Group Therapy vs. Support Group: What’s Right for You?

Group therapy is a form of psychological treatment in which a group of people meets to work on their concerns with the help and supervision of one or more therapists. The interactions between group members are part of the treatment itself. Multiple sources of feedback and ideas give each individual the chance to connect with others in new ways and change how they deal with their problems.

There are many different types of therapeutic groups, largely determined by the purpose of the group and how it is organized. Groups can be focused on a particular problem that members share, such as anxiety, or they can include members facing a wider variety of challenges. Discussions can be structured and focused on learning and practicing new skills, or they can be more free-flowing and process-oriented. Groups may be time-limited, with a set number of planned sessions, or ongoing. Membership can be open, where someone may join at any time, or closed, where members join only at particular points.

Key Elements of Group Therapy:

• Professional facilitation: A trained therapist leads the sessions, offering structured activities, discussions, and interventions to address the group's needs.
• Focused goals: Group therapy often has a specific focus, such as cognitive behavioral techniques, interpersonal relationships, or trauma processing.
• Confidentiality: Participants are typically required to maintain confidentiality, fostering a supportive environment for sharing personal experiences.
• Therapeutic techniques: The therapist uses a range of methods to facilitate growth, such as mindfulness exercises, role-playing, and skills practice.

Sessions vary depending on the type of group. Generally, a session involves roughly 4 to 12 people and one or more therapists who lead and facilitate the work of the group. Groups typically meet weekly, sessions last between one and two hours, and regular attendance is expected. There are some groups that are time-limited, perhaps 8-12 sessions, while other groups may be ongoing, with new members cycling in at different times.

Therapists may be very active, as in skills training groups where a specific topic is taught and practiced. They may also be comparatively quiet, only occasionally directing or intervening in the conversation to keep the group moving in a productive and therapeutic direction. Most groups center on talk, but some incorporate activities such as art projects, music, or exercise. Members are expected to participate with at least some level of sharing.

While both formats offer support, the goal of group therapy is to help members change, while the goal of support groups is to help members cope.

Support groups tend to have a particular theme, such as parents of children with serious illnesses, and everyone who attends has some connection to that theme. They are usually much less structured than therapeutic groups. At times there may be presentations on a related topic, but most often the discussion focuses on supporting members through their current struggles.

Support groups can be very large and are often open-ended, with members coming and going and attending only when they feel the need. While support groups often have leaders or organizers, those leaders generally do not have clinical training and act as facilitators rather than clinicians who intervene or offer interpretations.

Key Elements of Support Groups:

• Peer support: Participants support each other through shared experiences, emotions, and coping strategies, creating a sense of solidarity and empathy.
• Informal structure: Support groups tend to be less formal and less guided by a professional, often following an open discussion format.
• Shared experiences: Groups form around a specific theme or challenge, such as grief, addiction recovery, chronic illness, or parenting.
• Personal empowerment: Individuals often feel empowered by both giving and receiving support, recognizing they are not alone in their experiences.

Group therapy is not a lighter version of individual treatment. A review of 25 years of research found that group and one-on-one therapy were equally effective, regardless of diagnosis. The American Psychological Association formally recognized group psychotherapy as an evidence-based specialty in 2018.

Newer studies point in the same direction. A 2024 review of 33 clinical trials found that adults diagnosed with depression experienced reductions in symptoms after receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, and a 2025 study found that participants who received group therapy with guided self-reflection exercises experienced a 24% reduction in depression scores and a 19% increase in life satisfaction.

Group therapy acts as a practice space for real life. Members can try out social skills, become more self-aware, learn by watching others make progress, build confidence as their own skills grow, and form stronger connections. Skills-based groups can also cover the general lessons on a topic, freeing up an individual therapist to spend more time tailoring treatment to one person's specific needs.

Many people with a wide variety of concerns can benefit from group therapy, depending on the type and focus of the group and whether it stands alone or is combined with individual therapy.

Proper screening is key. Prospective group members should expect to connect with the group leader to discuss their histories, core concerns, and goals, as well as the group format, rules, and expectations. A leader might then accept that person into the group or offer other options, and a person might decide the group fits their needs or opt for a different form of treatment.

Group therapy is often available for a variety of mental health concerns, including:

• Addictions
• Anger management
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Grief counseling
• Depression and other mood disorders
• Divorce
• Domestic violence
• Eating disorders
• Gender dysphoria
• Insomnia
• Parenting
• Psychotic disorders
• Sexual functioning issues
• Somatic symptom disorders
• Childhood trauma

The Bottom Line

The choice between group therapy and a support group comes down to the goal: clinical change with professional guidance or peer connection and coping support. Many people benefit from both at different points.

For those considering the therapeutic route, treatment outcomes at LifeStance reflect what the research shows. According to 2026 data, 79% of LifeStance patients showed improvement in anxiety symptoms and 73% in depression symptoms with evidence-based care*.

If you're ready to take the next step, you can explore available group therapy options or connect with a therapist to discuss whether a group, individual sessions, or a combination may be the best fit, and to confirm which services are available in your area.

*amongst 140,000 LifeStance patients with at least moderate anxiety and 150,000 LifeStance patients with at least moderate depression