Group Psychotherapy Programmes for Healing and Connection

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Sometimes meaningful change happens not only through understanding ourselves, but also through connecting with others working through similar challenges.

Our group psychotherapy programmes combine therapeutic guidance, education, reflection, and shared experience within a small, supportive group. Each programme focuses on a specific area of emotional, relational, or psychological well-being and offers opportunities to deepen understanding, practise new ways of responding, and apply what you are learning to everyday life.

Unlike a drop-in support group, these are structured, closed psychotherapy groups. The same participants meet throughout the eight-week programme, allowing trust, familiarity, and therapeutic connection to develop over time.

Each programme includes eight weekly two-hour sessions facilitated by a mental health professional with training and experience relevant to the programme topic.

Depending on the programme, sessions may include:

• Therapeutic discussion and facilitated group work
• Education about emotional, relational, and behavioural patterns
• Opportunities for self-reflection and greater self-awareness
• Practical strategies and skills
• Guided exercises and experiential activities
• Opportunities to practise new ways of relating and responding
• Take-home resources or reflection activities, where applicable

The intention is to create a space where participants can learn, reflect, connect, and engage in meaningful therapeutic work, supported throughout the process.

Group size is intentionally limited. Individual programmes include a maximum of eight participants, while programmes designed for couples include a maximum of four couples.

Keeping groups small allows for greater participation, more focused therapeutic guidance, and the opportunity for meaningful connection to develop within the group.

Depending on the therapeutic focus, programmes may be offered for individuals, couples, women, men, or other specifically defined groups.

Group psychotherapy can be a valuable option for people who want to better understand themselves, develop new skills, explore recurring patterns, and benefit from working alongside others with similar concerns.

Because each programme has a specific therapeutic focus, you may need a brief consultation or screening before registering. This helps determine whether the programme fits your needs and whether the group setting is likely to support your therapeutic goals.

Group therapy may complement individual or couples therapy, or it may be used as a therapeutic experience on its own, depending on your needs.

Each eight-week programme includes 16 hours of professionally facilitated group psychotherapy.

Programme Fee: $1,000 per participant
Duration: 8 weeks
Session Length: 2 hours per week
Group Size: Up to 8 individuals or 4 couples

The programme fee is payable in full upon registration and reserves your place for the complete eight-week programme.

New group psychotherapy programmes are offered throughout the year, with registration opening as new cohorts become available. Because groups are intentionally kept small, spaces are limited.

Group therapy develops over time, with each session building upon previous discussions, learning, and therapeutic work. Participants are encouraged to attend all eight sessions whenever possible to receive the greatest benefit from the programme and support continuity within the group.

Because your place is reserved for the duration of the closed group, missed sessions are not eligible for refund, credit, or individual make-up sessions.

Registration reserves one of a limited number of places within a closed psychotherapy group. Due to the small-group format and the planning and preparation that occur before a programme begins, programme fees are non-refundable once registration is confirmed.

If a participant withdraws after the programme has begun, the full programme fee remains due.

If Sondra Budd & Associates cancels a programme, participants may choose to receive a full refund of programme fees paid or transfer their registration to the next available offering of that programme.

Explore our current and upcoming group psychotherapy programmes in St. Thomas and online across Ontario to find a programme that fits your needs.

If you are unsure which programme may be right for you, contact us to learn more about upcoming groups and the registration process.