorative justice, COVID-19, and the APA experience.
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.
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 ...
Happier Stepfamilies: for Stepparents & Partners
NEXT GROUP in 2020 - Check website for details * Almost 2/3 of marriages with stepchildren end in divorce. * 50% of children in the U.S. will experience divorce by age 18. Almost half are likely to suffer from depression. ...
Hosted by Edina C Adler
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MA, Mediatr
Verified Verified
Group meets in Pleasanton, CA 94588
NEXT GROUP in 2020 - Check website for details * Almost 2/3 of marriages with stepchildren end in divorce. * 50% of children in the U.S. will experience divorce by age 18. Almost half are likely to suffer from depression. ...
Couples Anxiety Reduction Technique
I explain how to do it, demo it with a couple, and answer questions about it. I'll teach one member of a couple to lead a protocol where they can help heal (reduce the trigger / fight / flight / ...
Hosted by Bay Area Couples Counseling
Marriage & Family Therapist, Emotion, Focused, Couples
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
I explain how to do it, demo it with a couple, and answer questions about it. I'll teach one member of a couple to lead a protocol where they can help heal (reduce the trigger / fight / flight / ...
Adolescent Anxiety Group
Introducing a teletherapy process/support group to assist adolescents struggling to cope with their current environment due to the recent global pandemic.
Hosted by Bridge Psych Services - Dr. Aisling Forbes
Psychological Associate, PhD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94607
Introducing a teletherapy process/support group to assist adolescents struggling to cope with their current environment due to the recent global pandemic.
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.
cancer and cancer treatment support
I have been leading a cancer and cancer treatment support group at San Quentin State prison since 2015. I have been deeply moved by the courage and fortitude of my patients as they have faced various cancers and the challenges ...
I have been leading a cancer and cancer treatment support group at San Quentin State prison since 2015. I have been deeply moved by the courage and fortitude of my patients as they have faced various cancers and the challenges ...
Foresight Mental Health
Foresight helps you find your path to mental wellness. We’re a community of mental health experts who offer a dynamic range of care that flexes with your particular needs and goals. Our team includes licensed therapists, psychiatric providers, researchers, a ...
Foresight helps you find your path to mental wellness. We’re a community of mental health experts who offer a dynamic range of care that flexes with your particular needs and goals. Our team includes licensed therapists, psychiatric providers, researchers, a ...
Yoga Therapy Groups
Hosted by Sarah Campbell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT, RYT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Women's Metastatic Cancer
Support Group for women with metastatic cancer to share experiences, treatment, journey
Hosted by Kim C Venezia
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
Support Group for women with metastatic cancer to share experiences, treatment, journey
College Student
College students face many different obstacles. This group is designed to provide community and help student learn necessary coping skills. Please reach out to me for more information or to express interest.
College students face many different obstacles. This group is designed to provide community and help student learn necessary coping skills. Please reach out to me for more information or to express interest.
Men's Group
A group for men to connect, share about personal topics and support one another. Topics may include: intimate relationships, expressing emotions, work & career, and examining the ways men are socialized in society, all with the goal of fostering more ...
Hosted by Woody Wu
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94702
A group for men to connect, share about personal topics and support one another. Topics may include: intimate relationships, expressing emotions, work & career, and examining the ways men are socialized in society, all with the goal of fostering more ...
Embodied Connection Circles
Hosted by Sharon Stafanson
Psychologist, PsyD, RYT 200
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
Men's Sex/Porn Addiction Group Therapy
Sex/porn addiction group therapy provides a safe and effective place for men to address the multi-layered aspects of their addiction: relationships, family, work, friends, self-esteem, finances, etc. The group provides the opportunity to connect with a social group in which ...
Hosted by Robert Schnitzius
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, CSAT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
Sex/porn addiction group therapy provides a safe and effective place for men to address the multi-layered aspects of their addiction: relationships, family, work, friends, self-esteem, finances, etc. The group provides the opportunity to connect with a social group in which ...
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction can reduce anxiety and stress, help you deepen into yourself and your needs, and enhance your relationship with others.
Through experiential exercises and group process, this 8 week group will explore a variety of mindfulness practices, ...
Hosted by Margaret Petersen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Pleasanton, CA 94566
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction can reduce anxiety and stress, help you deepen into yourself and your needs, and enhance your relationship with others.
Through experiential exercises and group process, this 8 week group will explore a variety of mindfulness practices, ...
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.