Group Therapy
San Francisco & Online in California
Many find solace in talking one-on-one for years.
One hour a week, one chair, one person across from you. And still there's a part of you wondering what it would feel like to sit with others who actually get it. To work on something hard without being the only one in the room carrying it. That's what group therapy at Sana Therapy offers, in person in San Francisco and online across California.
What Working in a Group Looks Like Here
Group work here isn't one single thing. Some of our groups are structured, quiet, and built around EMDR. You process your own experience internally while a facilitator guides the whole room through the same steps. You're never asked to describe what happened or share private details out loud.
Other groups are talk-based. The point there is to speak honestly, be heard, and connect with people who understand what you're going through.
What's shared stays in the room, and we set clear agreements about privacy at the start. Because other members are present, we're honest that a group can't promise the same confidentiality as a one-on-one session.
Several of our group offerings draw on the same reprocessing work we use in online EMDR therapy across California.
Group Therapy and Support Groups We Offer
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An in-person group in San Francisco for women processing hard or traumatic experiences around pregnancy, birth, loss, postpartum, and early motherhood. A formal diagnosis isn't required. A lot of the mothers who join us are still carrying the weight of a birth that went medically fine but left them shaken, which is why we built a space for processing birth trauma together.
This group uses G-TEP, a structured group version of EMDR. You work privately with your own memory. You don't have to explain, justify, or disclose anything to the others.
Sessions are already scheduled and may run one to four times a month. You can come once or return for several. Each runs two hours, with 6 to 15 women, and costs $75 per session or $200 for three. A brief intake call comes first. Parents recovering from a difficult birth often start with our maternal trauma processing group, which meets in person in San Francisco.
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An in-person San Francisco group for helping professionals carrying the weight of other people's trauma. Therapists, nurses, first responders, caseworkers, teachers, attorneys, and others regularly exposed to crisis and suffering are all welcome.
Like the maternal group, this one uses G-TEP. You process the experience you choose, privately, while following the same guided steps as the room. No one has to disclose details.
At least one group has already been held, and more are scheduled. Each session stands on its own, though 3 to 4 are recommended for fuller benefit. Sessions run two hours with up to 15 people, cost $75 each or $200 for three, and begin with a 15 to 30 minute intake call.
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An ongoing online support group for California adults grieving someone who died by suicide, facilitated by Lizette Martinez, LCSW. You're welcome no matter how long ago the death happened or who you lost.
This is a talk-based group, not EMDR. The focus is speaking openly about a loss that's hard to explain to people who haven't lived it, and being heard without judgment.
The group meets twice a month, on the second and fourth Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Sessions are 90 minutes and cost $50 each, paid by Venmo or credit card. Enrollment is open, so you can join any time after a short intake call.
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We are also planning an online group for survivors of narcissistic abuse, with dates and intake details still being finalized. Format, schedule, and other specifics will be confirmed before enrollment opens.
Who Are the Group Facilitators?
Lizette Martinez, LCSW, is a bilingual, EMDR-trained therapist and ASIST Certified Master Trainer. She has nearly 20 years working with trauma, anxiety, depression, suicide-related concerns, and perinatal mental health. She has trained thousands of clinicians and first responders to respond to people in crisis. She also lost her brother to suicide, an experience that shaped how she holds space for others.
Leah Heyman, LCSW, is an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist and Approved Consultant-in-Training. She specializes in complex trauma, chronic illness, and brain injury, and co-facilitates the G-TEP groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on the group. In the G-TEP groups, you work quietly on your own memory while a facilitator guides the room through a structured EMDR process. You don't describe what happened to anyone. In the suicide loss group, the focus is talking openly and being heard by people who understand.
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Group and individual therapy serve different purposes, so one isn't a replacement for the other. A group lets you work alongside others who share a similar experience, which can ease the sense of carrying it alone. Some clients do both at the same time.
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Start with a short intake call. Our currently available groups require a brief intake call before attending, so we can check that the group fits what you need. After that, you'll get the details to register and show up.
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The two G-TEP groups cost $75 per session, or $200 when you register for three at once. The suicide loss support group is $50 per session, paid by Venmo or credit card. Exact dates and registration details are shared during intake.
Find the Right Group for You
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