You aren’t alone if you have sometimes been confused about the difference between a support group and a counseling group. In addition, sometimes you will see a group referred to as a “workshop.” How do you figure out which kind of group will be what you are looking for?
I’m going to describe similarities and differences between the type of groups, and some important things to think about, and also ask about, before you decide to join one.
Hopefully this will help you focus your search for the best group for you, and help you get the most out of the experience, too. Any of these types of groups can be extremely beneficial when the group you choose meets your needs.
At a high level, you can think about the difference between these types of groups to be:
- Counseling Group = A healthcare-related service with treatment goals, a diagnosis, and treatment to alleviate symptoms of a problem
- Support Group = Peer support related to a shared experience
- Workshop = An educational, learning experience
Are there other types of groups that should be listed here? Please let me know!
Think about these descriptions as showing the primary purpose of each type of group even if the group possesses the other qualities, too. Knowing each primary purpose can help you decide which type is best for you. It can also help you understand the different group descriptions and titles you find in your search.
For instance, a counseling group will also provide peer support because the members of the group are likely to be seeking support about a shared experience. It is also going to have an educational component to it, as well.
A workshop may be primarily an educational experience, but there will be peer support and all the members are seeking similar knowledge, probably based on some kind of shared experience.
And then a support group is also likely to include an educational component, plus it is likely to alleviate symptoms associated with a problem the group members are there to get some help with.
See what I mean by how it can be confusing?
For many groups related to mental health topics, the descriptions may also include all three.
When you speak to the facilitator of a group, you can find out a lot about whether the group will meet your needs if you ask some questions about the following ideas. Speaking with this person also gives you a sense of what it will be like to experience the group as well.
What is the facilitator’s role? Is this person a mental health professional, or have any kind of certification or credentialing in the topic being discussed? Essentially you are asking if the person has some special knowledge or status related to the topic being discussed, or are they a peer with similar experiences to you. Both have value, it just depends on what your priorities are. Keep in mind, too, that if it is called a counseling group, it must be facilitated by a mental health professional.
How much confidentiality can you expect? Generally speaking, you wouldn’t have much expectation of confidentiality if the group is a workshop, while you absolutely can have a high expectation of confidentiality if the group is a counseling group. Mental health professionals are bound by strict ethics related to confidentiality of our services. Keep in mind this also means there are ethical guidelines about when we are expected to break confidentiality such as when we hear about or witness child abuse.
The table below shows some of the important qualities of groups at a glance:
| Counseling Group | Support Group | Workshop | |
| Connection With Others | X | X | X |
| Personal Growth | X | X | X |
| Alleviates Symptoms or Issues Related to a Problem | X | X | |
| Confidentiality | X | X | |
| Must Be Facilitated by a Mental Health Provider | X | ||
| Could be Facilitated by a “Peer” | X | X | |
| Educational/Learning Experience | X | X | X |
| Treatment Goals | X | ||
| Healthcare Service | X |
Some additional ideas to consider:
Is there a difference between a counseling group and a therapy group? The words “counseling” and “therapy” are often used in ways that mean the same thing: psychotherapy services. For this article, I am not making any distinction between these two words but I included it because it is a very common question.
Is the group virtual or in person? This question is only related to the differences in a small way, and it is an important one for you to consider in how comfortable you will be. I’m mentioning it because for counseling and support groups, sometimes it is much harder for a person to feel very connected with other group members if it is facilitated virtually and this is an important benefit of both of these types of groups.
Does the facilitator require you to work with an individual counselor while you attend the group? In both support groups and in counseling groups, the discussion will often bring up difficult memories or strong emotions. For this reason, many group facilitators will require the members to have an individual counselor as part of their support system during the group.
Hopefully, considering these ideas and asking these questions will help you find the best group you can to help with what you would like to accomplish.