How to Talk to Your Therapist About Trying Group Therapy

You've been reading and hearing about group therapy. Something about it resonates — maybe the idea of practicing new ways of relating in real time, or the possibility that a group could help you break through patterns that individual therapy has helped you see but not fully change. You're interested. Maybe even excited.

But there's a problem: you already have a therapist. And the idea of telling them you want to try something else feels awkward. Like you're saying their work isn't enough. Like you're being ungrateful. Like you're breaking up with someone who has been nothing but good to you.

You're not alone in this. It's one of the most common barriers to group therapy — not just the fear of the group itself, but discomfort with the conversation that comes before it.

Why It Feels Awkward

The awkwardness makes sense when you think about what individual therapy is: a relationship. Over months or maybe years, you've built something with your therapist. They know things about you that no one else knows. You trust them. And now you're worried that saying "I want to try group" will land as "You're not enough."

If you're someone who tends toward people-pleasing or caretaking, this discomfort might be especially strong. You may find yourself managing your therapist's feelings before they've even had a chance to have them — assuming they'll be hurt, offended, or threatened.

Notice that pattern. It's important. Because the very thing that makes this conversation feel hard is probably one of the patterns you'd benefit from exploring in group.

What You're Actually Saying

When you tell your therapist you're interested in group therapy, you're NOT saying:

• "You've failed me."
• "I need something better."
• "Individual therapy doesn't work."

You ARE saying:

• "Our work together has helped me understand my patterns, and now I want a place to practice changing them."
• "I've reached a point where I think I need more than one relationship to grow."
• "I want to try something that builds on what we've done, not replaces it."

Most therapists hear this as a sign of progress, not a complaint. A client who is ready for group therapy is often a client who has done meaningful individual work and is ready for the next step.

Your Therapist Is On Your Team

It's worth saying directly: group therapists and individual therapists are not in competition. They're partners.

A good group therapist doesn't want to replace your individual work — they want to build on it. The insights you've developed in individual therapy become the foundation for what you practice in group. And what comes up in group often deepens your individual work in ways neither of you expected.

Many individual therapists understand this. Many actively refer clients to group when they think it's the right fit. When your individual therapist and your group therapist are both part of your care, the work is stronger than either one alone.

How to Bring It Up

There's no perfect script. But here are a few ways to open the conversation:

Direct approach: "I've been reading about process groups and I'm interested in trying one. I'd love your thoughts on whether that would be a good fit for me."

Naming the awkwardness: "I want to ask you about something and I feel a little awkward about it. I've been thinking about trying group therapy, and I want to make sure that doesn't come across the wrong way."

Connecting it to your work: "We've been talking a lot about my pattern of [avoiding conflict / people-pleasing / withdrawing]. I've been wondering if a group setting might help me actually practice doing something different with that."

Any of these works. Your therapist is trained to have conversations like this. And if the conversation itself feels charged — if you notice yourself holding back or performing — that's worth mentioning too. It's all grist for the mill.

What Your Therapist Might Say

Therapists respond to this conversation in different ways. Here are some of the more common responses:

"That's a great idea." Many therapists know that group therapy does things individual therapy can't. They may have been waiting for you to be ready.

"Tell me more about what's drawing you to it." This isn't resistance — it's curiosity. Your therapist wants to understand what you're looking for so they can help you find the right fit.

"I'd want to make sure it's the right kind of group." This is good clinical thinking. Not all groups are the same. A therapist who asks this question is helping you find something that will actually work.

"Let me think about it." Some therapists may want time to consider. That's fine. It doesn't mean no.

"I'm not sure that's right for you." This is less common, but it happens. If your therapist has concerns, hear them out. They may have valid clinical reasons — or they may not be familiar with how process groups work. Either way, the conversation is worth having.

Both / And

Here's the most important thing to know: trying group therapy doesn't mean you have to leave individual therapy. Many people who join a group continue their individual work. The two aren't in competition. They're complementary.

Individual therapy gives you the mother. Group therapy gives you the siblings. The parent relationship and the peer relationships develop different things in you. Both matter.

Your individual therapist helped you understand who you are. A group can help you practice being that person — fully, honestly, and in the company of others.

Ready to Explore?

If you're interested in learning more about what group therapy involves, we would be glad to hear from you.

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Paul Callister, PhD, CMHC, CGP is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and certified group psychotherapist. He founded the Utah Group Therapy Center to offer interpersonal process groups in Utah.