Group psychotherapy is a form of psychological treatment in which a small number of patients — typically between five and ten — work together with one or two therapists in a structured therapeutic setting. The group itself is not simply a setting for individual therapy delivered in the presence of others. It is the primary therapeutic instrument: the relationships, dynamics, and interactions that emerge between group members are the medium through which change occurs.
Group therapy has a strong evidence base across a wide range of presentations and is, for certain clinical goals, more effective than individual therapy alone.
Group psychotherapy works through mechanisms that are unique to the group setting and unavailable in individual therapy.
Universality — discovering that one's experiences and difficulties are shared by others reduces the isolation and shame that often accompany psychological problems. The relief of recognising "I am not alone in this" is itself therapeutically significant.
Interpersonal learning — the group provides a live laboratory for interpersonal behaviour. Patterns that a patient brings to their relationships outside the group emerge within it — and can be identified, explored, and modified in real time, with immediate feedback from others.
Altruism — the experience of offering something meaningful to another person is itself therapeutic, particularly for patients whose sense of self-worth is low. Being helpful to others challenges the belief that one has nothing to offer.
Group cohesion — the sense of belonging to a group that accepts and supports its members provides a corrective relational experience, particularly for patients with histories of rejection, abandonment, or relational trauma.
Imitative learning — observing how others manage difficulties, emotions, and relationships provides models for new ways of functioning.
Catharsis — emotional expression within the safety of a supportive group can be deeply relieving and integrative.
Installation of hope — observing others who have made meaningful change provides direct evidence that change is possible.
Interpersonal difficulties — loneliness, difficulty forming or maintaining relationships, social anxiety, chronic relational conflict or withdrawal. For these presentations, the group is uniquely indicated: the interpersonal learning that occurs within a cohesive group cannot be replicated in individual therapy.
Depression — group therapy reduces isolation, activates social engagement, and provides mutual support. Combined with individual treatment, it significantly enhances outcomes in chronic and recurrent depression.
Anxiety disorders — for patients who also have social anxiety, the social exposure that group participation provides is itself therapeutic. The group format normalises the experience of anxiety in a way that individual therapy cannot.
Personality disorders and complex presentations — group therapy provides sustained exposure to interpersonal dynamics and immediate feedback on relational patterns, making it a powerful complement to individual schema therapy, DBT, or psychodynamic work.
Trauma — structured trauma-focused group therapy provides universality, support, and shared processing — particularly for patients whose trauma involved disruption of trust and connection.
Group psychotherapy at IsraClinic is conducted in small groups, in person at the Tel Aviv clinic. Groups are formed on the basis of clinical indication and the composition of members — ensuring a therapeutic fit between the presenting issues, treatment goals, and interpersonal dynamics of the group.
Groups at IsraClinic are conducted in Russian, English, or Hebrew — language-specific groups are formed to ensure direct communication between all group members.
Group psychotherapy at IsraClinic is always integrated with the individual treatment plan. Group participants are either currently receiving or have recently received individual psychiatric and psychotherapeutic assessment, and the group work is coordinated with the other components of their care.
All group psychotherapy at IsraClinic is delivered within the framework of the Psychoergonomic Method — ensuring that group format and composition are selected on the basis of each member's specific clinical needs, presentation, and therapeutic goals.
Group psychotherapy is indicated when interpersonal learning, group cohesion, and mutual support are clinically relevant goals; when social isolation, relational difficulties, or interpersonal patterns are central to the presenting difficulties; and when the patient has sufficient stability to engage with the group setting.
Patients in acute psychiatric crisis, active psychosis, or with severe social anxiety that would prevent engagement are typically better served by individual treatment first.
IsraClinic accepts patients for in-person group psychotherapy in Tel Aviv, in English, Russian and Hebrew. No referral is required.
Clinical Programme Curator: Valery Kravitz | IsraClinic | Last reviewed: 2026
In a group, you are not just working on yourself — you are working with others, and that makes all the difference. Our team is available in English, Russian and Hebrew.