I offer teletherapy groups for specific purposes that work well in the group format. The virtual group therapy I offer is open, meaning that new people can join any time, and all virtual, meaning there will not be some people meeting in person and others joining virtually. Right now, I have three online group therapy programs running:

  1. Fear of flying
  2. Fear of public speaking
  3. Young adults

Feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime about these offerings, but here is some general information. There is also a page about virtual therapy in general.

More About My Teletherapy Groups

Right now, I am running the following online group therapy services:

Fear of Flying Teletherapy Groups

This online group therapy experience comprises adults with significant anxiety about flying. Most members either don’t fly at all or seriously limit their flying. Many suffer from both anticipatory anxiety and fears the day of the flight. Most have never experienced a problem aboard an aircraft but developed flight anxiety anyway. The format is ideal for a fear-of-flying group because you feel understood, supported, and connected without pressure to move faster than you are comfortable. Your hopefulness and confidence will increase as fellow members succeed.

Fear of Public Speaking Teletherapy Groups

This one is made up of adults who face fear and anxiety when they need to speak in front of people. For some, part of their work requires them to speak in front of others, while others get nervous when speaking in front of a small number in an informal situation. This experience is innovative and unique in that we review public speaking lessons and anxiety treatment strategies. In other words, no matter what your fears are, you will learn ways to be a better public speaker, and that, along with specific therapeutic techniques, will help you overcome your fears.

Young Adults Virtual Group Therapy

Young adulthood is a time of significant change, with a lot of important decision-making about careers, social life, and family relationships. It is an exciting time, but the pressure and worry can lead to a lack of contentment and a feeling that there is not enough meaning in life. My young adult teletherapy service allows you to share your fears, hopes, worries, and expectations with others who fully understand. You’ll learn a lot from each other, and we’ll go over ways to increase coping strategies, confidence, meaningfulness, and existential comfort.

Therapeutic Approaches

I use a combination of the following approaches in online group therapy:

Psychoeducational Group Teletherapy

This approach provides members with information about mental health conditions, solutions, coping strategies, and communication skills. Psychoeducation aims to enhance understanding, give you a toolkit to use outside of sessions, and ensure you take away concrete ideas and strategies you may not have thought of.

Cognitive-Behavioral Online Group Therapy

CBT in a virtual group therapy setting involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors. Members learn to recognize cognitive distortions (for example irrational and exaggerated worries) and develop healthier coping mechanisms through exercises, discussions, and homework.

Supportive Group Teletherapy

This approach emphasizes empathy, validation, and mutual support among members. It provides a safe space for members to express their emotions, share experiences, and receive validation from others facing similar challenges. You can participate as much or as little as you’d like, and no matter what you will likely feel understood and validated.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Mindfulness-based approaches integrate mindfulness meditation practices with cognitive and behavioral techniques. Members learn to cultivate present-moment awareness, self-compassion, and acceptance to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.

Existential Group Teletherapy

Existential therapy focuses on exploring existential themes such as freedom, meaning, and isolation. Members reflect on their values, beliefs, and life purpose to confront existential anxiety and find deeper meaning in their experiences. This approach is most common in my young adults groups

I tailor these clinical approaches to the specific needs of the individuals involved.

Benefits of Teletherapy Groups

The benefits of teletherapy groups include:

Accessibility of Teletherapy Groups

Virtual group therapy offers increased accessibility for individuals with difficulty attending in-person sessions due to geographical constraints or scheduling conflicts. You can join one of your choice that has a good reputation or uses the approach you are looking for, even if the psychologist is not near where you live. The convenience is particularly attractive to those with busy schedules or hurdles such as childcare, making going to an office difficult.

Comfort and Relative Anonymity

Teletherapy groups can offer a sense of anonymity and comfort for participants who may feel more at ease discussing sensitive topics from the privacy of their own homes. Most of the services I offer revolve around topics that may be sensitive, such as anxieties and fears. For some, the comfort of the virtual experience means a lot. While you cannot guarantee that you will not see someone you know, it is unlikely that the ones I offer brings in people from 42 states. You do not have to go to an office where people might see you entering with virtual group therapy.

Challenges with Online Group Therapy

It’s important to note that teletherapy groups may present certain challenges compared to traditional in-person, including:

Technological glitches and Virtual Group Therapy

While technological issues such as “freezing” and temporary Wi-Fi losses can easily be overcome in online individual treatment, the problem is multiplied in group teletherapy because of the number of people involved. It is vital that people work as hard as they can to be in a place where the Wi-Fi signal is strong and the potential for interruption is low.

Teletherapy Groups and Nonverbal Cues

A virtual meeting presents some challenges with picking up nonverbal cues and communication. Body language can be harder to read, for example. This is why I ask that anyone participating in my teletherapy groups leave their camera and microphone on throughout the time.

Privacy and Confidentiality

I take steps to ensure the security of the online platform, so much of the challenge in this area requires the participants to follow certain guidelines for confidentiality and participation. Most of these instructions are easy, such as ensuring your screen is facing away from any direction where another person could see it, not repeating any names of people outside the session, and being in a private place during the session.

Virtual Group Therapy Example

Online group therapy planning involves structuring sessions that promote interaction, connection, and personal growth, while ensuring privacy and ethical considerations in an online format. Below is an example structure focused on stress management—samples of my offerings are on their respective pages on my Group Therapy options page.

Online Group Therapy Overview:

  • Duration: 6 weeks, 1 session per week
  • Session Length: 60-90 minutes
  • Platform: My HIPAA-compliant video platform
  • Size: 6-8 participants
  • Goal: To teach participants healthy coping mechanisms, foster support among members, and provide tools for managing stress in daily life.

Virtual Group Therapy Sessions

Online group therapy sessions in my practice might unfold as follows:

Virtual Group Therapy Session 1: Introduction and Establishing Trust

  • Objective: Set the tone, discuss confidentiality, establish rules, and get to know each other.
  • Activities:
    • Welcome & Ground Rules: I explain the group’s purpose and the importance of confidentiality.
    • Icebreaker: Each participant shares their name, a brief introduction, and a current stressor.
    • Agreement: Create an agreement on confidentiality, respect, and participation.
    • Psychoeducation: I briefly introduce the concept of stress and its effects on the body and mind.
    • Homework: Reflect on personal stress triggers and coping mechanisms.

Session 2: Understanding Stress and Its Impact

  • Objective: Help participants recognize their stress triggers and the physical/emotional impact of stress.
  • Activities:
    • Check-in: Participants share how they are feeling today.
    • Discussion: I facilitate a discussion about common stressors and their impact on health.
    • Activity: Guided visualization or body scan to help participants notice where they hold stress.
    • Group Discussion: Participants share insights about how stress manifests in their body/mind.
    • Homework: Journaling exercise to track stress triggers throughout the week.

Session 3: Coping Strategies for Managing Stress

  • Objective: Teach participants healthy ways to cope with stress.
  • Activities:
    • Check-in: Participants discuss their experiences from the journaling exercise.
    • Psychoeducation: I introduce to coping strategies such as mindfulness strategies, breathing techniques, and time management.
    • Practice: Practice deep breathing and mindfulness exercises together.
    • Discussion: How can these techniques be applied to real-life situations?
    • Homework: Practice one new coping technique daily and note any changes in stress levels.

Session 4: Cognitive Restructuring for Stressful Thoughts

  • Objective: Teach participants how to identify and reframe negative or stressful thoughts.
  • Activities:
    • Check-in: Share successes and challenges using coping techniques.
    • Psychoeducation: I introduce cognitive-behavioral techniques for identifying negative thought patterns.
    • Activity: Each participant identifies a recent stressful situation and works through reframing it with the help of other members.
    • Homework: Continue practicing cognitive restructuring in daily situations.

Session 5: Building Resilience and Preventing Burnout

  • Objective: Focus on long-term strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout.
  • Activities:
    • Check-in: Discuss how cognitive restructuring exercises have worked.
    • Psychoeducation: I introduce to resilience-building techniques and self-care practices.
    • Activity: Group discussion on personal boundaries, saying “no,” and self-care routines.
    • Homework: Create a personalized self-care plan for the next week.

Session 6: Wrap-Up and Future Planning

  • Objective: Reflect on the progress made and create a plan for continued stress management.
  • Activities:
    • Check-in: Reflect on progress and how stress management techniques have been helpful.
    • Group Reflection: Share personal growth and key takeaways from the experience.
    • Action Planning: Each participant creates a stress management action plan for the future, incorporating lessons learned.
    • Goodbye Ritual: Facilitator leads a brief closing ritual (e.g., sharing one word for the experience, or a closing meditation).

Online Group Therapy Rules/Guidelines:

  • Respect confidentiality.
  • Allow everyone time to speak.
  • Be open and supportive.
  • Attend all sessions if possible.
  • Commit to active participation and engagement.

This example offers a well-rounded online group therapy experience, focusing on stress management and personal growth.

Summary and My Current Teletherapy Groups

Overall, teletherapy groups can be a valuable and effective option for those seeking mental health support, and I choose topics that work well in this format. I use state-of-the-art portals for this work to assure your privacy and confidentiality. Right now, I have the virtual group therapy opportunities listed on this post, and you can learn about new groups by going to the Group Therapy page.

I use an open format, meaning that new members can join at any time. They are fully virtual.

Don’t hesitate to contact me anytime if you want to learn more about virtual group therapy, are interested in joining one of my teletherapy groups, or just have general questions.

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Dr. Alan Jacobson Founder and President
Dr. Jacobson is a licensed clinical psychologist providing individual, couples, and family therapy for over 20 years. He uses an integrative approach. choosing from a variety of proven and powerful therapeutic methods.