You Are About To Make A Decision That Will Change Your Life
Individual vs Group Psychotherapy
How to Select the One Best For You
GroupTherapy
Real People
Group Therapy is the best way to address relationship issues
Connections to other group members can lift depression and lessen anxiety
Members get feedback and support – You can try out new behaviors
Group therapy is safe and productive, even if you have had bad experiences in family, work or friendship groups.
Group therapy is more affordable than individual therapy
Group therapy enhances individual therapy
What is Group Therapy?
Group Therapy is an proven form of therapy where a small number of people meet under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. Group therapy creates a safe, supportive, and cohesive space to address personal issues and interpersonal relationships.
How Does Group Therapy Work?
Group therapy provides a safe place for people to come together, share problems and concerns to better understand their situations and learn from each other. Under the therapist's leadership, members learn about themselves and improve their relatioships with others. the process helps gain self understanding and develop skills to handle concerns.
What Makes Group Therapy Unique and Powerful?
We interact with people daily, and sharing concerns with others in group can be highly beneficial. You'll realize you are not alone or as different as you think. Meeting others, sharing feedback and working together on common problems is one of the most valuable aspects of group therapy.
Testimonials
These group testimonials highlight members’ personal growth and the value of using the group as a “safe lab” for self-expression, experimentation, and developing interpersonal skills.
Client #1 attributes her improved communication at work, in her romantic relationship, and with her family to the confidence she’s gained in group. Initially wary, her physical reactions to attending group underscored the need for growth. Over time, she’s come to see the value in confronting and expressing her feelings, especially in challenging conversations. She acknowledges the subtle yet powerful transformations that come from group work, where growth can be seen only in retrospect.
Client #2 values the space as a unique outlet where she can practice being honest and expressive without fear of judgment from her day-to-day relationships. She appreciates the structure that allows her to be vulnerable and authentic, building skills that she hopes will translate to her outside life.
Client #3 reflects on her journey with the group, noting how the experience has helped her overcome initial anxiety and resistance. She now finds herself more open and assertive in other group settings, crediting the safe space for enabling her emotional vulnerability, especially in challenging situations, such as supporting friends through difficult times. Observing the emotional progress of others has reinforced for her that growth in group is often more profound than external accomplishments.
Overall, these testimonials emphasize that the emotional development within the group setting profoundly shapes members' lives and relationships outside. This setting serves as a practice ground, fostering resilience, assertiveness, and empathy.
Fees and Insurance
Typical Therapy Costs per Session
1. Private Pay (No Insurance)
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Most therapy sessions cost $100–$250 per 45 minute visit—depending on therapist credentials
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Specifically in NYC, median session fees by provider type are:
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Psychiatrists: ~$400/session
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Psychologists: ~$250
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Social workers: ~$200
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Mental health counselors: ~$150
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2. Insurance-Covered Therapy
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In-network therapists often allow a copay of $20–$50 per 45 minute session after deductible ($1000-$5000/year)
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Out-of-network providers may offer superbills for partial reimbursement
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3. Online Therapy & Subscription Services
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Platforms like BetterHelp typically charge $70–$100 per week, depending on your location
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Some services offer subscription models costing $240–$360 per month, usually for weekly sessions and messaging access
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Others, like Talkspace, start at around $260/month and may include messaging and limited video sessions
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Generally, online options can fall in the $40–$90 per session range or about $65–$95 weekly
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4. Group Therapy
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$50 to $85 for 90 minute sessions
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Usually covered by insurance if it covers individual therapy
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Clinicians Page
Clinicians • Counselors • Mental Health Professionals
Why You Should Refer:
You can better support your clients by referring them to group therapy.
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Collaboration Benefits: Working collaboratively provides insight into different parts of the client’s experience.
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Issues raised in individual therapy around social situations can be explored and resolved in vivo within a group.
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Likewise, challenges that arise in group therapy can be brought back into individual sessions for deeper exploration and integration.
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Graduation Path: Clients who are completing individual therapy may wish to continue strengthening their social skills in a group setting.
Why Therapists Should Join a Therapy Group
How Group Therapy Enriches Our Practice
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Parallel Process: Just as clients grow through intrapsychic and relational work, therapists also benefit from group participation. Engaging in group therapy enhances our ability to connect with and guide our individual clients. Sharing both successes and challenges with peers who understand these struggles fosters professional growth and camaraderie.
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Addressing Professional Dilemmas: Like our clients, we too face isolation, disconnection, burnout, and external pressures. Group therapy provides a safe space to process these challenges collectively, gain new perspectives, and develop coping strategies—strengthening both our personal resilience and clinical work.
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Community & Support: Participating in group reminds us that we are not alone. It builds a sense of community in our professional lives and renews our energy for the work we do.
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Great Reads
New York Times “Why Group Therapy Worked”By David Payne
Why Group Therapy Worked is a personal reflection on how group therapy led
to meaningful change in his life when individual therapy did not.
He first entered individual therapy in the late 1980s, finding it intellectually
enriching but ultimately ineffective in fostering real behavioral change. Despite
six years of therapy, he remained in an unhappy relationship and continued
struggling with alcoholism. He describes this experience as gaining erudition but
not transformation.
In 2004, facing deep personal crises—an unhappy marriage, the death of his
younger brother, and worsening alcoholism—he reluctantly joined group therapy.
Initially, he struggled, frequently “erasing” others’ contributions and resisting
emotional dependency. The group’s candid feedback forced him to confront his
patterns of avoidance and self-deception, particularly in his marriage and
relationships.
Unlike individual therapy, which focused on past wounds, group therapy
illuminated his current behaviors and their impact on others. Over time, this
confrontation led to genuine change: he achieved sobriety, reevaluated his
marriage, and eventually left it in search of a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Payne concludes that group therapy’s effectiveness lay in its multiple
mirrors—offering unfiltered perspectives—and its emphasis on present actions
rather than past injuries. This painful but necessary self-awareness was what
ultimately enabled his transformation.
Full Read:
How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life
By Christie Tate – 2020 - Simon and Schuster
How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate is
a memoir about the author’s journey through group therapy and how it transformed her
life.
At the start of the book, Tate is a high-achieving law student who outwardly appears
successful but struggles with deep loneliness, self-destructive behaviors, and an eating
disorder. When she meets Dr. Rosen, an unconventional yet compassionate therapist,
he insists that joining a psychotherapy group—where she must share her rawest
thoughts and feelings with strangers—is the key to healing.
Through these intense and unfiltered group sessions, Tate confronts her past traumas,
self-worth issues, and patterns of seeking validation through unhealthy relationships.
The group becomes a source of support, honesty, and vulnerability, helping her learn to
trust others and, ultimately, herself.
The book is a raw, emotional, and often humorous account of personal growth, breaking
down the stigma of therapy while illustrating the power of human connection. It
highlights how sharing our struggles in a safe space can lead to profound healing and
change.
Q and A
Will there be people with similar concerns in my group?
The therapist's role is to evaluate each person prior to forming the group. Usually, there is a mix of people who can learn from each other. While some group members will have similar circumstances to you, it's not necessary for all to be dealing with exactly the same problem. In fact, people with different strengths and difficulties are often in the best position to help one another.
What if I’m uncomfortable with others in my group?
It is normal to have questions or concerns about joining a group. What am I going to get out of this? Will there be enough time to deal with my own problems in a group setting? What if I don’t like the people in my group? What if I’m uncomfortable discussing my problems in front of others? Some people feel uneasy or embarrassed when first joining a group, but they soon begin to develop feelings of trust and belonging. Most people find that group therapy provides a great deal of relief because it allows them a chance to talk with others in a private, confidential setting.
What kind of commitment do I need to make?
The time commitment depends on the type of group and the nature and extent of your goals. Short-term groups that are devoted to concrete issues can last anywhere from 4 to 20 sessions. Some groups are open-ended; you work at your own pace and leave when your goals have been met. Talk with your therapist to determine the length of time that’s right for you.
What does group therapy cost? Is it covered by insurance?
Typically, group therapy is less costly than individual therapy; it may also vary depending on the type of group and the area of the country you live in. Most insurance covers both group and individual therapy.
How do I find a good group therapist?
Group psychotherapists are mental health professionals who are trained in one of several areas: psychiatry, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, marriage and family therapy, pastoral counseling, creative arts therapy, occupational therapy, professional counselors, or substance abuse counseling. When considering a therapist for group, make sure they are properly trained and credentialed in group therapy.
What do I ask the group therapist?
When talking with therapists, here are four simple questions you may want to ask. •
What is your background? •
Given my specific situation, how do you think group would work for me? •
What are your credentials
Groups are led by an expert in Group Psychotherapy
Qualifications
Jerry Sachs, L.C.S.W.-C.
Highest credential for a Clinical Social Worker
Education and Training:
BA Columbia University
MSW New York University
Post Graduate Training: Advanced Group Therapy Training Program – Washington School of Psychiatry
Professional Affiliations:
Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS)– Board Member
CoChair: Brooklyn Discussion Group of (EGPS)
Member: American Group Therapy Association.
Therapist for many successful therapy groups
Individual Therapy – Private Practice
Upsides
Real Person
Personalized and Private
One on One with the therapist
Intense focus on client issues
Likely Experienced Therapist
Downsides
Expense – See cost breakdown
One Person’s Perspective
Individual Therapy – Online – Real Person
(Talkspace, Better Help)
Upsides
Personalized
Convenient
Less Expensive – See Cost Breakdown
Downsides
Tends to be less experienced
Open to distraction and inconsistent timing
Only by subscription
Insurance not accepted
Therapist Cannot Diagnose
AI Computer Therapy - Bot
Upsides
Convenient
No Cost
Get advice
Downsides
Get advice –
No empathy
Sometimes weird responses
Can’t be trusted with traumatic, complex and critical situations