Best Online Group Therapy & Support Groups of 2023

Grouport is an online group therapy platform that offers specialized group therapy in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, covering topics like anxiety, depression, and grief. They also offer group dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills training nationwide. Grouport’s therapists are experienced, licensed, and properly vetted, which helps create a safe and welcoming atmosphere in the group meetings.

Even if you’re located outside of their geographical coverage for specialized group therapy, you can still try Grouport’s DBT skills training group, which is offered nationwide. Dialectical behavioral therapy training teaches skills to manage emotions, cope with setbacks, and improve relationships. While it’s labeled as a training session, it has the essence of a group therapy session, with the added bonus of DBT skill-building exercises.

To learn more about this platform, check out our independent review of Grouport

Pace is an online support group platform that offers daily meetings led by professional facilitators. Members can choose from a variety of topics, including mental health, careers, parenting, and more. In fact, Pace is more than just a support group platform. It’s an online community where people come together to share experiences, build relationships, and learn from each other. Pace support groups all follow a structured agenda that’s designed for every member to share, listen to others, and receive feedback.

Pace offers two types of groups: open groups and core groups. Open groups are open to anyone, and new members are encouraged to attend as many open groups as possible to meet and follow other members. Core groups are exclusive, more intimate, and focused on a specific topic. To join a core group, you must first follow 15 other members. Membership includes access to three core groups.

To learn more about this app, check out our independent review of Pace.

The Circles app provides unlimited access to online support group meetings, called “circles,” Masterclass workshops, and peer-led circles. Members can also chat with peers sharing similar experiences in the message board forums. While it’s important to be aware that some circles are run by other members without proper facilitator training or mental health backgrounds, it remains a strong platform for communication and building new relationships.

The Circles app provides a nice blend of support from mental health professionals and peers. This gives the service a well-rounded approach to groups. The meetings run by vetted facilitators provide a lot of structure and solutions, while the peer-run support groups and message board forums provide comfort, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

To learn more about this app, check out our independent review of Circles.

The Sesh app provides online support groups covering a wide range of topics, like parenting, depression, anxiety, and wellness. They even have an “Art, Music, Movement” category that offers support and inspiration to creatives with sessions like “Using Writing to Process Your Emotions” and “Artistic Expression and Healing.”Sesh members can access unlimited support groups that are available multiple times a day and are led by experienced licensed therapists.

In addition to support groups, they have specialized sessions that cater to personal development and self-care, like “How to Push Past Procrastination” and “Mental Health Mornings” with guided meditations. Some therapists will include more open discussions, while others share more skill-building exercises and educational tools. If you’re interested in learning new skills and self-care techniques along with your group work, Sesh is a great choice.

To learn more about this app, check out our independent review of Sesh.

Monument is an online medication-assisted treatment program (MAT) and online community for those with alcohol dependency in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Washington D.C., Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Iowa, and Michigan. Patients can choose to cut back or quit drinking completely. Monument creates a safe online environment that’s available 24/7 for those struggling to quit drinking or cut back. Wherever you are on your recovery journey, Monument has a support group that’s designed for you.

Monument created clear guidelines for their online community to ensure that members feel comfortable and secure sharing their experiences with alcoholism. All members are given a nickname at registration so they can remain anonymous. They encourage members to practice active listening, be curious, uphold confidentiality, and always show respect toward other members.

To learn more about these services, check out our independent review of Monument.

Mindful Care is an online mental healthcare platform that offers a wide range of services, including individual therapy, psychiatry, and group therapy. Mindful Care is currently available in select states but has plans to expand nationwide.

Mindful Care’s group therapy program is called MindFit, and it’s run by licensed therapists who utilize a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach. Several groups are run daily, and they cover a wide range of topics. MindFit has specialized groups for depression, anxiety, the LGBTQ+ community, bipolar disorder, relationships, and more. Mindful Care is currently available in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan, and New York.

There are not a lot of companies out there that offer a free membership to mental health groups, which is why we wanted to give a nod to Therapy Tribe for winning the Best Free Online Support Groups award.

Granted, members of “the Tribe’s” wellness community should be aware that support groups and message board forums are moderated by fellow peers, not licensed therapists. However, when connecting with the right members, you can find the support you need without paying for a subscription.