The Ultimate Checklist for Running Your First Group Therapy Program
Keeping with the theme of expanding your practice beyond one-on-one sessions, another option to consider that allows you to provide service for a larger number of clients at the same time is group programs. These programs can be group therapy programs designed to provide counselling to groups of individuals who are experiencing similar challenges in their life.
You can also use group programs to offer educational services rather than therapy if you have the knowledge and experience to do so. For example, if your private practice focuses on serving people with anxiety disorders, you may also be skilled in mindfulness and meditation techniques so offering a group workshop on that topic could be of interest to your clients.
If you are new to offering group programs as part of your offerings as a private practitioner, keep reading for some helpful tips to assist you in running your first group program!
Determine Your Topic and Ideal Group Members
Much like it’s important to spend time deciding on your topic when creating a course, it’s also important to determine what your group program topic will be, and who your ideal candidates for participation are.
Part of what makes group programs effective is that they provide an outlet and opportunity for connection, healing and growth for people who share a common challenge or are striving toward the same goal. Once you have made the distinction as to who will be a good fit for your program, you will need to ensure that each member you enroll is truly a good fit.
Develop Policies and Procedures
The next step to take to start running your first group therapy program is to determine the logistics and develop policies and procedures. Here are some questions to consider as you map out your plan:
Does your regulatory body have rules or restrictions around who can participate in your group therapy program (i.e. location)?
How many participants will be enrolled in each cohort of the group program?
How many weeks will each cohort run for?
How and where will you meet? Are you running your program entirely online? Do you have the necessary technology and programs to facilitate a virtual meeting?
What measures will you enforce to uphold the privacy of your group members?
Do you have a contract for participation in the program that includes payment terms, cancellation policy and code of conduct?
How will you take payment? How often will your clients be charged? Will they pay upfront for the entire program or make payment based on a predetermined payment plan?
What is your plan for marketing your group program? Will you offer it only to existing 1:1 clients? Will you share it on your website, social media platforms or email newsletter?
What resources do you need to source, create and distribute to your group participants?
Will you follow a specific framework for the duration of the program or will you let the group discussion lead the way for your sessions on a case-by-case basis?
Does your group program involve homework and exercises outside of the regular meetings to help members continue their progress outside of the group setting and practice new skills in their day-to-day life?
Use Your Skills As An Entrepreneur and Facilitator
Running a group program requires not only skills as a therapist but also requires you to use your skills as an entrepreneur and a program facilitator. You will need to ensure that you spend time developing your marketing plan for your new offering as well as mapping out your group onboarding process (including getting contracts signed and collecting payments).
You will also need to ensure that your group members have the necessary information to attend each session (location, video conferencing link, etc.) and equip them with any resources they may require to participate in the program such as articles, workbooks, etc.
While in session with your group, you may find that you wear the hats of both a therapist and a moderator. It’s important to ensure that you set out the goals for the group for each session so that all members are clear on what to expect.
As the leader of the group, you may also need to address interpersonal conflict, concerns around privacy amongst group members and work to ensure that each member feels valued by the group and also receives value from the group to ensure a positive and rewarding experience.
Have you ever facilitated group programs? We would love to hear from you in the BYPP Community! If you are planning to offer group programs but find yourself wondering where to start, click here to learn more about our Scale Your PracticeProgram.
