Offering 2 New Professional Development Webinars focused on treating BIPOC clients. 

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Offering 2 New Professional Development Webinars focused on treating BIPOC clients. 

Group Therapy Treatment & Support

Group Therapy can be a powerful, cost-effective alternative to individual therapy.

Weekly program led by a licensed therapist

Overcome Your Anxiety in a Supportive Group Environment

Group therapy is a valuable opportunity to participate in a structured, supportive, weekly program led by a licensed therapist. Principles of Cognitive Behavior Therapy are used to help participants develop useful skills to successfully manage anxiety and other mental health challenges. A therapy group provides a chance for you to practice skills in real life interactions, helping you to gain confidence as you look at certain situations in a new and different way.

Groups may be time-limited or ongoing, depending on the needs of the participants, and are usually comprised of six to ten people who are hoping to develop specific skills or work on common issues. While group therapy initially seems intimidating, research has shown that participants in group can benefit in ways that are different and sometimes better than individual therapy for the same condition.

Group Therapy at The Ross Center

The Ross Center offers a variety of group therapy options throughout the year, and we use the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to inform our group practice. We have groups for adults as well as children, and our groups are based in science and proven effective therapies.

Additionally, group therapy can be a cost-effective alternative to individual therapy, or an adjunct to your therapy designed to help speed recovery. You’ll find a safe and supportive environment for learning new skills, which can be a powerful foundation for durable change.

REACH Groups: Racial Ethnic and Cultural Healing

We are now offering three novel groups for BIPOC youth and adults that lead to more effective ways to cope with cultural stressors like racism. These groups are geared toward individuals who are experiencing emotional stress relating to their racial identity. Created and facilitated by Ross Center psychologist Dr. Ryan DeLapp, group participants can expect growth in feeling empowered to achieve personal goals, self-acceptance towards one’s cultural background, and overall emotional healing.

Learn more about our current group therapy programs below:

Northern Virginia – In person
Tuesday Evenings
This 30-week program is intended for individuals who struggle with perfectionism and 'overcontrol'
Group Via Zoom
Daytime and Evening sessions currently enrolling for 2024. 7 Week Sessions for Parents in DC, VA, MD and Psypact States
Group for parents of anxious children ages 5 and up. Now available for parents of high school students.
Group Via Zoom
12-week Group, Thursdays: 5-6:30pm. New Groups Forming Throughout the Year
Group therapy for adults who struggle with social anxiety and excessive worry
Skills Class: Zoom and In-Person Options
Wednesday Evenings
Learn new skills to replace thoughts, emotions and behaviors that are interfering with your day-to-day life and relationships
Northern Virginia
Groups forming throughout the year.
Group therapy to teach resilience skills to children (8 - 12) who struggle with social anxiety and excessive worry
Northern Virginia
Thursday Evenings Skills Group – 6:30 – 8:30pm (teens – in person), and Tuesday Evening Parent Group (via Zoom)
Program includes weekly sessions of individual therapy, family group therapy, 24 hour telephone support and a dedicated clinical team.

Washington, DC: 202-363-1010
Northern VA: 703-687-6610
New York, NY: 212-337-0600

To be added to a wait list for a particular Group Therapy program please call our office:

Group Therapy FAQs

You may have questions about what it’s like to participate in a group at The Ross Center. Find answers to your questions here: 

Do I need to be a patient at the Ross Center to participate in a group?

No, all Ross Center groups are open to everyone. However, outside patients will need to complete a group intake to assess if they are an appropriate fit for the group. (Current Ross Center patients can talk to their provider to see if the groups are a good fit).

Is it ok if I also have another diagnosis?

Most people in Ross Center groups have other diagnoses in addition to the one the group is intended to address. For instance, someone with social anxiety disorder may also experience depression or ADHD. The initial intake will help sort out if other mental health concerns might interfere with group treatment. All of our groups are structured and focused on clear goals. Most participants also have an individual therapist to address other issues that might arise (although this is not necessarily a requirement).

Will this group be sufficient to "cure" my anxiety?

That depends on the severity of anxiety, and the level of interference it’s causing in daily living, as well as how motivated you are to change, how engaged your are in the group, and most importantly, how much homework you do between group meetings. With fear of flying, taking just one flight—with a new “lens”, fresh information, mindfulness tools, and a willingness to accept discomfort—will be sufficient to continue flying. With social anxiety, group typically serves as a “jumping off point”, increasing social skills and social engagement.

Can I just come for a few sessions or join late?

No. All group members must commit to the full length of the group, and pay in full for the entire group course. If someone knows in advance they’ll have to miss more than one session, they will be asked to defer to a future group rather than sign up now. This is so that all individuals get the full benefit of the group, and that group cohesion is formed among all participants. Participants are signing up to work on their anxiety with other people—if those people aren’t there, the group fails!

What sort of expertise do the group leaders have?

Ross Center group leaders are typically licensed clinical psychologists with extensive experience working one-on-one and in group settings using cognitive behavioral therapy to address anxiety disorders. They are considered experts in their field and employ evidenced-based strategies supported by social science research.

Is it ok if I'm taking — or not taking — medication?

Approximately half of patients seeking group therapy are taking medication. That is an individual choice left up to you and your provider. For some, being on medication may reduce anxiety enough to be able to show up and participate in group. For others, gradually tapering off medication may make sense in order to feel anxious and learn how to tolerate the anxiety while doing exposure work.

What skills can I hope to learn?

Here are some of the core skills you’ll work on in group:

  • Mindfulness—how to stay present in the moment on purpose without judgment
  • Identifying, challenging, and replacing negative automatic thoughts
  • Thought watching—noticing thoughts without engaging them
  • Appropriate assertiveness—asking for what you need in a respectful but firm manner
  • Relaxation—how to calm your nervous system
  • Social skills—appropriate ways to engage socially with others
What are "behavioral exposures"?

Behavior is DOING. To reduce anxiety, exposing yourself to the very thing you fear, i.e. doing what you’re scared to do, is essential. Like a slingshot, you need to pull back (feel more anxious) to propel forward (feel less anxious). This might mean flying on a plane if you fear flying, or it might mean talking to a stranger if you have social anxiety.

Will I be forced to do "behavioral exposures"?

No one is ever forced to do anything in group! How much and when you do things is up to you—although you will be guided and encouraged. Exposure work is a core feature of the RC groups, but much of it is done as homework on your own timetable. If you feel anxious about exposures, that’s to be expected! If you didn’t feel anxious, this would be the wrong group for you. We take small steps to get started, and always ask, “Would you be willing to try…?”. The more you’re willing, the more progress you make in addressing your anxiety.

Will there be homework?

YES! Most Ross Center groups include a workbook with the expectation that participants will read a chapter per week and complete short worksheets, as well as anxiety and behavioral logs. As the groups progress, the homework shifts to designing your own behavioral exposures (with the help of the group leader) to do between group sessions. “The more you put in, the more you get out.”

Will I be able to talk to group members outside of group?

Yes! Unlike traditional therapy groups where members are instructed not to communicate with one another, in the Ross Center groups, members are encouraged to interact outside of group to practice exposures (eg, with social anxiety, how to initiate and plan a social outing; with fear of flying, taking a field trip to a local airport). During the initial group session, parameters for interaction will be discussed with an emphasis on confidentiality.

What if I have a problem to address in the group that no one else shares?

The benefit of small groups (5-8 people, usually closer to 5) is that there is room to address everyone’s concerns. But more often than not, someone else in group shares the same concern. While not “support groups,” the Ross Center groups foster a very supportive atmosphere where group members work to help one another by drawing on their own personal experience to share with others.

Will insurance pay for group therapy?

While we don’t accept insurance at the Ross Center, we will provide you with a receipt after each session with codes that insurance companies recognize. You would be responsible for submitting those receipts for reimbursement. While every plan is different, some reimburse group therapy generously—we encourage you to call your company to inquire.

To Stay Updated on Future Events & Group Therapy Programs

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Screening Form

Thank you for your interest in our SPACE-informed parenting group. Our group is designed to work with parents of children whose primary difficulty is anxiety with related avoidance behavior. Please answer the following questions so that we can gain a better understanding of you and your child.

Rx Refill Request

Please be advised that the turnaround time for prescription refill requests is no more than 48 business hours.  This means anything received on Friday will be completed no later than the same time the following Tuesday (assuming that Monday is not a holiday).  If you cannot give us that much time, please call the office as soon as possible and do not use this form

REACH Screening Form

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