Free online support groups you can join from anywhere

Many are. 753 of the 765 nationwide groups on The Group Guide are free to join. Peer-led groups run by nonprofits are usually free. Groups led by a therapist often charge a fee per meeting, and some take insurance. Every listing says what the group costs before you contact anyone.

For peer-led and community groups, yes. They are open to anyone with an internet connection. Groups led by a therapist are different. A therapist can usually only treat people in the states where they are licensed, so most therapist-led online groups serve a few states. Each listing says which states it serves.

Most groups let you keep your camera off, at least at first. Some therapy groups ask that everyone be on camera so the group feels like a room. If it matters to you, ask the leader before your first meeting. You can also use only your first name, or a name you choose.

No. A support group is people who share a problem meeting to help each other. A peer leader or a volunteer usually runs it, and it is not treatment. Online therapy is care from a licensed clinician, one on one or in a therapy group, with a treatment plan. Both can help, and many people use one alongside the other. The listing tells you which kind a group is.

A phone, tablet, or computer, and a quiet place for an hour. Most groups meet on Zoom. Some meet by phone, which works when internet is poor. Some ask you to sign up first, and some let you just show up. The listing says which, and gives you the link or the number.

For many people, yes. Research on online support groups finds that members feel less alone and better able to cope, much like in person. The biggest difference is access. Online groups let people join who live far from any group, cannot drive, work nights, or do not want to be seen walking into a meeting.