Therapy model

Group & family therapy

Group therapy brings together several people working on similar challenges with one or two therapists; family therapy treats the family as the unit that needs to change. Both are evidence-based treatments in their own right, not watered-down versions of individual therapy.

Group size: Typically 6–12 people, led by licensed therapists
Common formats: Skills groups (DBT, CBT), process groups, support groups
Family therapy: Especially strong evidence for teens, eating disorders, and substance use
Coverage: Usually covered; group sessions often cost less than individual

Why groups work

Hearing others describe your own struggles reduces shame and isolation — often more powerfully than a therapist's reassurance. Skills groups teach concrete techniques (DBT skills groups are the best-known example), while process groups work through relationships in real time. Research shows group CBT matches individual CBT for several anxiety and depression presentations.

When family therapy is the right call

For adolescents, eating disorders, and substance use, involving the family often outperforms individual work alone. Family sessions focus on communication patterns and how everyone responds to the illness — not on blaming any one person.

Common questions

Will I have to share personal things with strangers?

You control what you share. Groups have confidentiality rules, and most people find that listening alone is valuable at first.

Can I do group and individual therapy at once?

Yes — many programs, especially DBT, are designed that way: individual therapy plus a weekly skills group.

This guide is educational and not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.