Have you ever been in a group of people you really vibe with and felt that kind of effortless connection? One person shares a recent experience — something fun, funny, or strange — and suddenly others have a story that relates. There’s something so soothing and helpful about that kind of shared understanding. That same feeling is part of the magic of mental health groups.

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I’ve long loved facilitating groups because the synergy that emerges is so powerful. As a therapist, one of the most common contributors to poor mental health that I see is a lack of meaningful community. Struggling with mental health can be incredibly lonely. Over the years, many clients have told me they feel alone in their struggles — that they feel weird, different, or like no one else could possibly understand what they’re going through.

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From my perspective as a therapist, I know how common these struggles actually are, because I’ve had the honor of hearing so many people’s stories. When someone realizes they’re not alone in what they’re experiencing, it can be deeply healing. Not only does it reduce the feeling of being an outsider, but it also offers hope — the realization that these struggles aren’t so unique that healing isn't possible.

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While I do bring shared experience and professional background into one-on-one counseling, there’s something uniquely powerful about being in a small group of peers who truly understand — and who bring their own lived experience and tools that have helped them find relief. Instead of receiving support and strategies from one counselor alone, you benefit from the collective wisdom of the group.