--- title: "Clinician-Led Group Therapy in Maryland | Blue Sails" description: "Clinician-led group therapy in Maryland: how groups work, how they differ from peer support, and how to ask about a group at Blue Sails Counseling." language: "en-US" canonical_url: "https://bluesailscounseling.com/services/outpatient-therapy/group-therapy/" source_url: "https://bluesailscounseling.com/services/outpatient-therapy/group-therapy/" content_type: "text/markdown" --- Outpatient therapy ยท Group therapy # Clinician-led group therapy in Maryland Group therapy lets you practice skills with others working on similar things, led by a licensed provider. Blue Sails Counseling and Consulting offers outpatient therapy at our offices in Bethesda and Lusby, with telehealth across Maryland. This page explains how clinician-led groups work, how they differ from peer support, and how to ask about a group. Ask our team whether a group that fits your needs is currently available. [Request an appointment](https://bluesailscounseling.com/client-intake/)[Check your insurance](https://bluesailscounseling.com/insurance-billing/) Prefer to talk? Call [(410) 231-0488](tel:+14102310488) ![Five adults sit in a circle of chairs during a weekly group session, one woman speaking as the others listen.](https://bluesailscounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/adults-circle-conversation-scaled.webp) ## Key takeaways - ### Led by a licensed provider A clinician-led group is therapy. A licensed provider plans each session, teaches skills and keeps the group safe and on track. - ### Learning from others In a group you hear how others handle similar struggles and practice new skills in a supportive setting. - ### Peer support is different Peer support is led by people with lived experience. It can be a helpful companion to therapy, but it is not clinical treatment. - ### Ask about availability Groups depend on demand and timing. Ask our team whether a group that fits your needs is currently available. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact 911, the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Blue Sails is not an emergency service. ## What clinician-led group therapy is Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a small group of people meets with one or more licensed providers at a set time. The provider guides the conversation, teaches skills and helps members give each other respectful, useful feedback. Many groups use approaches you may know from individual care, such as [cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)](https://bluesailscounseling.com/services/outpatient-therapy/cbt-act-anxiety-depression/) or skills drawn from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). ### Skills groups and process groups Some groups are structured like a class, with a skill to learn each week and practice between sessions, such as coping with worry, managing strong emotions or communicating more clearly. Others focus more on the conversation itself, giving members room to talk through what is happening in their lives and notice patterns in how they relate to others. Many groups blend both. ### Who a group can be a good fit for People often ask about group therapy for anxiety, low mood, stress, life transitions, relationship patterns and building coping skills. Group therapy is one option among many, and it is not the right fit for everyone or every moment. Your provider can help you decide whether a group, [individual psychotherapy](https://bluesailscounseling.com/services/outpatient-therapy/individual-psychotherapy/) or a mix of both is the best place to start. ## Learning from others in a group ![Two adults practice a conversation across a table while a third listens, rehearsing a new skill together.](https://bluesailscounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/peer-practice-roleplay-825x1024.webp) One reason people choose group therapy is the chance to learn alongside others. Hearing someone describe a struggle like yours can make it feel less isolating, and watching another member try a new skill can make it easier to try it yourself. Groups also give you a place to practice. You might rehearse a hard conversation, try a new way of responding to stress, or get honest feedback on how you come across, with a provider there to keep things respectful and focused. What you practice in the room is meant to carry into daily life between sessions. ### What a session can look like A session often starts with a short check-in, moves into a skill or a topic for the week, and ends with a plan for practice before the next meeting. Group size, session length and how long a group runs vary by group. Your provider will explain the format, the group agreements and what to expect before you join. ## Group therapy and peer support: how they differ Clinician-led group therapy and peer support can sound alike, but they are different kinds of help. - **Clinician-led group therapy** is treatment. A licensed provider assesses fit, sets goals for the group, uses evidence-based methods and watches for safety concerns. - **Peer support** is led by trained people with lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges. Peer support workers share what has helped them and offer encouragement and connection. SAMHSA describes the role of [peer support workers](https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/recovery/peer-support-workers) in recovery. Many people use both. A clinician-led group or individual therapy can address symptoms and build skills, while peer support adds community and shared experience. Blue Sails provides clinical care, not peer support programs, and our team can talk with you about community resources that may complement your care. ![Two parents share mugs and a quiet conversation at a kitchen table during a peer support meetup.](https://bluesailscounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/parents-kitchen-table-talk-825x1024.webp) ### Support for parents and caregivers Caring for a family member who is struggling can be isolating. Some caregivers find comfort in community and family peer support, and others look for guidance from a provider about how to help at home. For family-focused care, see our [relationships and family guide](https://bluesailscounseling.com/relationships/). ## Groups for teens and young people ![Three teens walk side by side on a boardwalk with backpacks, talking on the way home from a weekday group.](https://bluesailscounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/teens-boardwalk-walk-825x1024.webp) For teens, a group can be a place to see that others their age face similar pressures, and to practice skills like handling stress, managing emotions and speaking up. Ask our team whether a teen group is currently available. Our page on [care for children and adolescents](https://bluesailscounseling.com/clients/children-adolescents/) explains how we work with young people and their parents. For young children with autism, Blue Sails offers [social skills and school readiness support](https://bluesailscounseling.com/services/autism-services/social-skills-school-readiness/) within our early intervention autism program. ## When you need more structure than a weekly group Outpatient group therapy usually meets once a week. If symptoms are making it hard to get through work, school or daily life, a higher level of care may be a better fit for a while. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) meet for several hours a day, several days a week, and usually include a lot of group work. Our guide to [intensive outpatient programs](https://bluesailscounseling.com/insights/iop/) explains how these levels of care compare. Moving between levels of care is a normal part of treatment. Your provider can help you think through what level of support fits right now. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact 911, the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Blue Sails is not an emergency service. ## How to ask about group therapy at Blue Sails Blue Sails has offices in [Lusby](https://bluesailscounseling.com/locations/lusby/) and Bethesda, with telehealth across Maryland. You can [meet our providers](https://bluesailscounseling.com/clinical-team/) to learn about their backgrounds and approaches. - Request an appointment online or call [(410) 231-0488](tel:+14102310488). - Tell our team you are interested in group therapy and what you would like help with. - Ask whether a group that fits your needs is currently available, and whether it meets in person or by telehealth. - Have your insurance information ready. Our team can help you understand your benefits before care begins. If you have questions about coverage, our [insurance and costs page](https://bluesailscounseling.com/insurance-billing/) explains how billing works. Coverage varies by plan, service and provider. Blue Sails accepts many plans, including TRICARE. ## Frequently asked questions Ask our team about fit, costs and current group availability. Is group therapy as helpful as individual therapy? For many concerns, research supports group therapy as a useful option, and some people find they learn a lot from hearing others. It is not the right fit for everyone. Your provider can help you decide whether group, individual therapy or both makes sense for you. Is what I share in a group confidential? Your provider follows HIPAA and Maryland law in protecting your health information, with limited exceptions such as safety concerns. Group members are asked to agree to keep what others share private, but a provider cannot fully control what other members do, so share at a pace that feels right to you. Does insurance cover group therapy? Many health plans cover group psychotherapy, but coverage varies by plan, service and provider. Blue Sails accepts many plans, including TRICARE. Our team can help you understand your benefits before care begins. Can I do group therapy and individual therapy at the same time? Yes, many people combine them. Individual sessions give you one-on-one time with your provider, and a group adds practice and connection with others. Ask our team whether a group is currently available. What should I do if I am in crisis? If you are in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Blue Sails is not an emergency service. For non-urgent questions, call the office during business hours. ## Ask about group therapy Tell our team what you would like help with and how you would like to meet. Blue Sails has offices in Bethesda and Lusby, with telehealth across Maryland. [Request an appointment](https://bluesailscounseling.com/client-intake/)[Call (410) 231-0488](tel:+14102310488) If you are in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988.