Why Group Therapy Might Be the Missing Piece
If you’ve spent time in individual therapy, you already know how powerful it can be to sit with someone who listens closely, reflects your experience, and helps you make sense of your inner world. That kind of one-on-one attention can be life-changing. But for many people, individual therapy eventually reaches a point where things start to feel familiar. Helpful, yes, but maybe not quite enough. You may begin to notice certain patterns showing up in your relationships, or feel like something is missing that can’t be uncovered in a two-person room.
That’s where group therapy comes in. It’s not a replacement for individual work, but a different kind of space altogether, one where healing happens in relationship, through shared experience, honest feedback, and new ways of being with others. While individual therapy can offer insight, group therapy invites you to apply that insight in real time. It challenges you to move from understanding your patterns to practicing change with others who are doing the same.
For many people, group becomes the piece they didn’t even know they were missing.
The Power of Being Seen by Others
So much of our emotional pain is relational in nature. We’re shaped by the people around us, for better or worse, and healing often happens in relationship, too. Group therapy creates a space where you can experience new ways of being with others—being listened to without judgment, expressing needs safely, practicing vulnerability, and noticing the impact you have on the people around you.
This doesn’t mean group is about fixing you. Instead, it’s a space where you can show up as you are and explore how you relate, connect, and respond. For many people, it’s one of the first times they’ve felt truly seen and accepted in a group setting.
A Different Kind of Feedback
In group therapy, the feedback you receive doesn’t come only from the therapist. It comes from the other group members who are there, week after week, witnessing your process and sharing their own. This kind of reflection—honest, thoughtful, and grounded in shared experience—can illuminate patterns you didn’t know were there and help you build emotional awareness in real time.
It’s not about being told what to do. It’s about noticing how others experience you, sitting with your reactions, and deciding what that means for you.
Practicing Change in Real Time
Individual therapy gives you space to talk through your life. Group therapy lets you practice living it differently. You can try out new ways of expressing yourself, set boundaries, notice how you respond to conflict, and explore what it feels like to be vulnerable with others. It’s a unique chance to move from insight into integration.
Therapists often say that group is where the work gets in your body. The awareness becomes something you feel and act on, not just something you understand.
When It’s the Right Time for Group
Group therapy is helpful at many stages of the healing process. Some people start with group as their main form of therapy. Others add it alongside individual work when they’re ready for more relational insight and growth. It can be especially powerful if you’re feeling isolated, stuck in patterns you can’t quite name, or hungry for more authentic connection.
If you’re not sure whether group is right for you, that’s okay. A therapist can talk with you about your goals and help you explore your options. The most important thing is that you don’t have to figure it out alone.
We Are Here For You
Hannah Dunsmore
Group Leader
Group therapy can be a meaningful and transformative experience, especially when you’re surrounded by people who listen with empathy and show up with honesty. Our Group Therapy program includes a wide range of groups led by experienced clinicians who create space for connection, growth, and healing.
When you’re ready, reach out to us. We’d be honored to help you find a group that feels right for you.
