Group Therapy

At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, our therapy groups are all about building self-awareness and deeper, more authentic relationships. These aren’t just support groups—they’re interpersonal process groups, where members come together with a shared commitment to self-discovery and personal growth.

In this space, you’ll get honest, supportive, and sometimes challenging feedback from others who truly get it. You’ll start to recognize patterns that might be holding you back in your relationships—with others and even with yourself. And the best part? You get to practice new, healthier ways of connecting in a safe and supportive setting, so you can take those insights into your everyday life.

If you're craving meaningful change and a space where you can show up as your true self, our therapy groups might be exactly what you're looking for.

Why Group Therapy?

Struggling with relationships? Feeling stuck in the same patterns? Group therapy offers a powerful, research-backed way to deepen self-awareness, improve relationships, and gain support from others who truly get it.

In our groups, you’ll receive honest, constructive feedback in a safe and supportive space—helping you recognize what’s holding you back and experiment with new ways of connecting. The goal? Build stronger, healthier relationships both in and outside of therapy.

Group Therapy Might Be Right for You If You:

Feel disconnected or stuck in unfulfilling relationships
Struggle to set boundaries or express your needs
Keep choosing partners who aren’t able to meet you where you are
Avoid emotional intimacy or feel misunderstood
Find anger—your own or others’—confusing or overwhelming
Seem “put together” on the outside but feel lost or empty inside
Hesitate to ask for help or share your true thoughts and feelings
Are exploring your identity (gender, culture, orientation, etc.)
Feel anxious, depressed, or unmotivated and need a shift

Group therapy can be a powerful treatment on its own or a great complement to individual therapy—especially if you’re feeling stuck in relationship patterns.

Our groups are small (5-8 people), meet weekly for 90 minutes, and provide a supportive space for real change.

Curious? Let’s talk.

Groups Currently Offered

Limited Number of Openings Available

An initial assessment session is required to assess if group therapy would be a good fit for your needs.

Young Adults Psychotherapy Group (Online)

Tuesdays

5:00-6:30pm EST

Supportive environment for high-functioning young adults (early 20s to mid 30s) to process their personal struggles and explore healthier ways of relating to others. The primary focus is on developing deeper insight about past relationship patterns so that members can establish healthier, more satisfying relationships in and outside of the group. Individuals experiencing depression, social anxiety, loneliness, relationship struggles, poor self-esteem/self-confidence, communication difficulties and trust issues can benefit from this group.

This group strives to be an inclusive space that is affirming of diverse identities; we welcome all cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Facilitated by Dr. Sophia Aguirre

Consultation & Process Group for Latinx Therapists (Online)

Tuesdays

3:00-4:30pm EST

(Meets Biweekly)

For Latinx-identified therapists (and therapists-in-training) interested in furthering their personal and professional growth through meaningful connection with peers. Utilize the group process to cultivate a deeper awareness of relational patterns and learn about group therapy dynamics from the role of both member and leader. The here-and-now is a central focus: all thoughts, feelings and associations to the process are explored. Members share personal struggles and professional challenges (including countertransference concerns), exchange honest feedback, and practice relating in more authentic and emotionally vulnerable manner. Group will be facilitated from a relational, interpersonal and Feminist orientation grounded within an anti-racist, decolonized framework that promotes resilience and the development of cultural humility.

Facilitated by Dr. Sophia Aguirre

Consultation & Process Group for BIPOC Therapists (Online)

Fridays

12:00-1:30pm EST

(Meets Biweekly)

For BIPOC therapists (and therapists-in-training) interested in furthering their personal and professional growth through meaningful connection with peers. Utilize the group process to cultivate a deeper awareness of relational patterns and learn about group therapy dynamics from the role of both member and leader. The here-and-now is a central focus: all thoughts, feelings and associations to the process are explored. Members share personal struggles and professional challenges (including countertransference concerns), exchange honest feedback, and practice relating in more authentic and emotionally vulnerable manner. Group will be facilitated from a relational, interpersonal and Feminist orientation grounded within an anti-racist, decolonized framework that promotes resilience and the development of cultural humility.

You can read more information about this group here.

Facilitated by Dr. Sophia Aguirre

READY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GROUP?

If what you have read about our groups has resonated with you, we welcome you to contact us to discuss if one of our therapy groups may be right for you. Request an appointment and our Client Care Coordinator will connect you to one of our group therapists who will follow up with you to schedule a complimentary phone consultation to provide you more information about the groups we offer.

Request A Free Consultation

The Power of Group

Real connection. Deep self-understanding. Stronger relationships. That’s what group therapy is all about.

Unlike individual therapy, where you talk about challenges, group therapy lets you experience them in real-time—within a safe, supportive space. You’ll see patterns in how you relate to others, explore vulnerability, and practice more authentic connections. Research even shows that for struggles like anxiety, depression, and isolation, group therapy can be more effective than individual therapy.

How it Works

At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy (ACIP), we offer interpersonal process groups—small, therapist-led groups (5-8 members) that meet weekly for 90 minutes. Members are thoughtful, growth-oriented, and have some therapy experience. There's no set agenda—just honest conversations about what’s real for you. Through shared insights, feedback, and lived interactions, you’ll develop deeper self-awareness and learn new ways of relating to others. As you increase your self-awareness and learn to relate more authentically with others, you are then able to generalize those skills to "real world" outside of group.

Conflict as Growth

Avoiding conflict can keep you stuck in unhealthy patterns. Group therapy helps you navigate disagreements in a way that builds trust, rather than breaking it. By working through tough emotions—anger, frustration, fear—you’ll grow more comfortable with closeness and real connection. With guidance from an experienced therapist, you’ll stretch beyond your comfort zone, heal old wounds, and cultivate the deep, fulfilling relationships you’ve been longing for.

If what you have read about our groups has resonated with you, we welcome you to contact us to discuss if one of our therapy groups may be right for you

How effective is group therapy?

Group therapy has been proven effective in helping young adults deal with a broad range of issues from mild adjustment and developmental concerns to severe or chronic mental health concerns. It has been shown to be as effective as individual therapy, and for some issues, it can be even more effective than individual therapy.
How can group therapy be as effective as individual therapy?

Group therapy is typically just as effective as individual therapy for various reasons. First, most members identify with issues other members share and find they are helping themselves just by being present and processing the issues vicariously. Second, by listening, giving feedback, and engaging other group members about their concerns, you may also be practicing new ways of interacting. Third, group therapy offers the opportunity to get multiple perspectives and increased support from peers. Fourth, the group environment offers a safe a place to try out behaviors or new ways of being.
What kinds of people participate in therapy groups?

For many of these difficulties and concerns, group is the most effective therapy method for resolving that concern. Most often people participate in group therapy because they are having difficulties in their relationships or have something in their lives that they are finding painful and difficult to handle. Some examples of the types of personal issues that members bring to group are: Discomfort in social situations Lack of intimacy in relationships Anxiety Depression Family of origin problems Dissatisfaction with their friendships or romantic relationships Poor self-esteem and lack of self confidence
What does a typical group session look like?

My psychotherapy groups are typically unstructured. There isn't a specific topic for each group session, but of some of the groups may be target to specific group of individuals (e.g., women, men, or graduate students, etc). I provide an opportunity for a brief check-in at the start of the group, but after this check-in, it is the group members’ responsibility to bring any issues to the group that they feel are important, and a primary focus of therapy in the group is on the interactions among group members. Members are encouraged to give support and feedback to others, and to work with the reactions and responses that other members' contributions bring up for them.
How does group psychotherapy differ from a self-help group?

The psychotherapy group is different from support and self-help groups in that it not only helps people cope with their problems, but also provides for change and growth. Support groups help people cope with difficult situations at various times but are usually geared toward alleviating symptoms. Self-help groups usually focus on a particular shared symptom or situation and are usually not led by a trained therapist.
What is your role as the group therapist?

As the group therapist, I use my knowledge and experience to facilitate, promote, and monitor individual and group growth and change. During the initial sessions, I will focus on establishing norms and creating an atmosphere of trust, and safety so that group members will feel a sense of security in self-disclosure. As the group proceeds, I may direct the therapy as necessary, provide feedback and support, and help individuals identify themes which block personal growth. In an effort to increase interpersonal growth, I will also share my observations regarding relational dynamics, group dynamics, communication patterns, and share possible underlying feelings and meanings behind issues being dealt with or avoided. I will also work to strike a balance within the group so no one is dominating and no one goes unheard. I encourage you to request my assistance as needed during group sessions, and to openly share your reactions and thoughts concerning my role and interventions during group.
How does listening to other people’s problems helps me?

Group therapy is far more than the simple extension of individual treatment, with the group leader going from one person to the other in rapid succession. Just listening to another person's problem is rarely helpful to anyone, the listener or the person with the problem. Effective group therapy is more about the relationships that group members develop with each other in group and how these relationships trigger past relational patterns, both helpful and ineffective. Not only are group members able to identify their difficulties, they are able to identify their strengths and build on them. Far more important is the group becomes a vehicle for people to identify and deal with their own emotional blocks and limitations.
Do I need to receive individual therapy in addition to group therapy?

Sometimes group therapy is used as the main or only treatment approach. Sometimes it’s used along with individual therapy. Often people find that working simultaneously in both group and individual therapy stimulates growth in mutually complementary ways. Also, clients may see two different therapists for individual and group therapies.
What if I’m uncomfortable discussing my problems in front of others?

It’s not unusual to feel uneasy or embarrassed when first joining a group, but soon you begin to develop feelings of interest and trust. Most clients find that group therapy provides a great deal of relief because it allows them a chance to talk with others who are experiencing similar problems -- in a private, confidential setting. Most new members find that the group process quickly draws them in and they begin sharing in ways they had not expected. As the group therapist, I will help facilitate conversations and can help process whatever anxiety the group may be feeling.
Do I have to reveal all my deepest fears and feelings to the group?

No, you do not. You alone decide how much you want to share and no one can force you to reveal your secrets or feelings. Most group members tend to share more about themselves when they feel safe in the group. While I recognize that sharing can sometimes be uncomfortable, I also know that many members report getting more out of group when they decide to share more personal aspects of themselves. I encourage you to be aware of your pace for group involvement and to share when you feel comfortable doing so.
What kind of commitment do I need to make?

Our interpersonal process groups are long-term, open-ended process groups, unless otherwise stated. Each member commits to participate in the group for a minimum of 10 sessions. This agreement assures that the group process will not be disrupted by new members dropping in for one or two sessions and then dropping out. This agreement also ensures that you will make enough of a commitment to benefit from the group.
Ok, I think I'm ready to participate in group, what do I next?

Great! The next step is either to: Fill out an Appointment Request Form so that you can be connected with one of our group who will follow up with you to schedule a time for a brief phone call so that the two of you can decide if group may be a good fit for your needs. You can also contact the group therapist leading the group that you are interested directly via phone or email. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy

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