When people think about therapy, they often picture one person sitting across from one therapist in a private office. While that is one common and effective form of therapy, it is not the only one. Group therapy offers people the chance to work on their mental health in a supportive setting where they can learn, reflect, and connect with others facing similar struggles.
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy led by a licensed mental health professional who guides a small group through conversation, support, skill-building, and shared reflection. Groups may focus on anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, relationships, grief, or specific therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Sessions can take place in person or online and may be used alongside individual therapy or on their own.
What makes group therapy unique is that the group itself can become part of the healing process. Instead of carrying difficult emotions alone, people have the opportunity to hear others speak honestly about fear, shame, stress, grief, or relationship challenges. That shared experience often helps reduce isolation, build insight, and remind people that they are not alone in what they are feeling.
How Does Group Therapy Work?
If you are wondering how group therapy works, most groups are typically built around a shared theme, challenge, or goal. Some groups are ongoing, while others meet for a set number of weeks.
The therapist helps guide the conversation, create emotional safety, and keep the group moving in a meaningful and supportive direction. Rather than feeling like an unstructured conversation, group therapy is intentionally designed to help participants reflect, connect, and make progress together.
Structure of a Typical Session
Most group therapy sessions include some combination of check-ins, guided discussion, skill-building, and group reflection. Early sessions are often designed to help people feel more comfortable, get to know the structure of the group, and begin building trust with one another.
The experience itself can look different depending on the type of group. In a CBT-based group, members may work on identifying thought patterns and learning practical coping strategies. In a DBT group, the focus may be on skills like emotional regulation, distress tolerance, or navigating relationships more effectively. Support-oriented groups tend to center more around shared experiences, giving members space to feel heard, validated, and understood by others who can relate.
Role of the Therapist
The therapist’s role in group therapy goes far beyond simply leading the conversation. They help create a space that feels safe, supportive, and respectful while guiding the group in a meaningful direction. A skilled therapist pays attention not only to what each person is saying, but also to the patterns, dynamics, and interactions happening within the group itself.
That matters because group therapy is not just about talking in front of other people. Much of the healing comes from the real-time connection and interaction between members. With the therapist’s guidance, those moments can lead to deeper insight, emotional support, and meaningful growth both inside and outside of the therapy room.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Many people initially consider group therapy because they are looking for support, but the benefits often go far beyond that. A well-run group can help people gain perspective, strengthen communication skills, build self-awareness, and feel less alone in what they are carrying.
One of the most meaningful benefits of group therapy is the sense of emotional support it can provide. There is something incredibly powerful about hearing another person describe a fear, struggle, or thought pattern that feels familiar. For many people, that realization alone can feel relieving and validating. According to the American Psychological Association, group therapy can help people recognize that they are not alone while also creating opportunities to both receive and offer support to others.
Another major benefit of group therapy is the opportunity to learn through interaction with others. Over time, people often begin to notice patterns in how they communicate, respond to stress, handle conflict, or pull away emotionally. Those moments of reflection can lead to greater self-awareness and, in many cases, healthier and more fulfilling relationships outside of the group as well.
For example, someone struggling with anxiety may use the group setting to practice speaking honestly, sitting with discomfort, listening to others, and navigating differences healthily. Over time, those experiences can help build confidence and strengthen real-world communication skills. This is one of the reasons group therapy can be especially helpful for people who feel isolated, misunderstood, or overwhelmed in social or emotional situations.
As one of many effective forms of psychotherapy, group therapy gives people the opportunity to build and practice skills in a supportive, real-life environment. People can also learn a great deal from one another. Hearing how others cope with anxiety, low mood, grief, conflict, or emotional stress can offer new perspectives, practical tools, and a sense of connection that feels both grounding and encouraging.
Types of Group Therapy
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to group therapy. Different groups are designed for different needs, which is why finding the right fit matters. Some groups focus on skill-building, while others center around support, processing emotions, or navigating shared experiences. Because of that, it is important not to assume all group therapy experiences are the same.
If you are interested in exploring group therapy, it can be helpful to look through the current groups we are running to see which type of support or format feels like the best fit for you.
Support Groups
Support-focused groups center around connection, shared experiences, and emotional support. They bring together people navigating similar challenges so they can process what they are going through, feel less alone, and learn coping strategies with guidance from a therapist.
Skill-Based Groups
Skill-based groups are designed to teach practical tools that participants can use in everyday life. DBT skills groups are a common example, helping people build skills related to emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier communication and relationship patterns. Similarly, CBT groups can be especially helpful for people struggling with anxiety, depression, panic, and related concerns. CBT helps participants better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Both are examples of groups that help participants recognize unhelpful patterns and develop healthier, more effective ways of coping, communicating, and responding to stress.
In-Person Groups
Some people prefer in-person groups because they enjoy the feeling of face-to-face connection and interaction. Being physically present with others can help create a stronger sense of community and support.
Virtual Groups
Virtual groups offer greater flexibility and accessibility for people balancing busy schedules, parenting responsibilities, transportation challenges, or anxiety around attending in person. Online groups can still provide meaningful connections, therapist guidance, and skill-building from the comfort of home.
Is Group Therapy Right For You?
When considering group therapy, many people are looking not only for support but also for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside others rather than in isolation. Group therapy can be especially helpful for people navigating depression, grief, interpersonal stress, shame, loneliness, or anxiety. It can also benefit those who struggle with emotional regulation, communication, or setting healthier boundaries.
People often ask whether group therapy is effective for anxiety, and for many individuals, the answer is yes. Being part of a supportive group where others understand what you are experiencing can become a meaningful part of the healing process.
Group Therapy vs Individual Therapy
A lot of people compare group therapy and individual therapy as though they have to choose one or the other, but the two often work very well together.
Individual therapy offers private, personalized support and more space to explore your experiences in depth. Group therapy, on the other hand, adds the opportunity for shared connection, real-time interaction, and learning alongside others who may be navigating similar challenges.
Some people begin with individual therapy and later join a group, while others find that group therapy helps reduce feelings of isolation right away. Research also supports the effectiveness of group therapy, with studies showing meaningful improvement for many participants across a range of mental health concerns.
In many cases, the better question is not which type of therapy is “better,” but which kind of support feels most helpful for where you are right now.
What to Expect in Your First Session
Many people worry about what happens in a group therapy session, especially the first one. Usually, you are not expected to walk in and immediately share your deepest thoughts. Early sessions tend to focus on introductions, confidentiality expectations, group norms, and getting comfortable with the format.
The therapist makes sure people are not pressured beyond what is appropriate. In a well-led group therapy New Jersey setting, this helps new members feel more at ease from the beginning.
You may be invited to share a little about why you joined, what you hope to get from the group, or how you have been feeling lately. In some groups, there may also be a topic, skill, or guided activity.
Keep in mind that you are there to begin, not to do it perfectly. Working with experienced New Jersey therapists can also make that first step easy and supportive.
Group Therapy in New Jersey
IPG offers both in-person and virtual options for group therapy in New Jersey. Our current group offerings address concerns such as anxiety, betrayal trauma, emotional regulation, and depression. The practice serves clients across Bergen County, Passaic County, Essex County, Morris County, and Union County, offering therapy for depression, anxiety, panic, stress, anger, ADHD, trauma, grief, couples issues, and more.
Cost of Group Therapy at Insight Psychological Group
It is very common for people to have questions about the cost of group therapy before committing to it. At IPG, group psychotherapy sessions (60–90 minutes) are currently priced at $45 per session. Because insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs can vary, it is always helpful to check your benefits ahead of time so you know what to expect.
For many people, one of the advantages of group therapy is that it can offer meaningful support at a lower cost than individual therapy, making ongoing mental health care feel more accessible and manageable.
Ready to Join a Group?
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