Group Therapy Rocks

…even for autistic people.

I run therapy groups for autistic folks in my practice, and I love it. There are so many reasons why group therapy (alongside individual therapy or on its own) might be worth trying. I understand why group therapy may be intimidating. There are a lot of different people there. A lot of personalities. A lot of different needs in the room. And if facilitated well, it can be healing, connective, and bring a little levity to your week sometimes. 

Group Process

“Group process” refers to the dynamics, verbal and emotional exchanges, and the grappling with all that a group full of unique people can bring to a space. It’s what makes group therapy different from individual therapy, and it’s also part of what makes it great. Don’t get me wrong, individual therapy rocks too, but group process brings up dynamics that can be more similar to real life. Working with a therapist one on one is a mostly one sided process. In group therapy, all of the members of the group are accountable to each other relationally. Sometimes this makes things challenging, but it’s also a great opportunity to suss out what your values are in relationships. Are you someone who avoids conflict? If so, do you avoid disagreeing with someone in group? Is that how you want to be? At least in the groups I run, I don’t provide “social skills training,” but the group does invite you to be social and reflect on how you do that and what feelings come up as a result. 

Inter-Community Connection

One reason why some of the groups I run have been specifically created for autistic people is because there's evidence to suggest that sometimes autistic people are misunderstood by allistic (not autistic) people. There is also evidence to suggest that autistic people can empathize more with other autistic people. This lack of empathy that goes both ways has been coined the “double empathy problem.” Putting autistic people in a room together has led to understanding, community building, and in some cases supporting each other long after the group ends. Certainly not all group therapy is made for only autistic group members, however many many groups are focused on certain communities. It’s not uncommon to see groups for queer folks, or groups for people going through a specific thing, like pet loss or being a family caregiver. Regardless of what the group members share, coming together and witnessing other’s humanity is a beautiful thing. 

Lower Cost

With the world economy and state of healthcare being what it is in 2026, it’s been challenging for a lot of us to access therapy. It. is. expensive. And that’s really not fair. Group therapy typically costs a lot less and can be a lot more accessible to those who need it. While individual therapy can cost up to $200 or more out of pocket, group therapy usually costs $50 a week or less. This can be a way to get specialized care if you can’t afford a specific therapist, or there’s no one is in your insurance network for that meets your specific needs. If you have a therapist who doesn’t specialize in working with autistic clients, having a group that can help you process specific needs can be a good supplement. For some, group therapy even once per month is enough for them right now. There are even times when your insurance will cover the cost of group therapy alongside individual therapy. This is something to be worked out with your group facilitator or their office team. 

But What Do I Talk About? (or any other worries)

If you’re worried about absolutely anything, I recommend talking to your group facilitator. I know that can be challenging in and of itself, but a good facilitator will have a plan and be able to communicate that to you. One thing that has come up before a group begins is that group members are worried they won’t know what to say or won’t have enough direction. All groups are different, but I will say that the group that I run for autistic folks is set up to be extremely guided. I know it can be stressful for autistic people (more than most) to enter a space and not know what to expect. I am autistic too, I know the feeling. Because of this, I set up this group to have a curriculum with time stamps and pre-determined discussions. None of this is mandatory for group members, but it allows them to prepare, read ahead, and tells them where to go when engaging in small group discussions. One question I would ask a group facilitator is “What have you done to make this group accessible?” and see what they have to say. 

My passion for group therapy is pretty clear. I’ve seen it be supportive for people in ways that individual therapy can’t, and it’s honestly really fun to see how people show up! Group process, connecting with people in your community, and being a bit more accessible sometimes all make group therapy a unique and beneficial process when done well. 

Also, y’all let me know if you would like me to record the curriculum and provide it online. Be on the look out for upcoming groups!