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 ...
trauma- skills group
Hosted by Mia Turner
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, RYT, ASDCS
Verified Verified
Group meets in Albany, CA 94706
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 ...
Bereavement Support Groups
Being in the presence of others who are living through loss can be deeply comforting and supportive. Groups are educational and process orientated so that members can learn about the grief process while also finding a safe haven among fellow ...
Hosted by Angela Topcu
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Fremont, CA 94536
Being in the presence of others who are living through loss can be deeply comforting and supportive. Groups are educational and process orientated so that members can learn about the grief process while also finding a safe haven among fellow ...
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 ...
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 ...
Women's Mid-Life Support Group
This group is designed to address the mid-life concerns of women as they pertain to life changes and transitions.This is an interactive support and empowerment group. The following topics will be explored including but not limited to "Re-discovering Ourselves;" "The ...
Hosted by Joy Metoyer
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Livermore, CA 94550
This group is designed to address the mid-life concerns of women as they pertain to life changes and transitions.This is an interactive support and empowerment group. The following topics will be explored including but not limited to "Re-discovering Ourselves;" "The ...
Embodied Connection Circles
Hosted by Sharon Stafanson
Psychologist, PsyD, RYT 200
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94618
Anger Mangement
This twelve week group teaches women to find their strength by expressing their needs in a way that is more likely to be heard. You will learn to feel pride in the way you present in the world.
This is ...
Hosted by Norma Lee Myers
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94709
This twelve week group teaches women to find their strength by expressing their needs in a way that is more likely to be heard. You will learn to feel pride in the way you present in the world.
This is ...
IFS Women's Support Group for grief & relationship
This group is a six-week therapy group for women, blending the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and mindfulness. This group is tailored for those navigating grief, trauma, relationship shifts, and career challenges along with a safe space for exploration. I ...
Hosted by Kelly Albrecht
Pre-Licensed Professional, ASW
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94609
This group is a six-week therapy group for women, blending the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and mindfulness. This group is tailored for those navigating grief, trauma, relationship shifts, and career challenges along with a safe space for exploration. I ...
Caregiver Support Group
Monthly online support group for family members and friends living in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties who are caring for an elderly relative/friend (age 60+). You must register before attending. Please call me or email me at Family Caregiver Alliance ...
Hosted by Amanda Hartrey
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Emeryville, CA 94608
Monthly online support group for family members and friends living in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties who are caring for an elderly relative/friend (age 60+). You must register before attending. Please call me or email me at Family Caregiver Alliance ...
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 ...
Dream Consultation
I developed a gift for dream interpretation early in life. In this group participants practice and gradually gain expertise in the interpretation of their own dreams. We discuss the nature of symbolic dream material, metaphors, archetypes, world mythologies and psychodynamic ...
Hosted by Barry Steven Friedman
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, MFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Oakland, CA 94611
I developed a gift for dream interpretation early in life. In this group participants practice and gradually gain expertise in the interpretation of their own dreams. We discuss the nature of symbolic dream material, metaphors, archetypes, world mythologies and psychodynamic ...
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 ...
Men's Group - East Bay - In-person - Berkeley
This is an interpersonal psychotherapy process group available to all who identify as men, including trans men. / Men can struggle with many parts of life: emotionally, in relationships, at the workplace, socially. The struggle is all the more difficult ...
Hosted by David Thanos Heliotis
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPCC
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94703
This is an interpersonal psychotherapy process group available to all who identify as men, including trans men. / Men can struggle with many parts of life: emotionally, in relationships, at the workplace, socially. The struggle is all the more difficult ...
OCD Weekly Group for Teens ages 14-17
Weekly OCD support group on Monday nights for teens. This is an ongoing group with (2) components. Teens and parents meet separately. The teen group focuses on understanding symptoms and developing coping strategies. The parent sessions focus on understanding OCD ...
Hosted by Ilyana Romanovsky
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94705
Weekly OCD support group on Monday nights for teens. This is an ongoing group with (2) components. Teens and parents meet separately. The teen group focuses on understanding symptoms and developing coping strategies. The parent sessions focus on understanding OCD ...
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.
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 ...
Befriending Our Emotions Thru Radical Acceptance
Anxiety, depression group
Hosted by Eleanor Lew
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified Verified
Group meets in Berkeley, CA 94709
Anxiety, depression group
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 ...
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.