Group Therapy Topics and Activities (With How to Document Them)
Group therapy topics and activities for adults, recovery groups, teens, grief, trauma, DBT skills and anger management, each with what to record in the note. Then a fictional group note that shows the shared part once and one member's section.
Want to see an AI-drafted progress note first? Open a fictional note in the MentalNote editor, no sign-up needed.
Topics are starting points. Choose them from the group's purpose and members' treatment plans, and run only activities you are trained to lead.
How to choose topics
- Start from the group's purpose. A relapse prevention group and a grief group need different topics, even when the activity (a check-in, a role-play) is the same.
- Link topics to treatment plans. Members' goals tell you which skills to practice, and the link makes documentation easier: each member's note says how the topic served their goal.
- Plan a structure. A common pattern is check-in, topic and activity, discussion, check-out.
- Agree on confidentiality first. Set and document the group's confidentiality agreement in the first session and revisit it when new members join.
Group therapy topics by population
Each table gives a topic, an activity you could use and what to record in each member's note.
General adult groups (anxiety, mood, stress)
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Stress and the body | Psychoeducation on the stress response; practice paced breathing | Each member's stress rating before and after practice |
| Thoughts, feelings and actions | CBT triangle with a worked example; members fill in one of their own | Whether the member identified a thought and an alternative |
| Behavioral activation | Each member schedules two values-based activities for the week | Activities chosen; follow-up next session |
| Communication and boundaries | Role-play saying no using "I" statements | Participation in the role play and feedback given or received |
| Self-compassion | Write a short note to yourself as you would to a friend | Member's reaction and any self-critical themes |
| Sleep | Sleep habits review; each member chooses one change | The change chosen |
Substance use and recovery groups
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Triggers and high-risk situations | Members map people, places and feelings linked to use | Triggers the member named (no details about other members) |
| Coping with cravings | Teach urge surfing; rate a craving before and after | Craving ratings and whether the member practiced |
| Refusal skills | Role-play turning down an offer | Participation and confidence rating |
| Relapse prevention plan | Each member drafts warning signs, coping steps and contacts | Whether the plan was started or updated |
| Emotions without using | Link emotions to past use; list alternatives | Emotions and alternatives the member identified |
| Rebuilding trust | Discuss repairing relationships; one small step | The step the member chose |
Adolescent groups
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Stress and school pressure | Sort stressors into "can control" and "can't control" | Stressors named and one coping plan |
| Social media and mood | Track one day of use and mood | Member's observation and any change chosen |
| Peer pressure | Role-play saying no and leaving a situation | Participation and skill use |
| Self-esteem | Strengths list with peer feedback | Strengths identified, response to feedback |
| Anger | Anger thermometer and early warning signs | Warning signs named and a coping step |
| Talking with parents | Practice asking for something with "I" statements | Skill practice and planned conversation |
Grief and loss groups
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Grief reactions | Psychoeducation that grief varies and is not linear | Member's reactions and questions |
| Anniversaries and holidays | Plan for a hard date | The plan the member made |
| Continuing bonds | Share a memory or object | Participation and affect |
| Self-care in grief | One basic need each member will protect this week | The need and the step chosen |
Trauma recovery groups (present-focused)
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Trauma responses | Psychoeducation on fight, flight and freeze responses | Member's understanding and questions |
| Grounding | Practice 5-4-3-2-1 grounding | Distress ratings before and after |
| Window of tolerance | Map signs of being over- or under-aroused | Signs the member identified |
| Safety and routines | Build a simple daily routine | Routine chosen |
DBT skills groups
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness | Wise mind, observe and describe exercises | Skill practice and diary card review |
| Distress tolerance | TIPP, STOP and radical acceptance | Homework completion and skill use reported |
| Emotion regulation | Check the facts, opposite action | Examples the member gave |
| Interpersonal effectiveness | DEAR MAN role-play | Participation and planned use |
Anger management groups
| Topic | Activity | What to document for each member |
|---|---|---|
| Anger cycle | Trigger, thoughts, body signs, actions, consequences | The cycle the member described |
| Time-outs | Plan a time-out and how to return to the conversation | The plan made |
| Assertive versus aggressive | Role-play the same request both ways | Participation and feedback |
Trauma groups: many focus on present-centered skills and stabilization, and detailed trauma narratives are often kept for individual therapy. Follow the model your group uses. For substance use groups, see progress notes for substance use and the substance use treatment plan example.
Group therapy activities that work across topics
| Activity | How it works | What to document |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in round | Each member gives a mood or stress rating and one word for the week | Each member's rating; trends across sessions |
| Psychoeducation mini-lesson | 10-15 minutes on the session topic, then discussion | Topic covered; member's questions or engagement |
| Skills practice | Practice one skill together (breathing, grounding, DEAR MAN) | Whether the member practiced and their rating |
| Role-play | Members practice a hard conversation in pairs | Participation and feedback |
| Worksheet | Thought record, values sort, relapse prevention plan | What the member completed (keep worksheet content to that member) |
| Values or strengths sort | Members choose top values or strengths and share one | Values named and how they link to goals |
| Check-out | One takeaway and one thing to try before next session | The member's takeaway and plan |
How to document a group therapy session
A group note has two parts. The shared part describes the session once; the member part is written for each member and filed in that member's record.
- Shared part: date, start and end time, group name and type, facilitator(s), number of members present, topic, interventions used and group process.
- Member part: attendance, participation, the member's own statements or behavior, response to the interventions, progress toward their treatment plan goals, risk content if any, and their plan or homework.
- Confidentiality: don't name other members. Write "another member" or describe the interaction without identifying anyone.
- Billing: CPT 90853 is group psychotherapy (other than of a multiple-family group). Most payers expect a note in each member's record. See CPT 90853 group therapy notes.
Format guides for group notes: progress notes, SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIE and SIRP. For wording, see the therapeutic interventions list.
Example: a group therapy note (fictional)
Fictional example written for this page. The group, the member and every detail are invented; there is no real PHI here.
Group note, shared part (fictional group)
Relapse prevention group · Session 5 of 10 · 90 minutes · 6 members present · DAP format
Topic and interventions: Coping with cravings. Check-in round with craving ratings (0-10). Facilitator provided psychoeducation on how cravings rise and fall, taught urge surfing and led a 5-minute practice. Members then role-played refusing an offer at a family event.
Group process: Members gave each other feedback on the role-plays; two members described using a new coping step since last session. The group reviewed its confidentiality agreement because a new member joined.
Member section (fictional member, filed in this member's record only)
Member: R.T. (fictional) · attended full session
Data: R.T. reported 12 days without alcohol and a craving of 6/10 on Friday after an argument with his brother, which he managed by calling his sponsor. During urge surfing he rated his craving 5/10 before and 3/10 after. He role-played refusing a drink at his niece's birthday and said, "Saying it out loud first makes it easier."
Assessment: Engaged and using coping skills outside group; interpersonal conflict is a current trigger, consistent with treatment plan goal 2 (identify triggers and use two coping skills). At the group check-in, R.T. denied thoughts of harming himself or others.
Plan: Practice urge surfing once a day and log ratings. Add his sponsor and one family member to the relapse prevention plan before next session. Next group in one week.
The shared part is the same for every member; the member section is only about R.T. and does not name anyone else. If a member discloses risk in group, document it in that member's note with a full assessment and the actions taken, following your agency's risk protocol.
How MentalNote fits
MentalNote drafts one note per recording: the group topic, the interventions you used and how the group responded, with a speaker-labeled transcript beside it. It does not split a group recording into a separate note for each member, and speaker labels can be wrong with many voices, so use the transcript to write or edit each member's section yourself. Get consent from every member before you record. See AI scribe for group therapy.
MentalNote is HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan. The free plan includes 5 web-app scribe sessions a month with no credit card; Premium is $99/month or $990/year (pricing).
Group therapy topics and notes: common questions
What are good group therapy topics for adults?
Common topics for adult groups include managing stress, coping skills for anxiety, behavioral activation for low mood, communication and boundaries, self-compassion, sleep, values and goals, and relapse prevention. Pick topics from the group's purpose and the members' treatment plans, not from a generic list.
What are group therapy topics for substance use?
Common substance use and recovery group topics include triggers and high-risk situations, coping with cravings (for example urge surfing), refusal skills, building a relapse prevention plan, managing emotions without using, rebuilding relationships and trust, recovery supports and mutual-help meetings, and sleep and routine in early recovery.
How do you document a group therapy session?
Write the shared content once (topic, interventions, group process) and then a section for each member: their attendance, participation, response, progress toward their own goals, any risk content and their plan. Each member needs a note in their own record, and no other member should be identifiable in it.
Does each group member need a separate note?
Most payers and EHRs expect a note in each member's record for each group session, for example when billing CPT 90853 (group psychotherapy other than of a multiple-family group). The shared group summary can be reused, but the member-specific part must be written for that member.
How do I keep group notes confidential?
Refer to other members by role or not at all (for example "another member" rather than a name), keep each member's note to that member's information, and document the group's confidentiality agreement at the start of the group.
Can MentalNote write group therapy notes?
MentalNote drafts one note per recording, covering the group topic, interventions and how the group responded, with a speaker-labeled transcript. It does not split the recording into a separate note for each member, so you write or edit each member's section yourself. Get consent from every member before recording.
Draft the group note. Add each member in minutes.
Open the fictional sample session and edit a prepared note. When you're ready, sign up free: 5 web-app scribe sessions a month, no credit card. Premium is $99/month or $990/year.
Sign up free