Group Therapy
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more licensed clinicians lead a session with multiple patients simultaneously, typically 6 to 12 participants, to address shared behavioral health concerns through guided interaction and mutual support. Group therapy is a core component of behavioral health treatment across all levels of care, from outpatient settings to residential programs.
Types of Group Therapy
Several evidence-based group therapy models are used in behavioral health settings. Process groups focus on interpersonal dynamics and emotional expression. Psychoeducation groups teach coping skills, relapse prevention, or disorder-specific information. CBT groups apply cognitive-behavioral techniques in a structured format. DBT skills groups teach distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. Support groups provide peer connection around shared experiences such as grief, trauma, or recovery.
Clinical Benefits
Research demonstrates that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy for many conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Group settings provide unique therapeutic factors that individual therapy cannot replicate: universality (knowing others share similar struggles), interpersonal learning, group cohesion, and altruism. For substance use treatment, group therapy also offers built-in accountability and peer modeling of recovery behaviors.
Group Therapy in Treatment Programs
Group sessions form the backbone of IOP, PHP, and residential treatment programming. A typical IOP schedule might include three group sessions per week, each lasting 90 minutes to two hours. PHP programs may run two to three groups per day. Facilities must manage group scheduling, track patient attendance, maintain appropriate group sizes, and ensure that each session is documented with both a group note and individual progress entries.
Documentation Requirements
Group therapy documentation must include the group topic and therapeutic modality, the facilitator name and credentials, a list of attendees, a summary of group process and themes, and individual patient observations including participation level, behavioral observations, and clinical progress. Many payers require individual patient entries within the group note to justify per-patient billing.
Billing for Group Therapy
Group psychotherapy is billed using CPT code 90853. Each patient in the group receives a separate claim. Reimbursement rates for group therapy are typically lower per patient than individual sessions, but the ability to treat multiple patients simultaneously makes group therapy financially efficient. Documentation must support medical necessity for each patient's participation.
FAQs
How many patients are in a therapy group?
Most therapeutic groups include 6 to 12 patients. Smaller groups (4-6) are common for specialized populations such as trauma survivors, while psychoeducation groups may accommodate larger numbers.
Is group therapy as effective as individual therapy?
Yes, for many conditions. Meta-analyses show equivalent outcomes for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Group therapy also provides unique benefits like peer support and interpersonal learning that individual therapy cannot.
How is group therapy documented?
Clinicians create a group note covering the session content and process, plus individual entries for each patient documenting their specific participation, clinical observations, and progress toward treatment goals.
Can group and individual therapy be billed on the same day?
Yes, but payers have specific rules. Most allow billing for both group (90853) and individual (90837) therapy on the same day if they occur as separate, distinct sessions with appropriate documentation for each.
Learn More
- Group Therapy Billing & Management — Billing, scheduling, and documentation best practices
- Mental Health CPT Codes Guide — CPT 90853 and group billing rules
- Best EHR for IOP Programs — EHR systems optimized for group-heavy programs