Early Adult Relationship Group for Building Secure Relationships
Heal Anxious Attachment and Build Healthier Relationships in an 8-Week Therapy Group
Many young adults want close relationships, yet they find themselves worrying when someone takes longer than usual to reply, questioning whether they said the wrong thing, or asking for reassurance more frequently than they would like. These patterns can become exhausting, especially when they repeat across different friendships or romantic relationships.
For this reason, our Early Adult Group Therapy program was created for adults ages 21 to 35 who want to understand why these patterns persist and learn healthier ways to respond. Through eight weekly sessions, participants explore how earlier experiences influence present-day relationships while learning skills that support stronger communication, closer connection, healthier boundaries, and emotional awareness.
Whether you are beginning to recognize anxious attachment in yourself or you have spent years struggling with relationship anxiety, this virtual group provides a place to learn alongside other young adults facing similar experiences. The program combines education, guided discussion, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches to help participants understand themselves and relate to others in healthier ways.
Ready to learn whether this group is the right fit for you?
to speak with our intake team or request additional information about upcoming sessions.
Session Details
- Format:
Virtual group sessions
- Schedule:
Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Program Length:
Eight weekly sessions
- Eligibility:
Early adults between 21 and 35 years old who are not currently married or living with a partner
- Insurance:
Most insurance plans are accepted
- Self-Pay Option:
$45 per session
- Location:
Participants throughout New Jersey can join securely online after receiving a private session link before the first meeting.
What Is the Early Adult Relationship Group?
The Early Adult Relationship Group is an eight-week virtual therapy program that helps participants better understand the relationship patterns that cause stress, uncertainty, and emotional distress, as well as one’s anticipation of relationship patterns that cause a person to avoid getting into them in the first place. Many members join after noticing recurring concerns such as overthinking conversations, fearing rejection, seeking reassurance, or struggling to establish healthy boundaries. Rather than focusing on one relationship, the group helps participants recognize patterns that influence many areas of their lives.
The program combines education about attachment theory with guided discussions and skill-building exercises led by Grace Santangelo, LAC. Participants explore how childhood experiences, past relationships, and personal beliefs continue influencing present-day interactions while learning healthier ways to communicate and respond during difficult situations.
Our group welcomes participants throughout New Jersey using a secure virtual platform, making it accessible for individuals who may not live near one of our office locations. This Early Adult Therapy Group New Jersey program allows members to receive support in the privacy of their own homes while participating in discussions with other young adults.
Interested in joining the next group?
to learn more about enrollment, insurance, and upcoming session dates.
Meet Your Group Leader
Choosing a therapy group also means getting to know the person leading the conversations. Experience, clinical training, and an appropriate approach all play an important role in ensuring a space where participants can openly discuss their experiences.
Here is more about the therapist leading this program.
Grace Santangelo, LAC
Grace Santangelo, LAC, is a Licensed Associate Counselor and National Certified Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montclair State University.
She works with adults and teens experiencing anxiety, attachment concerns, relationship challenges, trauma, OCD, life transitions, and grief. Grace draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and psychodynamic therapy to help participants understand recurring relationship patterns and develop healthier ways of communicating.
She leads each session with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to creating a respectful, confidential space for every group member.
Who Can Benefit from This Therapy Group?
It is a common assumption that relationship struggles only happen after a difficult breakup, but recurring patterns can appear much earlier. You may notice yourself reading too much into text messages, worrying that someone will lose interest, avoiding difficult conversations, or putting another person’s needs ahead of your own to keep the relationship intact. Sometimes troubles begin before a person has a chance to connect with another, when anxiety about how a relationship could go prevents them from taking the first step.
This program is designed for adults between the ages of 21 and 35 who want to understand those patterns and develop healthier ways of responding. The group welcomes individuals who are single, dating, or recovering from previous relationships, provided they are not currently married or living with a partner. If you have been searching for group therapy for young adults, this program offers an opportunity to learn alongside others who understand many of the same challenges.
What You'll Learn During the Program
There is no denying that healthy relationships are not solely dependent on finding the right person. They also depend on understanding your own thoughts, reactions, and communication habits. Throughout the eight-week program, participants examine recurring relationship patterns while learning skills they can continue practicing outside of each session.
You will explore how attachment develops, why certain situations trigger strong emotional reactions, and how your responses influence relationships over time. The group also discusses healthier ways to communicate needs, convey desires, establish boundaries, learn healthy relationship skills, and respond during moments of uncertainty.
Each session combines education with guided discussion and practical exercises. Grace Santangelo draws from several evidence-based approaches to help participants better understand their experiences while encouraging thoughtful conversations within the group. Individuals interested in relationship counseling frequently appreciate learning these concepts alongside peers who are working toward similar personal goals.
Signs You May Have Anxious Attachment
You might think that anxious attachment only affects romantic relationships, but it can also influence friendships, family relationships, and other important connections. These patterns usually develop slowly, which makes them difficult to recognize until they begin affecting daily life and emotional well-being.
Here are some signs you can keep an eye out for.
1. Fear of Abandonment
People with anxious attachment frequently worry that someone important to them will leave, even when there is little evidence that the relationship is in danger. Small changes in communication or routine can trigger fears that the relationship is changing for the worse.
2. Overthinking Text Messages and Conversations
Have you ever reread a text message several times before sending it, or spent hours wondering why someone has not replied? A lot of people analyze conversations repeatedly, searching for signs that they may have upset the other person. If you have searched for therapy for relationship anxiety, this pattern may already sound familiar.
3. Seeking Constant Reassurance
Everyone appreciates reassurance from time to time. Repeatedly asking whether someone is upset, questioning where a relationship stands, or looking for constant validation can create additional stress over time. Learning to recognize these patterns is usually an important part of attachment style therapy, where individuals explore the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to relationship anxiety.
4. Putting Other People’s Needs First
Supporting the people you care about is an important part of any healthy relationship. Ignoring your own needs to avoid conflict or disappointment, however, can gradually create unhealthy relationship patterns.
5. Strong Emotional Reactions During Conflict
Disagreements happen in every relationship, but anxious attachment can make those moments seem much bigger than they really are. A single disagreement may lead to fears about rejection, abandonment, or the future of the relationship. Many participants join this program because they are looking for a support group for insecure attachment, where they can better understand these reactions while learning healthier ways to respond.
Benefits of Group Therapy for Young Adults
Group therapy allows participants to examine relationship patterns with guidance from a licensed therapist while learning alongside others facing similar challenges. Many people discover that hearing different perspectives helps them understand their own experiences in ways they had not considered before.
But there are other benefits to it as well. Here are some of them.
1. Learn From Shared Experiences
A lot of relationship concerns are more common than people realize. Listening to others describe similar thoughts, worries, or communication challenges can reduce isolation while encouraging new ways of thinking about your own relationships. This early adult group brings together participants who are working toward healthier and more secure connections.
2. Practice Communication in a Safe Setting
Talking about relationships is only one part of the process. Group members also practice expressing their thoughts, listening without judgment, and responding respectfully during discussions. Those looking for relationship group therapy would appreciate having a consistent place to strengthen these communication skills with guidance from a licensed therapist.
3. Gain Support and Accountability
Meeting each week allows you to reflect on personal experiences, discuss challenges, and celebrate progress together. Participants also encourage one another to continue practicing the skills introduced during each session, which makes it easier to apply those lessons outside the group.
4. Build Healthier Relationship Patterns
Many participants join because they want to understand why the same challenges continue appearing in different relationships. Our virtual therapy New Jersey program helps young adults recognize those patterns while exploring healthier ways to communicate, establish boundaries, and respond during emotionally difficult situations.
Every session is led by Grace Santangelo, LAC, who guides discussions while creating a respectful, confidential space where participants can explore their experiences openly.
Ready to take the next step?
Complete the appointment request form or contact our office.
FAQs
1. How do I know if this therapy group is right for me?
This group is designed for adults ages 21 to 35 who struggle with anxious attachment, relationship anxiety, or recurring relationship patterns and are currently participating in individual therapy.
2. Is the group virtual?
Yes. All sessions take place virtually through a secure online platform, and participants receive a private meeting link before the program begins.
3. Does insurance cover the sessions?
Yes. Insight Psychological Group accepts most insurance plans. A self-pay option is also available for participants who do not use insurance benefits.
4. What happens during each session?
Each session includes therapist-led discussions, psychoeducation, skill-building exercises, and opportunities to reflect on relationship experiences while learning alongside other group members.
5. How many people are in the group?
Group sizes remain intentionally small (about 5-7 people) to encourage meaningful discussion while allowing every participant to contribute during each weekly session.
6. What will I learn?
You will learn about attachment patterns, emotional regulation, communication, healthy boundaries, reassurance-seeking, and strategies that support stronger, healthier relationships.
7. Can therapy help improve my relationships?
Yes. Therapy can help you recognize recurring relationship patterns, improve communication, establish healthier boundaries, and respond more thoughtfully during emotionally challenging situations.