Group Therapy in Tempe, AZ
Six to eight people, the same faces every week, for a set number of weeks. Most people arrive certain they will hate it, and most of them are wrong.
per session.
Want to see your cost first? Answer a few quick questions.
Want to see your cost first? Answer a few quick questions.
What a group actually is
A closed group means the same people for the whole run. Nobody joins in week four. That matters more than it sounds like it should, because the thing that makes a group work is the willingness to say something true in front of people you will see again, and that is far easier with a group that is not changing underneath you.
A clinician runs it. It is not a support circle that meets in a church basement and it is not a lecture. There is a structure to each session and somebody whose job is to keep it useful and keep it safe.
What people are afraid of
- That you will be forced to talk. You will not. People sit and listen for the first session or two all the time.
- That it is group therapy because it is cheaper. It is cheaper. It is also better than individual therapy for some things, particularly anything involving other people.
- That someone will repeat what you said. Everyone agrees to confidentiality in the first session, and it is taken seriously.
What surprises people is the relief of hearing somebody else describe the thing they thought only happened to them.
Is it right for you
Group works well when the difficulty shows up around other people: conflict, isolation, anxiety in social situations, grief that nobody in your life wants to keep hearing about.
It works less well as a first step when you are in acute distress, or when what you need is one person's full attention for an hour. If that is where you are, individual therapy first is the better call, and we will tell you so.
Plenty of people do both at once.
What it costs
Group therapy
Per session.Sliding scale
We offer sliding-scale rates for patients experiencing financial hardship. Eligibility and the reduced rate are worked out case by case, based on your circumstances. Call and ask; you do not need to explain yourself in writing first.
Commercial insurance
We are not in network with commercial insurance plans. You can pay yourself at the rates above, and we provide a superbill on request, which you may submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Whether you are reimbursed, and how much, depends on your own benefits and is not guaranteed.
Good Faith Estimate
If you are paying yourself or using out-of-network benefits, you will receive a written Good Faith Estimate of what your care will cost before your first appointment. That is your right under federal law.
Cancellations
We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. If you are paying yourself, cancelling with less than 24 hours' notice, or not showing up at all, is a $100 fee for an individual or couples appointment ($75 if that is your session rate), or $40 for a group session. You also get a 15-minute grace period: if you have not arrived or joined by then, your clinician may mark it a no-show. Emergencies and genuinely unusual circumstances are handled case by case.
Questions people ask
Do I have to talk?
No. Listening is participating, and nobody is put on the spot.
Is it confidential?
Everyone agrees to it in the first session. Your clinician is also bound by law and license, as they are in individual therapy.
Can I do group instead of individual therapy?
Sometimes, and for some things it works better. We will be straight with you about which applies.
What if I miss a week?
Tell your clinician. A closed group depends on people showing up, but life happens and it is not a strike against you.
Can I join partway through?
No. Closed means closed. You would go into the next group.
What if I need to cancel?
Give us at least 24 hours' notice. The full policy, including the late fee and the grace period, is under What it costs above.