Christian DBT Skills Group (Online)
This group is to learn skills to change behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that cause problems in living. The group includes a mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness modules. We will learn how to learn how to 1.) be ...
Hosted by Katina Laib
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Fremont, CA 94538
This group is to learn skills to change behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that cause problems in living. The group includes a mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness modules. We will learn how to learn how to 1.) be ...
Marriage Survival Training May 20-21, 2023
Esther I. Wei partners with Joy Wong Liu LMFT at LIVE-DEEPLY.COM to present Marriage Survival Trainings. These are 2-day weekend marriage intensives that will help newlyweds and other couples strengthen their marriages. Esther and Joy have been collaborating with artist ...
Hosted by Esther Wei
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LAADC, ICAADC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Albany, CA 94706
Esther I. Wei partners with Joy Wong Liu LMFT at LIVE-DEEPLY.COM to present Marriage Survival Trainings. These are 2-day weekend marriage intensives that will help newlyweds and other couples strengthen their marriages. Esther and Joy have been collaborating with artist ...
Virtual Group for Women Experiencing Infertility
Another new year and still not pregnant? Are you struggling with anxiety and depression? Has it been a marathon towards trying to conceive or a journey filled with losses or both? Give yourself the gift of support in 2024 as ...
Hosted by Catherine Pfister
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94710
Another new year and still not pregnant? Are you struggling with anxiety and depression? Has it been a marathon towards trying to conceive or a journey filled with losses or both? Give yourself the gift of support in 2024 as ...
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 ...
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 ...
Girls with Anxiety
Hosted by Being: A Psychological Corporation
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Meditation Support Group
This group is for beginning and intermediate meditators to learn and practice meditation in a supportive small group. Many people feel they "can't" meditate, they give up quickly, or continue to try but find it very difficult and unpleasant, often ...
Hosted by Heather Hardeman Galvano
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
This group is for beginning and intermediate meditators to learn and practice meditation in a supportive small group. Many people feel they "can't" meditate, they give up quickly, or continue to try but find it very difficult and unpleasant, often ...
Learning How to 'People;' HS Social Anxiety Group
Has your high schooler become increasingly socially anxious or avoidant? Do they express intense fears of being judged or feel awkward in social situations or become overwhelmed at school? Request Starbucks but refuse to go in to place an order? ...
Hosted by Heather Caruso-Maxey
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Pleasanton, CA 94566
Has your high schooler become increasingly socially anxious or avoidant? Do they express intense fears of being judged or feel awkward in social situations or become overwhelmed at school? Request Starbucks but refuse to go in to place an order? ...
Foresight Mental Health
Foresight is a mental health and wellness clinic providing patients with a wide range of treatment and services related to improving mental health and lifestyle. We are a team of psychiatrists, therapists, software engineers, bioengineers, and researchers with a mission ...
Hosted by Dmitra Danilenko-Dixon
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
Foresight is a mental health and wellness clinic providing patients with a wide range of treatment and services related to improving mental health and lifestyle. We are a team of psychiatrists, therapists, software engineers, bioengineers, and researchers with a mission ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
Men's Group (2) - Thursdays (Berkeley)
For those who learn by doing, you will get immense value and satisfaction from an Interpersonal Psychotherapy Process Group. You will learn about your relationship patterns and change the ones that don't work, all while offering both support and challenge, ...
Hosted by Berne Fitzpatrick
Psychologist, PhD, CGP
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
For those who learn by doing, you will get immense value and satisfaction from an Interpersonal Psychotherapy Process Group. You will learn about your relationship patterns and change the ones that don't work, all while offering both support and challenge, ...
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group
Virtual ACT for Anxiety and Depression workshop: 8-week course to help you find your path to a life worth living. Whether you struggle with lifelong anxiety and/or depression, feel stuck in life or overwhelmed by current events, this group can ...
Virtual ACT for Anxiety and Depression workshop: 8-week course to help you find your path to a life worth living. Whether you struggle with lifelong anxiety and/or depression, feel stuck in life or overwhelmed by current events, this group can ...
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 ...
DBT Skills Group
Hosted by Hannah Michele Raiden-Wright
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MPH
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94610
Healing from the Fear of Abandoment
This workshop will help you identify your repetitive relationship challenges and provide guidance on how to break these negative patterns. We all bring to our relationships aspects of our past that continue to show up and impact our ability to ...
Hosted by Valerie Doyle
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in San Leandro, CA 94577
This workshop will help you identify your repetitive relationship challenges and provide guidance on how to break these negative patterns. We all bring to our relationships aspects of our past that continue to show up and impact our ability to ...
Interplay Support Group for Therapists
This is a group for LMFT's, LPCC's, LCSW's, Psychologists and Interns in these fields. It is a support group for professionals using the spirit and forms of Interplay to inform our lives and our work.
Play is fun, stress free, and ...
Hosted by John Connors McConville
Marriage & Family Therapist, MDiv, MA, LMFT, PhD
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94612
This is a group for LMFT's, LPCC's, LCSW's, Psychologists and Interns in these fields. It is a support group for professionals using the spirit and forms of Interplay to inform our lives and our work.
Play is fun, stress free, and ...
Drama Therapy Training Group for Clinicians
This series focuses on helping clinicians develop skills and confidence in group leadership using action methods as well as training in how to use drama therapy with individuals and couples. Participants develop a deeper understanding of how to develop a ...
Hosted by Armand Volkas
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFA, MFT, RDT, BCT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Emeryville, CA 94608
This series focuses on helping clinicians develop skills and confidence in group leadership using action methods as well as training in how to use drama therapy with individuals and couples. Participants develop a deeper understanding of how to develop a ...
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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.