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The Group Guide
Connecting people to community
Client and Family Education
What to know about

Support, Peer, or Therapy Group: Which Fits?

Groups go by a lot of names. They do not all do the same thing. A therapy group is led by a licensed clinician. It works on symptoms or skills, with a plan. A peer support group is led by people who have been there. They share what has helped them. A community group is built around a shared interest or stage of life. Each one does something different. Many people use more than one.

Who it's for, and who it's not

For anyone deciding what kind of group to look for, and for family helping them.
Useful when you are not sure if you need treatment, support, or just more people around you.
If symptoms get in the way of daily life, start with a licensed provider. They can point you to the right group.

Three kinds of groups

Therapy groups: led by a licensed clinician. Often a set number of sessions, with a fee or insurance.
Peer support groups: led by trained peers. Usually free, ongoing, and open to drop-ins.
Community groups: built around an interest or stage of life. Book clubs, new parent meetups, or walking groups.
How to choose
1To change symptoms or learn specific skills, look for a therapy or skills group.
2To be with people who understand from the inside, look for peer support.
3If you mainly want more connection, start with a community group.

Each kind has its own strengths.

A meta-analysis of 67 studies over 25 years found that clinician-led group therapy worked as well as one-on-one therapy.1
A review of 27 studies with 10,565 people looked at Alcoholics Anonymous and twelve-step facilitation. They led to staying sober more often than other treatments, by about a fifth.2
A review of eight trials with 2,131 people found that group peer support improved people's overall sense of recovery.3
Making the most of it
You can use more than one. A therapy group and a peer group often work well side by side.
Check who leads it. Listings on The Group Guide show when a licensed professional leads the group.
Start somewhere. If the first group is not a fit, the second one often is.
Questions to ask before you join
1Who leads the group, and what is their training?
2Is there a fee, and does insurance cover it?
3Is it drop-in, or a set number of sessions?

Ready to find a group?

Browse 2,000+ therapy, support, and community groups in all 50 states.

Free to browse  ·  No account needed  ·  thegroupguide.com

In crisis? Call or text 988 (US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7).

The Group Guide is a directory, not a clinic. This handout is general education, not medical or mental health advice. Listings are written by group leaders and are not endorsements. Confirm details, cost, and fit with any group you contact. Sources on page 2.

The Group Guide
Connecting people to community
Client and Family Education

Sources

Support, Peer, or Therapy Group: Which Fits? · references keyed to the numbers on page 1.

1Burlingame, G. M., Seebeck, J. D., Janis, R. A., Whitcomb, K. E., Barkowski, S., Rosendahl, J., & Strauss, B. Outcome differences between individual and group formats when identical and nonidentical treatments, patients, and doses are compared: A 25-year meta-analytic perspective. Psychotherapy (2016), 53(4), 446–461.

2Kelly, J. F., et al. Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs for alcohol use disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2020).

3Lyons, N., Cooper, C., & Lloyd-Evans, B. A systematic review and meta-analysis of group peer support interventions for people experiencing mental health conditions. BMC Psychiatry (2021), 21, 315.

In crisis? Call or text 988 (US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7).

The Group Guide is a directory, not a clinic. This handout is general education, not medical or mental health advice. Listings are written by group leaders and are not endorsements. Confirm details, cost, and fit with any group you contact.