How does Group Therapy work?

Therapy groups typically have up to 12 members and meet for one to two hours, usually weekly. The group members and leaders sit in a way that allows each person to see everyone else. The therapists guide the group process and provide structure.

Groups may be open or closed. In an open group, members may join at any time, while a closed group has a set start and end date.

Groups are often formed around a shared issue. For example, group members may be living with a particular mental health concern (e.g., social anxiety, an eating disorder, an addiction), or dealing with a loss or other challenge (e.g., parenting difficulties, the mental illness or suicide of a family member).

As with other forms of psychotherapy, what is said in group therapy remains confidential, with certain exceptions. Group members are expected to respect other participants' privacy by not disclosing their identity or discussing the content of sessions outside the therapy room. It is also often an expectation that members will not socialize or contact one another outside the group.