Group Therapy
in Blackheath Village & Online
Connection, understanding and support through shared experience
Group therapy brings people together around experiences, challenges or stages of life they share. It offers a place to speak openly, listen to others and explore difficulties within a supportive environment facilitated by an experienced therapist.
Joining a group can initially feel daunting, particularly if you are accustomed to dealing with things privately. Many people, however, find it reassuring to meet others who understand something of what they are experiencing. Difficulties that have felt personal or isolating can begin to feel more manageable when they are recognised and understood by others.
At Heathwell, we offer both structured and open-ended groups. Some combine psychoeducation with guided reflection and discussion, while others provide an ongoing space for deeper therapeutic exploration.
Why can group therapy be effective?
Much of how we understand ourselves develops through our relationships with other people. A therapeutic group provides an opportunity to explore how we connect, communicate, withdraw, protect ourselves and respond to vulnerability.
Group members can learn from one another, encounter different perspectives and recognise patterns they may not have noticed elsewhere. Hearing someone describe a familiar experience can reduce shame and isolation. Being listened to, offering support and gradually allowing yourself to be known can also build confidence and a stronger sense of connection.
The group itself becomes part of the therapeutic process. It offers a space where new ways of relating can be explored and practised with the guidance of an experienced facilitator.
Group therapy can offer:
Connection with people who share similar experiences
Relief from isolation and the feeling of having to manage alone
Greater understanding of emotional and relationship patterns
New perspectives and ways of responding
Opportunities to practise openness, boundaries and communication
Support, encouragement and a sense of belonging
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Dads' Support Group
A structured 10-session group in Blackheath Village
Fatherhood can bring significant changes to a man’s identity, relationships and emotional life. This group offers fathers a dedicated space to explore the realities of parenting, their relationships with partners and children, and the influence of their own experiences of being fathered.
The group also supports fathers to think about the kind of parent they want to be, how they share the emotional and practical responsibilities of family life, and how they can develop stronger connections with their children and other fathers.
The group is facilitated by Arran Knight, a BACP-accredited psychotherapist with specialist training and extensive experience in men’s therapeutic group work.
Sessions take place in person in Blackheath Village on alternate Wednesdays at 18:30.
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Men’s Process Group
An open-ended therapeutic group in Blackheath Village
Men have always learned from other men. Within a carefully facilitated therapeutic group, they can listen to one another, recognise shared experiences and develop more open and supportive ways of relating.
The group provides a space to explore isolation, relationships, emotional expression, masculinity, identity and the influence of fathers and other male figures. There is no prescribed idea of what a man should be. Members are supported to examine the expectations they have inherited and develop their own understanding of what being a man means to them.
The group is facilitated by Arran Knight, an experienced men’s group facilitator who also trains other practitioners in therapeutic work with men.
Sessions take place in person in Blackheath Village on alternate Wednesdays at 18:30.
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Narcissistic Abuse Support Group
Online psychoeducation and support
An online group for people who have experienced narcissistic abuse and harmful relationship or family dynamics. The group combines psychoeducation with facilitated discussion and mutual support, helping members understand what they have experienced and feel less alone.
The group is facilitated by Kelly Andrews, a psychodynamic and trauma-informed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience and particular expertise in narcissistic abuse, emotionally unavailable parenting and relational trauma.
What to expect
Each group is facilitated by an experienced therapist who helps create a respectful, inclusive and supportive environment. You will not be expected to share more than you feel ready to discuss, and it is normal to need time to become comfortable within a group.
Confidentiality is an important part of group therapy. Members are expected to respect one another’s privacy and not discuss other members’ experiences outside the group. Your facilitator will explain the group agreement and practical arrangements before you join.
Before beginning, you will be asked to complete an assessment form and have an initial conversation with the facilitator. This allows the facilitator to understand what you hope to gain from the group, while giving you an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and consider whether the group is the right form of support for you.
