Why Consider Joining a Support Group?

When you’re navigating a difficult season, it often feels like you’re speaking a language no one else understands. You might have supportive friends or family, but there is a specific type of relief that comes from talking to people who are walking the same path.

Here is why a support group might be the right next step for you:

  • You get to drop the "mask": In everyday life, we often feel the need to stay "strong" for others. A support group is a place where you can be completely honest about your challenges without fear of judgment or being a burden.

  • Perspective through shared experience: Hearing how others have handled similar setbacks provides a roadmap for your own journey. It turns a confusing experience into one that feels manageable.

  • Healing by helping: There is a quiet power in realizing that your story can help someone else. Even when you feel low, your presence and empathy can be a lifeline for another member, which in turn helps rebuild your own self-esteem.

  • Safe social connection: Isolation is one of the biggest hurdles to recovery or growth. Groups offer a low-stakes way to reconnect with a community that prioritizes safety, confidentiality, and mutual respect.

Joining a group isn't an admission of weakness; it’s a strategic choice to surround yourself with the tools and the people that make healing possible.

What to Expect at Your First Meeting

Stepping into a new group can feel a bit daunting, but knowing the "lay of the land" can help quiet those first-day nerves. While every group has its own personality, most follow a predictable, comforting rhythm:

  • The Power of "Pass": You are never forced to speak. If you’d prefer to sit back and listen for your first few sessions, that is perfectly okay. You share only when you feel ready.

  • A Focus on Confidentiality: What is said in the circle stays in the circle. This "sacred trust" is the foundation that allows everyone to speak candidly.

  • Shared Experiences, and Validation, Not Advice: These meetings aren't usually about people telling you what to do. Instead, it’s about sharing experiences, active listening, and offering empathy.

  • No "Fixing" Required: You don’t have to show up with a solution or a smile. The group is there to sit with you in the messiness, not just celebrate the wins.

  • Community-Created Norms: To ensure everyone feels safe, groups often operate under a set of shared expectations. These aren't rigid rules, but rather a "social contract" created by the members—covering things like how to give feedback, respecting diverse viewpoints, and ensuring everyone has equal time to be heard.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s natural to have questions before joining a new community. Here are some of the most common things people want to know before attending their first session.

Do I have to speak or share my story right away?

No. You are welcome to come and just listen. We honor "the power of the pass," meaning if it’s your turn to speak and you aren’t ready, you can simply say "I’d like to listen today." Your presence is enough.

Are these meetings in person or virtual?

All of our groups are held virtually. We use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform to ensure that you can participate from the comfort and privacy of your own space. This also makes it easier for folks across the state to join our community without the barrier of a commute.

Is there a cost to attend?

Most of our support groups are offered on a sliding scale or a flat per-session fee to keep them accessible. Specific pricing for each group—including whether they are covered by insurance—can be found on the individual group registration pages.

How long do the meetings last?

Meetings typically run for 60 to 90 minutes. We value your time and the group's rhythm, so we do our best to start and end promptly.

Is what I say kept private?

Absolutely. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of a support group. We ask every member to commit to a "sacred trust": what is shared in the room stays in the room. The only exceptions are legal requirements regarding safety, which the facilitator will explain during the first session.

What if I don't feel like I "fit in" after the first meeting?

That’s okay! Every group has a different dynamic. We encourage people to try two or three sessions to get a true feel for the group, but there is never any obligation to continue if it doesn’t feel like the right match for your needs.

How many people are usually in a group?

To ensure everyone has space to be heard while maintaining an intimate feel, our groups generally range from 5 to 10 members, plus a trained facilitator.

Facilitators

Heather Hollysmith, LMFT, MS, MA (she/her)

As a therapist and the founder of Affirming Hearts Counseling, I believe that the most profound healing often happens within the safety of a circle. My role as a facilitator is not to "lead" or "fix," but to cultivate a space where every voice is heard and every experience is honored.

Drawing on my background in mental health and my commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, I strive to create a balance of structure and softness. I am passionate about moving beyond clinical talk to foster genuine human connection. Whether we are navigating the complexities of family building or the exhaustion of the modern world, I am here to hold the space for your authenticity, your questions, and your growth.

Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, MSSA, LCSW (she/her)

I believe that every person deserves to feel heard, seen, and valued — no matter where they are in their healing journey.

My specialties include trauma, anxiety, substance use, grief, and life transitions, using relational, harm reduction, and strengths-based approaches to help you build emotional awareness, resilience, and self-trust.

I support teens, young adults, adults, and families through collaborative goal-setting and a focus on mind–body connection.

As a relational and compassionate therapist, I create a safe, non-judgmental space where we can collaboratively explore what matters most to you, and work to build emotional and body literacy, clarity, and strength.

With a background in community advocacy and co-founding a nonprofit after losing my brother to an accidental overdose, I bring deep empathy, lived experience, and social justice values into my work.

What groups do you offer?

  • This group offers a sanctuary for those feeling overwhelmed by the 24/7 news cycle and the weight of the current political landscape. We move beyond debate and ideology to focus on the personal, emotional impact of these world events. Together, we explore strategies to combat "doomscrolling," set sustainable boundaries with media, and transform feelings of helplessness into values-based action. This is a space to process your anxiety, find community among those who share your concerns, and reclaim your peace of mind without having to disengage from the world entirely.

  • When a loved one transitions, it's a journey for the whole family. Transitions in Tandem is a dedicated space for partners and family members to process their own unique experiences, ask questions, and navigate the changing landscape of their relationships with heart and authenticity. Whether you are seeking educational resources or a safe place to share your complex emotions, you don’t have to walk this path alone.

  • Building a family as an LGBTQ+ person is a deeply intentional act, yet the path is often paved with unique hurdles—from navigating complex legalities and medical systems to managing the expectations of others. Whether you are exploring adoption, donor conception, surrogacy, or foster-to-adopt, you deserve a space where your family structure isn't "the exception," but the norm.

Register

General Group expectations/Guidelines

This is an LGBTQ affirming, neurodiversity affirming space, that seeks to center minority voices.

Hate speech will not be tolerated. While we can respect differences of opinion, if those opinions involve restricting or removing the rights of your fellow human, it will not be tolerated.