What are the Cons of Group Therapy?
Group therapy can be incredibly powerful. But it's not for everyone, and it's not the right fit for every situation.
As a Certified Group Psychotherapist, I could spend all day telling you about the benefits of group therapy—and I genuinely believe in this work. But you also deserve to know the limitations and challenges so you can make an informed decision.
The cons I'll discuss here aren't reasons to avoid group therapy. They're factors to consider when deciding if it's right for you or your child right now. Some of these challenges are about timing—you might not be ready yet, but could be down the road. Some are about fit—maybe individual therapy makes more sense for what you're working on. And some are practical realities you need to know before committing.
Let's be honest about what makes group therapy challenging.
What if my child isn't ready for group therapy?
Not everyone is ready for the vulnerability that group therapy requires. Some kids need individual therapy first to stabilize. Some aren't developmentally ready for peer-based work. And being pushed into group when you're not ready can actually be harmful rather than helpful.
Group therapy asks a lot of people. It asks you to be vulnerable in front of peers. It asks you to tolerate discomfort while others work through their issues. It asks you to give and receive feedback. Not everyone is in a place where they can do that.
If someone is in active crisis—severe depression where they can't get out of bed, active suicidal ideation, untreated substance use, extreme behavioral dysregulation—they need more intensive individual support first. Group therapy works best when someone has a baseline level of stability. Without that foundation, group can feel overwhelming and potentially harmful.
Some kids also aren't developmentally ready for the kind of vulnerability and self-reflection that process groups require. Younger kids or kids who struggle to think about how they come across to others might benefit more from play therapy or structured activities before they're ready for interpersonal process work.
And here's what's important: being forced into group when you're not ready doesn't help. It can actually reinforce the idea that therapy doesn't work or that you're not capable of connection. Readiness matters.
If we assess during intake that someone isn't ready for group yet, we'll say so honestly. Sometimes individual therapy needs to come first. Sometimes we recommend waiting six months and reassessing. "Not ready now" doesn't mean "never"—it just means the timing isn't right yet.
Does my child get less attention in group than individual therapy?
Yes. In individual therapy, 50 minutes is all yours. In group therapy, you share 75-90 minutes with 6-8 other people. Not everyone speaks every week. If your child needs focused, individualized attention on a specific issue, individual therapy might be more appropriate—at least initially.
This is a real trade-off. In individual therapy, the entire session revolves around you. Your therapist asks about your week, follows up on what you talked about last time, helps you process whatever is most pressing for you. It's completely personalized.
In group therapy, you're one of several members. Some weeks you might share a lot. Other weeks you might listen more than you talk. The group's attention moves between members based on who needs what that day. If you come to group with something urgent, you'll get time and support. But you're not guaranteed 75-90 minutes of focused attention every single week.
For some issues, that individual focus is necessary. If your child is working through acute trauma, dealing with a specific phobia, or needs targeted skill-building around a particular challenge, individual therapy might be more effective—at least to start.
The benefit of group is that you're learning and growing through relationships with peers, not just through your relationship with a therapist. You get multiple perspectives. You practice skills in real time. You're not just talking about relationships—you're in them. But that comes at the cost of less individualized attention.
For some kids, the right answer is both. Individual therapy for focused work on specific issues, plus group therapy for relational learning and peer connection. For others, it's one or the other depending on what they need most right now.
What about confidentiality—can I trust other group members?
Here's the honest truth: you can't guarantee that other group members won't break confidentiality. While serious breaches are rare and group members develop fierce loyalty to protecting each other, the risk exists. The more people in the room, the more potential for information to be shared. Some families can't tolerate that uncertainty.
This is the concern I hear most often from parents: "What if someone tells my child's story?"
We do everything possible to create a culture of confidentiality. Every member and parent signs a confidentiality agreement. We review it at intake and remind the group regularly. We talk about why confidentiality matters and how breaking it hurts everyone. Most of the time, group members protect each other fiercely. The group becomes like family, and they guard each other's privacy.
But I can't guarantee it. I can't control what someone does after they leave the room. And that's different from individual therapy, where it's just you, your child, and the therapist bound by legal and ethical obligations.
In over 20 years of running groups, serious breaches of confidentiality—malicious sharing of someone's story—are incredibly rare. I can count them on one hand. What's more common is someone sharing out of concern (which actually feels like care, not betrayal) or accidentally mentioning something vague without identifying details.
But the risk is real. And for some families, that risk is too much. If your child is working through something extremely private, or if you as a parent can't tolerate the possibility that information might be shared, individual therapy might be a better fit.
There's also another consideration: sometimes kids in group share things that are more mature than what your child has been exposed to. A middle schooler might hear about things other kids are dealing with—relationship drama, substance experimentation, family conflict—that your own child hasn't encountered yet. For some parents, this is concerning.
The reality is that kids are exposed to mature content at school, on social media, and in the world. What's different about group is that there's a trained therapist present to provide context, perspective, and guidance. We help kids process what they're hearing and understand it in developmentally appropriate ways. But it's still something to consider.
What are the practical challenges of group therapy?
Group therapy requires real commitment. Groups meet at a fixed time every week—you can't reschedule like you can with individual appointments. If you miss too much, you lose continuity and let down the group. For busy families juggling sports, activities, and schedules, this can be genuinely difficult.
Here's what commitment to group therapy looks like in practice:
Fixed schedule. Our groups meet the same day and time every week. You can't move your appointment to Thursday this week because Wednesday doesn't work. If you have a conflict, you miss group that week. For families with packed schedules, this inflexibility can be challenging.
Consistency matters. Group therapy works best when members show up consistently. If you miss too many sessions, you lose the thread of what's happening in group. You miss important moments. You don't build the same depth of connection. Sporadic attendance undermines the work.
You let others down. In individual therapy, if you cancel, you're only affecting yourself and your therapist. In group therapy, other members look forward to seeing you. They notice when you're not there. They count on you to be present. If you flake repeatedly, it affects the whole group. That accountability can be positive, but it also adds pressure.
Ongoing commitment. Our groups are open-ended, meaning there's no predetermined end date. We also charge monthly rather than weekly to reflect this commitment. You're not signing up for 12 weeks—you're committing to an ongoing process for as long as it's beneficial. For some families, that lack of a clear endpoint feels daunting.
Scheduling conflicts. Vacations, sports seasons, school activities, family obligations—they all conflict with group at some point. While we build in breaks for major holidays, there will be weeks when you have to choose between group and something else. That can feel stressful.
For families who struggle with consistency, who have unpredictable schedules, or who aren't ready to prioritize weekly attendance, group therapy might not be the right fit right now. And that's okay. Individual therapy offers more flexibility.
Making the Right Choice for Your Child
These cons don't mean group therapy is bad or that you should avoid it. They mean you need to consider whether it's the right fit for your child at this time in their life.
At The Wellness Collective in Hermosa Beach, we're honest about when group therapy makes sense and when it doesn't. If we think individual therapy would be more appropriate, we'll tell you. If we think your child isn't ready yet, we'll say so. We care more about right fit than filling our groups.
Group therapy isn't for everyone. But for kids who are ready, who can commit to showing up, and who would benefit from peer-based relational work, it can be transformative.
Wondering if group therapy is right for your child despite these challenges?
Contact us to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk honestly about whether the benefits outweigh the cons for your specific situation.
Phone: 310-817-0599
Email: Info@thewellnesscollectiveca.com
Website: www.thewellnesscollectiveca.com
For more information about group therapy, read:
Can Group Therapy Help Someone with High-Functioning Autism or Social Anxiety?
Is Group Therapy Confidential—What If Someone Shares My Story?
How Do I Choose the Right Kind of Group Therapy for My Child, Teen, or Young Adult?
What is the Difference between a Time-Limited Group and an Open-Ended Group?
What is Better—a Skills-Based Group or a Process Group?
Visit our Group Therapy page: www.thewellnesscollectiveca.com/group-therapy
About the Author
Leah Niehaus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) with over 20 years of clinical experience specializing in group therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults. As the owner and Clinical Director of The Wellness Collective in Hermosa Beach, California, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate life's challenges through the transformative power of group therapy.
Leah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Pepperdine University and her Master's in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. Her clinical background includes community mental health, public child welfare, and psychiatric social work at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital. She has been in private practice for 21 years and has operated a group practice for 9 years.
As a Certified Group Psychotherapist—an advanced credential representing specialized expertise in group therapy—Leah is recognized as an expert in group dynamics and interpersonal process therapy. She was recently honored by the City of Hermosa Beach as "Best of Clinical Social Work 2023."
Leah is a CAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor, training the next generation of therapists. She serves as an Ambassador for South Bay Families Connected and sits on the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Medical Advisory Board. She is an active member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA),co-leads the Advanced Child & Adolescent Group Therapy Consult Group, and serves on the Public Outreach committee.
Leah is a frequent guest speaker and writer on parenting, adolescence, and group therapies. Her newsletter, "Lighter Touch with Leah," provides practical guidance for parents. As both a clinician and mother of three, she brings professional expertise and personal understanding to her work.
To learn more about Leah's approach or to schedule a free consultation, visit www.thewellnesscollectiveca.com or call 310-817-0599.
