Afraid to Join a Group? Why OCD Group Therapy is Worth it Anyway

When people think about therapy for OCD, they usually imagine one-on-one sessions with just you and your therapist, talking about fears, exposures, and coping skills. And while individual therapy is incredibly powerful, there’s another format that can make a huge difference: group therapy.

If the idea of group therapy makes you a little anxious, you’re not alone. Many people feel hesitant at first. You might be thinking:

“What if people judge me?”
“What if my story is too weird?”
“What if I’m the only one who feels this way?”

But here’s what most people discover once they join a group: those fears fade quickly and are replaced with something they didn’t expect. Relief. Connection. And genuine hope.

Why Group Therapy Works for OCD

OCD thrives in silence and secrecy. It convinces you that your thoughts are too strange, too dark, or too shameful for anyone else to understand.

Group therapy breaks that isolation.
When you sit in a room (or log onto a screen) with others who’ve also washed their hands until they bled, replayed conversations in their heads for hours, or avoided places that trigger anxiety, it’s like exhaling after holding your breath for too long.

That connection is not just comforting, it’s therapeutic.
Hearing “me too” can dismantle shame faster than almost anything else.

Group therapy for OCD also works because it reinforces the same principles used in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) which is the gold standard treatment for OCD.

In groups, participants learn to tolerate discomfort, share intrusive thoughts openly, and practice resisting compulsions together. The process becomes a shared experience of courage and vulnerability.

Common Fears About Group Therapy (and Why They’re Normal)

“What if people judge me?”

Everyone in the room has OCD or anxiety. They’re not there to judge; they’re there because they get it. Most participants quickly realize that the fears they thought were “too weird” are actually pretty universal.

“What if I have to share something I’m not ready to?”

You control your pace. Therapists facilitate groups with compassion and clear boundaries. No one is forced to share before they’re ready. Just listening is often a powerful first step.

“What if hearing other people’s fears makes mine worse?”

This is a common concern but what actually happens is the opposite. You start to realize how OCD twists the same core fears in different ways. Seeing how others challenge their compulsions helps you challenge yours. It builds hope and perspective.

The Unique Benefits of OCD Group Therapy

1. You Learn Through Shared Experience

You hear strategies and insights from others who are walking the same path. It’s like getting a dozen mini therapy sessions in one.

2. You Practice Exposure in Real Time

Talking about OCD out loud, especially intrusive thoughts, is exposure in itself. It helps you reduce shame and builds tolerance for discomfort in a safe, guided setting.

3. You Realize You’re Not Alone

OCD isolates people. Group therapy reconnects you with community, compassion, and laughter (yes, laughter). Many groups find that humor becomes a healing tool once shame starts to lift.

4. You Build Accountability and Confidence

Group members cheer each other on, celebrate wins, and gently challenge avoidance. That social accountability helps motivation and confidence grow naturally.

5. You Strengthen Your ERP Skills

Groups often integrate ERP concepts, mindfulness, and emotional regulation skills, reinforcing what you might already be practicing individually.

Group and Individual Therapy: Better Together

At The OCD Relief Clinic, we often combine individual ERP sessions with group therapy as part of a structured program.

Individual therapy is where you dive deep into your specific triggers and create personalized exposure plans. Group therapy is where you practice, connect, and grow.

Together, they build resilience faster, and with more support, than either could alone.

The Science Backs It Up

Research consistently shows that group ERP therapy can be just as effective as individual ERP for many people with OCD.
The key difference? You’re not doing it alone.

People who participate in OCD groups often report lower shame, higher motivation, and stronger follow-through with exposures. In short, they recover faster and stay better longer.

Finding the Courage to Join

If the idea of joining a group still makes your stomach twist a little, that’s okay. Anxiety is part of the process but it’s also part of the healing.
Joining a group is an act of exposure in itself, and it’s one that pays off.

You might walk into your first session nervous and unsure.
But you’ll walk out realizing something powerful:

“I’m not the only one. And maybe I can get better, too.”

Final Thoughts

OCD tells you that you’re alone in your fears. Group therapy proves that you’re not.
It gives you a place to be honest, supported, and challenged all at once.

At The OCD Relief Clinic, we offer specialized OCD and anxiety groups designed to help you build skills, practice ERP, and connect with others who understand.

If you’re curious about joining a group, or just want to learn more about how it fits into your treatment plan, we’d love to talk with you.

📍 Reach out today to schedule your intake appointment and take the next step toward freedom together.

To view our current groups, please click here.