The main types of group therapy are psychoeducational groups, cognitive behavioral therapy groups, interpersonal process groups, skills development groups, support or self-help groups, psychodynamic therapy groups, and creative therapy groups. Each type serves a different purpose, from learning coping skills to working through emotional and relationship patterns.
What group therapy is
Group therapy is a form of mental health treatment where a trained therapist works with several people at the same time. You meet with others who face similar challenges. You learn from the therapist and from each other.
The group itself becomes part of the treatment. Your reactions, behavior, and relationships inside the group often reflect how you act outside it.
7 types of group therapy
Here are the seven main types of group therapy, based on what they focus on and how they work.
Psychoeducational groups focus on learning about conditions and how to manage them.
CBT groups focus on changing thoughts and behaviors.
Interpersonal process groups focus on relationships and social patterns.
Skills development groups focus on building practical coping skills.
Support groups focus on shared experience and emotional support.
Psychodynamic groups focus on deeper emotional and unconscious patterns.
Creative therapy groups focus on expression through art, music, or movement.
Psychoeducational groups
These groups focus on learning.
The therapist teaches you about a condition, stressor, or life problem and shows you how it works and how to manage it.
Benefits
- Clear understanding of your symptoms
- Better awareness of triggers and patterns
- Practical strategies you can use right away
Good for
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic illness adjustment
- Parenting stress
- People who want structure and clarity
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) groups
These groups focus on changing how you think and act.
You learn to notice unhelpful thought patterns, challenge them, and replace them with healthier ones. You also practice new behaviors.
Benefits
- Reduced anxiety and avoidance
- Better emotional control
- Stronger problem-solving skills
Good for
- Anxiety disorders
- OCD and phobias
- Depression
- Trauma recovery
Interpersonal process groups
These groups focus on how you relate to others.
You explore your relationship patterns inside the group. You receive feedback. You practice healthier communication and boundaries.
Benefits
- Improved relationships
- Better communication
- Increased self-awareness
Good for
- Relationship difficulties
- Social anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Repeated conflict patterns
Skills development groups
These groups focus on learning and practicing specific skills.
You work on things like emotional regulation, stress management, communication, and impulse control.
Benefits
- Stronger coping skills
- Better emotional balance
- More confidence handling daily challenges
Good for
- Stress and burnout
- Anger management
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Teens and young adults learning life skills
Support or self-help groups
These groups focus on shared experience.
You meet people facing similar struggles. You listen, share, and support each other.
Benefits
- Reduced isolation
- Feeling understood
- Emotional validation
Good for
- Grief and loss
- Addiction recovery
- Chronic illness
- Caregivers and family members
Psychodynamic therapy groups
These groups focus on deeper emotional patterns.
You explore how past experiences and unconscious beliefs influence your current behavior and relationships.
Benefits
- Deeper emotional insight
- Healing long-standing patterns
- Improved self-understanding
Good for
- Long-term emotional difficulties
- Repeated unhealthy relationship patterns
- Trauma survivors
- People seeking deeper personal growth
Creative therapy groups
These groups use creative expression.
You use art, music, writing, or movement to express emotions that feel hard to put into words.
Benefits
- Emotional release
- Increased self-expression
- Access to feelings you can’t easily explain
Good for
- Trauma survivors
- Children and adolescents
- People who struggle with verbal expression
- Those who prefer experiential work
Open groups and closed groups
Open groups allow new members to join anytime. Closed groups begin and end with the same members.
Closed groups build deeper trust. Open groups offer more flexibility.
Does group therapy work
Research shows group therapy works as well as individual therapy for many conditions. For some people, it works better because you learn through interaction, not just reflection.
What to expect in a session
Most groups meet once a week with six to twelve members and one or two therapists.
Sessions often include discussion, exercises, and reflection. You can speak when ready. Listening still counts.
Summary
Group therapy helps because change happens in relationships, not isolation.
Different types exist because people need different things. Some need knowledge. Some need skills. Some need emotional insight. Some need connection.
The right group gives you what you need now.
That’s it.