PathWell resource
What to Ask Before Your First Adult Group Therapy Session
Prepare questions about group therapy format, participation expectations, confidentiality limits and how to raise concerns before a first session.
This educational guide is for adults in Manassas and Prince William County preparing questions about a first group therapy session. It offers conversation starters, rather than a description of a particular program.
Clarify what happens in group therapy before attending
Psychotherapy can take place one-on-one or in a group setting. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes a preliminary conversation as a way to understand how treatment will proceed and whether you feel comfortable with the therapist.[1]
NIMH also suggests asking about the proposed therapy approach, its rationale and the evidence supporting it. Start with these questions:[1]
- How would the first group session proceed?
- What approach would be used?
- Why is that approach proposed, and what evidence supports it?
Make participation expectations specific
The following are suggested questions to ask the provider, not statements about what a group requires or permits:
- What participation would be expected during the first session?
- May I listen before sharing?
- How can I raise a concern about speaking in the group?
- Who can explain an expectation if I do not understand it?
Ask for an explanation of the proposed group's expectations rather than treating these examples as established practices.
Ask about confidentiality and its limits
NIMH includes confidentiality and its limits among the topics to discuss when considering therapy. For a proposed group, use specific questions to clarify privacy practices:[1]
- How is confidentiality addressed in this group?
- What privacy expectations apply to participants?
- What limits to confidentiality should I understand?
- How would a concern about privacy be handled?
These are questions to verify with the provider; they do not establish how other participants will handle information.
Prepare questions and explain concerns
NIMH recommends making a list of questions, concerns and topics you want to discuss with a provider. For this conversation, your list could focus on three areas: how the session proceeds, what participation means and how privacy is addressed.[2]
If a proposed treatment option feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable, NIMH recommends expressing your concerns and asking whether other options exist. Possible conversation starters include:[2]
- Could you explain the proposed approach in everyday language?
- Could we discuss my concern about the participation expectations?
- Are there other options we could discuss?
Use the preliminary conversation to ask for clarification—not to assume an answer about the group before you receive one.