10 Online Group Therapy Services to Help You Connect With Others

Three of life’s most significant changes have to do with loss. The end of a marriage, death, and health changes, such as menopause, elicit many emotional obstacles to moving forward in a new direction. Circles+ premium subscription service offers group therapy for people going through these critical life changes so they can connect with others going through similar emotional upheaval and feel less alone. 

For just $20 a week, those enrolled in group therapy participate in intimate sessions that promise to only include up to 10 vetted members. Fewer participants enable each person to get personal guidance from the facilitators: “If there are too many people, it can be difficult to make sure everyone is feeling connected and participating, and some quieter members might not get the individual attention that more outspoken members do,” says subject matter expert Hannah Owens, LMSW. Circles+ members can also participate in video sessions through Circles’ iOS or Android app.

A factor that makes Circles stand out, however, is its free community. Here, it offers numerous support groups aimed at assisting people in coping with various life issues, including:

• Trauma
• Career changes
• LGBTQIA+ concerns
• BIPOC issues
• Chronic illness

A mental health professional moderates each of these support groups, but it is not the same as therapy. These groups are meant to make people feel part of a community of people in similar situations. Therapy, by contrast, employs various psychological tips and practices to arm members with tools and strategies to overcome life struggles. People who wish to take advantage of these free groups can do so via audio calls over the app.

For $79 a month, members of Circles+ can participate in one group therapy session a week. This plan gives access to grief and loss, menopause, and divorce groups. People who need support in other areas can check out the support groups Circles offers for free, such as those for chronic illness and veterans.

Circles does not accept insurance, but it does offer aid for those who can’t participate in therapy without financial assistance. The website encourages users to contact customer support should they find themselves in this situation. New users can try a Circles+ group therapy session for free.

In our survey, 80% of users said they felt that Circles was excellent or very good. The cost of therapy services was important for 67% of users surveyed, and 73% reported that Circles was a good value for the money. 

When we tested the service ourselves, one of our testers said they felt “very heard, supported, and emotionally buoyed,” by their group therapy sessions.

Financial landscapes are changing, and you may not currently have the extra money to pay for goods or services you do not deem essential. Often, when it comes to choosing what goes into the monthly budget and what gets cut, mental health services might be too expensive to stay in. Grouport, however, is giving people a truly affordable option in the form of group therapy. Its monthly subscription service allows users to participate in one group therapy session a week for a fraction of the cost that in-person providers charge.

Much like in-person therapy, Grouport keeps the same users together weekly. Interacting with the same people can help attendees form closer bonds and give the therapist a chance to build on lessons from the week before. Grouport provides groups that deal with the following issues:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Depression
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief and loss
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Borderline personality disorder

Grouport’s wide range of services is only available to residents of New York, Florida, and New Jersey. The only group offered to people outside of these three states is dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). This form of talk therapy provides guidance on building skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help you process and work through issues. Grouport does, however, have a waiting list for people who want to remain informed of its expansion of services.

There is one subscription plan available to users of Grouport: $140 a month will get users one group therapy session a week. The website often offers new users a discount on their first month. It does not accept insurance.

We have not yet had the opportunity to survey Grouport users, but a search for complaints surrounding the company did not generate any returns. The company's website posts user reviews, all of which are complimentary of its services. We also felt like it was worthy of a place on our list because of its affordable price. 

“Mental health issues and life challenges do not discriminate—anyone from any walk of life might need peer support at some point,” explains Owens. “So making that support accessible and affordable to just about anyone means that more people get the care they need without having to sacrifice other necessities in order to pay for these services.”

Those in the LGBTQIA+ community are more likely to deal with anxiety, suicidal ideation, depression, and substance use. Mindful Care offers an exclusive group therapy option for LGBTQIA+ individuals to assist them in overcoming struggles in a non-judgmental and inclusive environment. The SHINE group combines the support of similarly identifying people with guidance and therapy methods, such as affirming therapy, that are implemented with these unique issues in mind. Whether someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ participates in individual therapy or not, a group structure can guide them through some of the common mental health hardships, such as self-acceptance and identity building.

Affirming therapy is crucial for those struggling with coming to terms with their identity. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community often grow up with a sense that they have to “fix” themselves. Affirming therapy takes the opposite stance and instead supports a person’s identity. It addresses common feelings of shame and guilt and helps group members work through associated trauma and self-esteem issues that often accompany being LGBTQIA+. Eleven percent of surveyed Mindful Care users reported that finding a gender-affirming therapist was important to them. 

Self-pay for all group therapy is $35 per session, making it affordable even for those who do not have insurance. Mindful Care accepts many insurance providers, including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid. Other services offered by Mindful Care include:

• Psychiatry and medication management: Initial evaluation, $175; follow-ups, $75 each
• Individual therapy: $50 per 20-minute session or $100 per 40-minute session
• Addiction/substance use treatment: $49 per month, which includes weekly support, monitoring, group and/or individual therapy, and medication management

Mindful Care scored well in our user survey regarding diversity, with 86% saying they found diversity among providers to be excellent, very good, or good, and 82% saying that the company met all or some of their needs. One reviewer said they “felt like the group was very supportive of each other and non-judgmental.” Seventy-four percent of surveyed users felt that Mindful Care was an excellent, very good, or good value, and 83% shared that they were very likely or likely to recommend it to others.

Culturally inclusive therapists understand how a person’s belief system, background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, or gender can impact their identity. Facilitators who identify as the same culture, race, or sexual orientation as group members may be more impactful. This can increase confidence that the therapist can relate better to the shared experiences of the group in a way that a non-identifying person cannot. People looking for a culturally sensitive group therapist can use TherapyDen’s extensive provider directory to find one.

TherapyDen is not a provider but a network of therapists and counselors available for in-person and online group therapy. The website allows users to search for therapy providers and topics relevant to diverse and marginalized communities, such as racial justice framework and queer-competent. Members of these communities can receive guidance (in either a group setting or one on one) from a therapist or counselor who acknowledges and understands the impact external forces, such as politics and economics, can have on the challenges facing them.

The providers listed with TherapyDen set their own rates and may accept various insurance plans. Some providers who work with the directory may offer a sliding fee scale for those needing services and demonstrating financial need.

Eighty percent of users in our survey rated TherapyDen as very good or good, and 25% said that finding a therapist with a similar cultural identity was important. Cost and payment options were important, with 71% of users believing that the number of providers offering sliding fee scales or payment options was very good or good.

“Especially for those with marginalized identities, such as BIPOC or LGBTQIA+, finding a therapist who not only understands your daily experiences and challenges but who also shares them can make you feel seen and respected in your therapy process,” says Owens. “Not having to worry about being discriminated against, even unwittingly, by your therapist makes it easier to trust both your provider and the therapeutic process, ultimately leading to better outcomes. This makes a resource like TherapyDen very valuable.”

Eating disorders are about more than the way someone looks; they are complex mental health conditions that almost 30 million Americans face. People who suffer from eating disorders need a very specific course of treatment to combat underlying mental health conditions and the physical toll the practice takes. Within Health has created an online eating disorder program that includes group therapy to help further each participant’s recovery.

The two most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and even for those who receive treatment, death rates remain high. Within Health’s virtual intensive outpatient therapy (IOP) program aims to change that by offering participants a multi-faceted approach to recovery and long-term maintenance. Within Health believes that the key to recovery is providing comprehensive treatment services and options for further recovery, which is why the program includes individual therapy, medication management, nutritional coaching, family therapy, group therapy, and support offerings.  

Within Health does not post prices on its website, but it does say it works with insurance plans to coordinate care. The company does offer a free consultation.

Since eating disorder treatment is a niche sector of online group therapy, it was not included in our user survey, though we hope to survey users from this company soon. However, we could not find negative reviews or legal issues surrounding Within Health at this time. And given its niche focus, we felt it was important to keep it on this list. 

“Eating disorders are an especially nefarious kind of mental illness because they affect both your mind and your body,” says Owens, “and therefore, both psychological and physical treatment is necessary in order to adequately treat them. This makes Within’s multi-pronged approach especially effective, as it provides one-on-one and group therapy as well as access to support from a registered dietitian to help manage things like healthy weight gain and meals.”

In light of a growing mental health crisis among teens and young adults, appropriate mental health services for this age group are more critical than ever. Over a third of high school students said they experienced a decline in their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, and 44% indicated that they grapple with deep sadness and despair. A CDC report also confirmed suspicions that teens who identify as LGBTQIA+ have higher instances of distress and sadness.  Charlie Health offers comprehensive mental health support and treatment, including group therapy, for children, teens, and young adults. 

As part of its intensive outpatient therapy program, Charlie Health gives its users an extensive daily schedule of virtual meetings and therapy sessions. Users can also take part in group therapy with peers and family members that can help reinforce skills such as mindfulness, as well as provide guidance through relevant issues including grief, loss, and communication building. Attending more than one type of group therapy may not be a good fit for everyone. Still, Owens points out, "If you have a few different issues you'd like to address in group therapy, there is nothing wrong with joining multiple groups that focus on different topics.”

Charlie Health does not disclose pricing on its website and requires potential users to undergo a consultation before prices are revealed. It does take insurance, but users considering Charlie Health should check with their insurance company to get coverage details. The company also says that it will work with individuals whose insurance doesn’t cover their services.

We have not yet had the opportunity to survey Charlie Health users, but at the time of writing, we could not find anything derogatory reported online. We also felt like it was still worthy of a place on this list because it offers group therapy for teens—which most platforms do not. 

“Teens experiencing mental health challenges for the first time might feel all alone in their struggle,” notes Owens, “so being able to connect with others their age who are going through similar things can make those challenges easier to talk about. In addition, teens can gain and practice important skills, like empathy and healthy coping mechanisms, from peers they can relate to.”

Trauma is an emotional reaction to a horrible event. The event is often catastrophic, such as a natural disaster, or violent, such as physical abuse. While many people go through traumatic events, some get stuck and have difficulty moving forward. This is where a therapist-led support group, such as those offered by Sesh, comes in. Sesh provides over 400 online support groups per month that cover a range of issues, including trauma recovery. 

Sesh support groups differ from therapy groups. Support groups can encourage people to talk out issues in a supportive, empathic environment, and members can offer coping strategies to each other (therapy groups, on the other hand, are moderated by a licensed mental health professional who can provide treatment). For those dealing with trauma, support groups like those offered through Sesh can be a powerful tool in recovery after a traumatic event, especially if used in conjunction with therapy; as Owens says, “support groups can always supplement group therapy, as the former provides peer support and the latter provides more structured treatment.”

Sesh offers two weeks of free group therapy sessions so users can try out the service before committing further. It does not take insurance but does offer a low monthly rate of $60 for as many group sessions as they want.

“I certainly felt better after attending sessions, and could see how, over time, these sessions could deepen the positive effects of the group support mode,” said one Sesh tester. Of those surveyed about their experience with Sesh, 79% rated it an excellent, very good, or good value, with 27% saying that cost was important to them. Overall, 96% found Sesh better than other online therapy platforms they had used before. When it came to therapy matching, 80% thought Sesh did a good job connecting them with a provider, and 70% reported that the company met all or some of their needs.

Data suggest that binge drinking has been rising, with over 25% of men and 21% of women over 18 reporting at least one such episode in the previous month. In the U.S., binge drinking is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption. Heavy alcohol use can lead to more physical and psychological issues. It can also indicate an underlying or co-existing mental health disorder that the user may be attempting to mask with alcohol. Alcohol-related disorders can prove challenging to overcome without community support. Monument is an online treatment program that includes a group support option to aid in recovery. Support groups have proven crucial for people recovering from alcohol use. 

Monument offers a full virtual treatment option for those with a problematic relationship with alcohol. Its providers use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to uncover and resolve the underlying issues that lead to alcohol abuse. Part of this is learning how to better cope with the stressors that come along with life and often trigger the desire to drink. A component of learning how to cope is participating in group support sessions. While this differs from group therapy, it is an effective tool to supplement the full therapy program at Monument. The group support community is free to join and participate in, whether or not you are receiving treatment from Monument; groups are scheduled at various times of the week. Members can also communicate outside of the groups if they choose. Everyone remains anonymous on the Monument community forums.

Monument’s free online community allows people with alcohol use disorder to access group support and connect anonymously. For those who need a more comprehensive alcohol treatment program, Monument also offers those services at the following price points:

• The comprehensive Total Weekly program costs $249 a month and includes a therapy appointment every week (four per month), unlimited chat with the therapist between sessions, unlimited doctor appointments and chats, and any prescribed medication. Users will also participate in group sessions.
• The biweekly program costs $149 a month and is the same as the Total Weekly program, but with two therapy appointments per month instead of four.
• Medication management costs $45 for the initial consultation with a psychiatrist for a prescription, then $10 a month after that. It also includes access to support groups.

Overall, 78% percent of users surveyed said they found Monument excellent, very good, or good. Cost was only important to 16% of the survey respondents, but 79% of users found Monument to be an excellent, very good, or good value for the cost. For users with experience with another online therapy platform, 97% indicated that Monument was better.

“Just like any specialized medical provider, Monument can provide services to address alcohol use and dependence better than a company or clinician who does not specialize in this issue would,” says Owens. “Monument’s expertise in alcohol use can only benefit its users, who might not receive the same expert care from other companies that do not focus only on this issue.”

Divorce can trigger a whole host of mental health struggles. Situations such as abuse, neglect, and infidelity can make it harder to move forward with healthy boundaries and a positive mindset. Situational depression, for example,  can develop in the wake of divorce. Even if the marriage was troubled, losing it can be difficult to accept. Anxiety can grow out of the uncertainty that can come with suffering the financial loss of a breakup. With the help of expert guidance, a support group experience at Growing Self can help participants struggling with mental and emotional health concerns brought on or exacerbated by divorce. Within a group environment, therapists can guide participants using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to aid in working through pivotal issues.

Relationship issues often lead people to contemplate therapy, either as a means to get closure at the end of a relationship or as a way to help address difficulties if a couple wants to stay together. Growing Self offers users an opportunity to receive guidance in a group setting for any stage of a relationship. However, divorce, in particular, can elicit the same emotional response as loss or grief. For those struggling with divorce grief, Growing Self also offers individual online therapy and couples therapy that can guide them through the complicated feelings that stem from it.

Growing Self provides a free consultation for those wondering if the services are a good fit. Upon sign-up, the company asks for an eight-week commitment at the cost of $40 a week. For those who want individual or couples therapy, the cost ranges from $125 to $150 per session.

User satisfaction with Growing Self was high, with 76% finding the service a good, very good, or excellent value, and 69% saying they would refer others to the company. Sixty-two percent indicated that they would return to Growing Self if needed to continue therapy, and 68% found it just as good or better than in-person therapy. 

When we tested the service, one of our testers said, “Both of the therapists I worked with created a comfortable and safe environment for discussing relationship issues and developing therapeutic goals that felt achievable with their support.”

The passage into parenthood can be a tumultuous one. Hormones in flux, sleep deprivation, social isolation, and new responsibility can prompt sad and anxious feelings. Receiving support during and in the aftermath of pregnancy and birth can be critical to overall mental health and well-being. While Catalyss Counseling does not offer therapy outside the state of Colorado, it does foster an online support group program that it has rolled out nationwide. Guided by therapists, its nine peer groups afford users a range of choices for finding a supportive community of peers, including those experiencing postpartum depression and related symptoms. Through community building and the sharing of similar experiences, members of a postpartum support group can feel less alone and isolated—a significant hurdle to overcome in the wake of birth. 

Other Catalyss groups tackle topics such as ADHD, relationships, mindfulness, and divorce. Some groups, like the one for postpartum support, are ongoing and may have different participants from week to week. In this setting, the group stays together and helps build consistency in its online interactions and support.

Catalyss has facilitator profiles for all its groups, so participants know who will lead the support groups. A basic rundown of each group and what might be expected is also provided before sign-up. This can help quell uncertainty about what will be going on in each group.

Catalyss offers those seeking group support services a selection of group topics from which they can choose. Each group therapy session costs between $55 and $75. A one-time consultation fee of $150 gives users a chance to complete intake and confer with a therapist on their goals and what they hope to gain from groups. The intake coordinator will recommend appropriate support groups from there. Some group sessions run for six to eight weeks, while others are open-ended.

Catalyss has an Affordable Therapy Program for those who cannot afford therapy but need it. The sliding scale for group therapy under this program is from $25 to $65 per session, and the intake fee reduces to between $20 and $40.

Catalyss was not included in our most recent round of user survey data, but we did not find negative reviews or ratings online. We also felt like its focus on postpartum issues still made it stand out from its competitors and worthy of a place on our list. 

“Postpartum issues are highly stigmatized and often come with feelings of great guilt or shame,” says Owens. “It’s important for parents dealing with things like postpartum depression and anxiety to know that they are not alone in their feelings and that there isn’t something ‘wrong’ with them for having those feelings.”