Online Group Therapy

Traditionally, the experience of group therapy begins with a screening interview. From there, a client returns for the initial group session and subsequent sessions, where regular attendance is required. This model works for many patients, but not all. Some patient groups benefit from a non-traditional approach to group therapy. For example, patients living in rural environments might not have convenient access to services. Patients who travel extensively might not be able to regularly meet at a fixed location. In addition, some therapy groups are very specific (e.g., trichotillomania, which is compulsive hair pulling), and forming a therapy group for this population might be difficult due to the rarity of the disorder in any given area. Finally, some patients might actually suffer from disorders that prevent them from attending group therapy (e.g., agoraphobia). With these possible barriers, some potential group members might not be able to attend traditional group therapy. In such situations, clients might benefit from the use of online group therapy.