The Best Online Group Therapy in 2024, Tried and Tested

We tested Circles twice—including with a therapist who tried Circles—and both times we had very positive experiences. We were also very pleased to discover that since we began researching this company (and surveying past and current users, but more on that below), Circles has begun offering two low-cost monthly subscription plans with access to groups focused on navigating difficult relationships. Those in narcissistic relationships or going through a divorce or separation can join groups with focuses that range from co-dependency to trust issues to parenting challenges to post-divorce identity. And while we tried Circles when it was offering groups focusing on different challenges (including grief), our experience with it makes us feel comfortable recommending it for its new focus on relationships.

To sign up for Circles, first you’ll download the app. All Circles groups are led by licensed therapists or facilitators with certifications in divorce, relationships, or mental health. Once you pick your group, you’ll have a specific time to join the audio chat session. We could also chat 24/7 with our group members and the facilitator outside our scheduled time as well as access other resources, including self-help exercises. Both times we tried Circles, we felt supported and listened to in the group sessions. The moderators did an excellent job of leading the discussion so that the conversations flowed without ever feeling stilted or truncated. Moderators generally began sessions by setting some group rules for the chat, which helped us feel safe to open up, and we found the participants in the group engaging, open, warm, honest, and—most of all—supportive.

Our conversations covered different therapy modalities, our stories, and various goals that people can have in their own healing. As with all group therapy, the tone and vibe of each group varies depending on who makes up the group and the moderator—for example, some of our sessions felt more educational; others more conversational. Circles is not the same as individual therapy, but if you’re looking for support or you’re simply having trouble affording the cost of traditional psychotherapy, this company offers a good place to start. 

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Monthly subscriptions for $29 per month, 6-month subscriptions for $129 ($21.50 per month), or yearly subscriptions for $179 ($14.90 per month)

We surveyed 100 users of Circles:

• 87% rated Circles as very good or excellent overall
• 87% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 92% said that most or all of their needs were met at Circles
• 93% are likely or very likely to recommend Circles to a friend or someone like them
• 16% said Circles had better group sessions than other services they'd tried
  

Recovery groups, both in-person and online, have long been a part of alcohol addiction treatment because these groups can help people feel less isolated while also allowing members to learn from others’ shared experiences. And while we could not assign anyone to test Monument because we did not find it ethical to do so, we did test out the sign-up process and thoroughly research its offerings. We also consulted three licensed therapists to get their perspective—and this led us to confidently recommend it. What impressed us most about Monument was all of its therapists and prescribers specialize in treating alcohol use disorder, which means that you’re guaranteed to get a quality of care you might not find at other support groups—even those devoted to people seeking sobriety support.

These online support groups are open to anyone in the United States, regardless of where you live or whether you signed up for a paid therapy subscription. You can join a group anonymously if you choose and you are not required to speak during the group session. Each online group is moderated by a licensed therapist who has experience dealing with alcohol addiction. The groups are convenient: You can find groups to join at a variety of different times. There are also groups with specific focuses, allowing you to choose the one that will be most helpful to you. This is a huge plus for this company: Research has shown that group therapy is particularly helpful for people with substance use disorders because it can help you feel less alone, reduce any feelings of shame or stigma, and help you practice coping strategies. 

If you need additional support after group sessions, you can chat with other group members in a private channel at any time, night or day. Plus, if you prefer more individualized support, you can sign up for one of Monument’s therapy or medication management subscription plans, depending on what state you live in. 

• Insurance Accepted: Monument is in-network with the following insurance companies (specific plan coverage varies by state): Aetna, Cigna, Oxford Health Plans, and Oscar; accepts Medicare; accepts FSA/HSA payments
• Subscription Required: Yes
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Community membership is $15 per month (not covered by insurance); treatment costs vary by insurance; if paying out-of-pocket, these services cost $100 each for physician appointments, $149 per month for therapy every other week, and $249 per month for weekly therapy appointments.

We surveyed 100 users of Monument:

• 84% rated Monument as very good or excellent overall
• 94% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 98% said that most or all of their needs were met at Monument
• 95% are likely or very likely to recommend Monument to a friend or someone like them
• 28% said Monument had better group sessions than other services they'd tried

We asked two people to try Mindful Care’s therapy services, including its group therapy. Overall, we were very pleased with our experience testing Mindful Care in these group sessions, especially for the relatively affordable price. All group sessions are an hour long and conducted over Zoom at Mindful Care. You have the option of joining one of nine different groups addressing different issues, such as substance use, LGBTQ+ support, depression, anger management, trauma, and more.

Each group, regardless of focus, is led by a trained facilitator and is generally attended by nine to 15 other participants. When we tried these groups, we found that the other participants varied a lot in age and gender identity, and not everyone turned their cameras on. Some participants spoke a lot; others didn’t at all, but by and large, the vibe in the groups we attended was positive and supportive. We felt validated and free to share as much or as little as we wanted of our experiences and it was comforting to be in a room with others who were going through similar things. Admittedly, we did struggle a bit to figure out how to join the group therapy sessions at first in our patient portal, but the customer service team was able to quickly and efficiently help us out so that initial bumpiness didn’t overshadow what was otherwise a pleasant experience.

The biggest drawback we experienced was simply timing: One of our testers found that the group she wanted to attend was not at a time when she would be able to do so—that meant she wasn’t able to continue attending in the longer term. It’s also worth remembering that what you get out of your group will vary depending on which group you join and how open you are to group therapy yourself. For example, one of our testers said she found the lack of structure to these sessions—and the general questions asked by the facilitator—to not really be her thing. Still, she could see why others might feel supported by this format even if she personally preferred individual therapy. We should also mention that our experience testing Mindful Care’s other services, including its 20-minute “micro therapy” sessions, was a little less positive. 

• Accepts Insurance: Yes, including Medicare and Medicaid in some states
• Subscription Required: No
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Varies by insurance; group therapy is $35 per 60-minute session; individual therapy is $150 for an initial session and then $100 for 40-minute sessions or $50 for 20-minute sessions; psychiatric care is $175 for an initial appointment and then $75 for follow-up sessions

We surveyed 100 users of Mindful Care:

• 83% rated Mindful Care as very good or excellent overall
• 86% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 90% said that most or all of their needs were met at Mindful Care
• 96% are likely or very likely to recommend Mindful Care to a friend or someone like them
• 14% said Mindful Care had better group sessions than other services they'd tried

We asked two people to test Growing Self—one tried the company’s individual therapy services and another tested couples therapy resources with her partner—and both had very pleasant experiences with the company. So while we did not specifically test its divorce and breakup coaching group, we were impressed that it offers such specialized relationship services and that this group is led by a licensed therapist.

Growing Self’s divorce and breakup coaching group is capped to maximize participation from all members, meets weekly through online video, and is facilitated by both a divorce counselor and a breakup recovery coach. All group sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes and members get access to a private Facebook group to connect with others outside of the session. Growing Self also offers individual therapy and couples therapy as well—and we had a great experience testing these services. We enjoyed how comfortable our therapist made us feel from the get-go, which isn’t easy when staring at a Zoom window. One of the things we loved most was how focused on us as a couple our therapist was. Throughout our appointments, our therapist made sure to pause and point out the positives of our relationship, sum up our challenges, and get both of us on the same page. 

This focus is such a strength because the founder of the company and its clinical director, Lisa Marie Bobby, PhD, LP, LMFT, is the author of a book on breakups; she specializes in compassionately helping clients break their attachments to old relationships and rebuild their lives through new skills learned in the session. 

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: No
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Support groups cost $40 per 60- to 75-minute group session; therapy ranges from $75 to $170 per 45-minute session based on the therapist’s level of training—sliding scale pricing is available

We surveyed 100 users of Growing Self:

• 85% rated Growing Self as very good or excellent overall
• 93% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 97% said that most or all of their needs were met at Growing Self
• 96% are likely or very likely to recommend Growing Self to a friend or someone like them
• 12% said Growing Self had better group sessions than other services they'd tried

We asked one person—a writer with ADHD who often struggles to feel motivated—to test out 7 Cups to see if it would help her find the kind of community support she was looking for. And after a month of testing the service, she decided it wasn’t the right service for her—but could see why others might benefit from it for a number of reasons. We could sign up and chat with peers online in a wide range of topic-focused support chat groups for free. This is a real plus if you’re struggling to afford mental health resources otherwise (and if you find you want additional support, you can sign up for one-on-one text-based therapy with a therapist for $159 a month, as well as access to additional community support options that follow a “growth path”).

The 24/7 accessibility is a benefit for anyone who struggles to find the time for traditional therapy or even for support groups that meet at set times each week. We could jump into a room whenever we wanted and join the discussion. The groups were moderated to help us feel safe opening up, too—though like the internet as a whole, there isn’t a 100% guarantee that the conversation might not go off the rails from time to time (at least for a little while). Unlike group therapy or support groups you might join at another company or in person, all chat rooms at 7 Cups are essentially peer support groups. There is no therapist in the group to help guide the session. We could choose to speak with “trained listeners” one-on-one, though, and while those listeners are volunteers (not licensed therapists), they do receive some training from 7 Cups.

Just be warned, though, that the sheer number of peer support groups—or chat forums— can be overwhelming to navigate. We could find them all from our account dashboard, which we found to be a little crowded. We also didn’t find the premium growth paths (which cost more) to be all that more helpful than the groups we could access for free. Essentially, these paths are learning modules devoted to topics like social anxiety, PTSD, trauma, depression, and more.

• Insurance Accepted: No
• Subscription Required: No
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Free for group chat rooms, private peer chats, and access to “active listeners”; a premium subscription with access to the premium growth paths is $13 per month or $108 per year ($9 per month); therapy subscriptions are $159 per month for text-based online therapy with a licensed therapist or $299 per month for weekly talk therapy sessions with a therapist

We surveyed 100 users of 7 Cups:

• 91% rated 7 Cups as very good or excellent overall
• 91% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent
• 93% said that most or all of their needs were met at 7 Cups
• 94% are likely or very likely to recommend 7 Cups to a friend or someone like them
• 9% said 7 Cups had better group sessions than other services they'd tried