Group Therapy for Young Adults in Encino, CA
You Feel Alone, Even When You are Surrounded by People
You go to class and work you have friends, you even hang out or go to parties sometimes. No one would have any clue that you are struggling.
And yet there is this feeling - persistent, quiet, hard to name - that no one really knows. And if they could see inside you, they would think differently of you. That you are somehow the only one who feels this exhausted, this anxious, this far behind on figuring out how to be a person.
- Social situations feel like more work than they used to
- You want more connection but the energy it takes is too much…and you often feel like “too much” for others
- You carry things you haven't said out loud to anyone
- The loneliness is loudest in rooms full of people
- Part of you wonders if you would feel less alone if you just knew someone else was going through something similar
If this feels familiar, you are not alone and there is something so powerful about a group of people validating your experience and responding with “me too.”
What Group Therapy for Young Adults Looks Like
Group therapy is not group conversation. It is structured, therapist-led therapy with the added dimension of other people in the room who are navigating something similar.
In individual therapy, the insights come from the relationship between you and your therapist. In group therapy, something else becomes available: real-time connection with peers who actually get it. Not because a therapist told them to be empathetic, but because they are in it too.
Group therapy for young adults with anxiety focuses on building practical skills for managing worry, overthinking, and the social anxiety that can make daily life feel like more effort than it should be. It also creates a community, one that exists because you all showed up.
A Therapist-Led Group in Encino for Anxious Young Adults
License: LCSW 72275 (CA) / 149.014806 (IL)
I understand the irony of group therapy for anxious people, it feels impossible, and your first impulse is to avoid it at all costs.
I also know that after running groups for 18 years, there is nothing more powerful than validation and connection from a group of people who truly get it.
In our group sessions, you may find:
- Skills for managing anxiety that you can use between sessions
- Real connection with peers navigating similar experiences
- A therapist present and active throughout not just a facilitator
- A pace and structure designed to feel manageable, not
overwhelming - Room to participate at whatever level feels right for you
What Young Adults Often Notice Through Group Therapy in Encino
Many members come in quietly convinced they are uniquely broken. Something shifts when they hear a peer describe the exact internal experience they thought no one else had.
Less Alone
Many members find the isolation starting to ease.
Real-World Practice
Social situations may feel less like a performance.
Skills That Stick
Tools you can practice in group and use in the real world.
What the Group Therapy Process Looks Like Week to Week
Group sessions are 60 minutes, blending skill-building with guided conversation and peer support. Participation is encouraged but never forced, and most members quickly feel comfortable and engaged.
Structured, 60-Minute Sessions
Each group session is 60 minutes, combining skill-building with open conversation and peer support, with active guidance throughout.
Guided Yet Supportive Environment
I lead the process, introducing skills, guiding discussion, and holding a steady, supportive space for everyone.
Comfortable, Low-Pressure Participation
Participation is encouraged but never forced, and most people find the group quickly becomes natural and something they look forward to.
What Life May Feel Like After Finding a Real Sense of Connection
Over time, many group members find that the experience changes how they show up outside of the group too. Social situations start to feel slightly less like performances. The internal voice that says 'no one actually gets it' gets a little quieter because now there is…evidence that it is not true.
And beyond connection: the skills. Many members find that the tools they learned in group become second nature in ways that feel different from skills learned in individual therapy.
Joining Group Therapy in Encino What the Process Looks Like
1.
Reach Out
Use the contact form or scheduling link to inquire about the group. Group availability and start dates change, so it is always best to reach out to confirm group info.
2.
Schedule an Intake
Before joining a group, we will have a full intake appointment. This gives me a chance to learn more about your concerns and goals for a group. We will also decide if the group is a good fit for you right now.
3.
Join the Group
All group members will be starting at the same time. We spend a lot of time in the first session reviewing the group structure, guidelines, and getting to know each other.
What Young Adults Often Tell Me About Their Group Experience
"I kept waiting for everyone to think I was weird. No one did."
Many members are surprised to find that the things they were most embarrassed about were the things other people related to most.
"I thought group would feel awkward. It did at first. Then it became the thing I actually looked forward to each week."
"Hearing someone else say what I had only ever thought made it feel less overwhelming."
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy for Young Adults
What if I have social anxiety isn't group therapy the wrong fit?
In practice, group therapy is often one of the most effective approaches for social anxiety specifically because the group itself becomes a low-stakes, supported environment to practice exactly the things social anxiety makes hard.
How much does group therapy cost?
Group sessions are $100 for 60 minutes. This is one of the most accessible ways to access consistent, high-quality therapeutic support.
Does group therapy replace individual therapy, or can I participate in both concurrently?
A group adds the benefit of practicing skills in a safe, structured setting with the support of your therapist. This is particularly beneficial for those struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) because a group offers the safe “exposure” to the situation that makes you feel nervous. Layering treatments, like individual and group therapy, can accelerate your progress. It helps your therapist to understand your skills more clearly in order to offer more tailored attention and support.
Other types of support groups can be powerful on their own - they might be focused on learning skills and receiving real-time validation and support from peers. This can feel more motivating for some people and also less isolating - it’s so powerful to hear someone else say “me too” when you are feeling so alone.
What if I say something I regret, or someone else shares what I said?
Confidentiality applies to all group members, not just the therapist. What is shared in the room stays in the room, that expectation is established clearly at the start and revisited as needed.
Ready to Find Connection Through Group Therapy in Encino?
Most members tell me, a few sessions in, that it was not nearly as hard as they expected and that they wish they had done it sooner.
There are people in that room who feel exactly the way you do. That is worth finding out.