Support and Encouragement: Being part of a group that relates with where you’re at can provide an uplifting support system. This can be especially beneficial during challenging times or when pursuing personal goals.

Diverse Perspectives: Groups often consist of individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Engaging with this diversity can broaden your perspective and help you see things from different angles.

Accountability: Group settings can provide accountability mechanisms that help individuals stay focused and committed to their objectives. Knowing that others are counting on you can be a powerful motivator and create a spirit of camaraderie.

Skill Development: Groups innately create experiential environments with opportunities for practicing new ways of being. You can learn from others' experiences and expertise and enhance your own abilities and skill-building.

Increased Confidence: Participating in group discussions and activities can boost your confidence, as you practice articulating your thoughts and ideas in a supportive environment.

Specific modality: Some people are seeking a specific therapeutic or coaching modality that is only effective or offered in a group setting.

Sense of Belonging: Humans are social beings, and being part of a group can nurture our innate need for belonging and can enhance overall well-being.

Networking Opportunities: Meeting regularly with a group of like-minded individuals can expand your social network. This can lead to new opportunities for connection and collaborations (depending on the group’s parameters).

Fun and Enjoyment: Group activities often involve elements of fun and enjoyment, even amidst challenging times or topics. These experiences can add more flavor to your mental health journey.

What sets us apart is our exclusive focus on mental health groups.

Everything we do is designed to enhance your experience of finding, joining and attending groups. Unlike other platforms we believe finding groups and joining should be simple.

All groups listed on Zestlife are created and led independently by mental health professionals. These professionals are experts on the topics they cover in their group. Therefore we leave it up to them to decide everything about the group. We are not prescriptive nor dictate how groups are run.

Mental health groups are a common way mental health professionals work with clients. A group typically involves an interactive dynamic where three or more individuals gather with a defined purpose. Often participants do not know each other beforehand, but not always. These groups may endeavor to provide specific or general support, healing, and growth. Groups are often inspired by particular life experiences, identities, skill building interests, or shared goals. Professionals intentionally design and facilitate groups so participants actively engage with the material at hand and the other members.

We categorize groups into 5 main types.

Therapy groups refers to the larger umbrella of groups that use specific therapeutic modalities. This category includes group therapy, which is distinguished by interpersonal processing.

Support groups revolve around members supporting each other through shared experiences that they all have either been through or are currently going through.

Workshops center around focused skill-building.

Retreats are defined by setting aside dedicated time from the regular rhythm of day-to-day life to focus on a specific subject area while at a specific location.

Clinical peer groups is group work for clinicians committed to learning and growing as mental health professionals.

Every group listed on ZestLife is interactive, independently created, and led. In contrast, more passive experiences like lectures or courses, where one individual primarily speaks, are often more individualistic and, therefore, do not fit with the definition of a mental health group.

Groups on ZestLife are created and led independently by mental health professionals. These professionals decide everything about their group from how it meets, to when it meets, to what topic is covered in the group. We do not prescribe curriculum, content or what is covered in groups.

You can find groups that meet virtually or in person on ZestLife. The formats of these groups are structured by the independent mental health professionals who facilitate them and determine whether the group meets virtually or in person.

The frequency of meetings varies across different groups on ZestLife, as the groups are designed and led by the mental health professionals who lead them. These professionals determine how often their group should meet, with some groups meeting only once, while others meet indefinitely.

You can expect an interactive experience facilitated by mental health professionals. Unlike one-sided lectures or fully pre-recorded sessions, groups here encourage participation and meaningful dialogue among members. You may find similarities in typical sessions between groups that share the same group type, such as workshops or support groups. However, because each group is created and led, there will be different activities and experiences from group to group.

Activities during a typical session can look like group discussions, guided exercises, skill-building practice, or therapeutic interventions.

Many groups aim to foster a welcoming atmosphere where your journey towards well-being is supported.

Everyone has unique needs, desires, and goals. This can be informed by your life chapter, preferences, or experiences. When seeking a group it can be helpful to consider if you’re looking to explore a particular topic, experience support and belonging amongst a particular population, learn or practice a particular skill, or if you have a particular setting or environment in mind.

On ZestLife, you can search for any specific topic, category, demographic, population, or experience you’re looking to find in a group. You can filter for virtual or in-person.

Browse the results of your search. View the groups that catch your interest and read their descriptions. Consider group objectives, facilitator’s approach, and format of the group and decide if it aligns with your preferences.

Ultimately, trust your instincts when selecting a group. Choose one that resonates with you, where you feel comfortable sharing and participating. Remember, it's okay to try out different groups until you find the right fit for you.

Please reach out to us at support@getzestlife.com and let us know the type of group you're searching for. We’ll do our best to find the group you’re looking for or explore options for future inclusion on our platform. We are in Beta and continuously expanding our offerings. Your feedback is essential in helping us grow and improve!

Contact the group facilitator about how to join.

Group facilitators decide what is required to join a group and what the requirements are. Contact group facilitators for more information.

Simply click the 'Post a Group' button on the website's menu bar or homepage. You'll be guided to create an account, if you haven’t already, and then to complete the onboarding steps.

We've created these onboarding steps to do our due diligence to verify providers. Once you complete all onboarding steps and submit your listing, please allow us a few business days to review for publication.

We’re happy to help you get set up or learn more. Please reach out to us at support@getzestlife.com to schedule a demo or receive our how-to guide.

Perspective members can inquire and consult with you about joining your group.

Yes, you can. During the process of posting your group, you’ll be asked a series of questions to help market your group. One of these questions is whether you will require a consultation. If you select “yes,” then you'll need to promptly schedule a consultation with potential members.

Finding and joining groups should be easy.

The existing tools to search for groups aren’t actually built for groups. When looking for a group, clients have to sort through outdated listings on directories and many of their requests for help go unanswered. ZestLife is designed for groups. All groups you find here are active and joinable.

Help people beyond your network find your group

Whether your group is general or you have a specific niche, people need to know your group exists. Mental health professionals are consistently looking for groups that could benefit their clients. We need a centralized place to check what groups are available for people to join.

We need a place to showcase and market your group to a larger audience.

Enjoy the creative professional community

Connect with and be a part of a vibrant community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about mental health groups. Engage, collaborate, and grow together.

Facilitating groups may come easier for some and feel more challenging for others. This is because managing group dynamics requires different skills and expertise versus one-on-one sessions. Additionally, factors like the group's purpose, participant demographics, and the timeframe can influence your experience. A successfully facilitated group often lifts some therapeutic workload off the provider, as participants grow in their ability to offer mutual care and support for each other.

Expanding your group offerings is a powerful way to reach and help more people. Compared to primarily working one-on-one, consistent group work can also lead to reduced work hours, additional revenue streams, and increased income. Many providers derive significant satisfaction from group work and find it reduces burnout. Additionally, working with clients in a group setting can lead to working with them one-on-one.

Absolutely! Reaching out for support is a significant step for someone. If they are turned away without alternatives, they may become discouraged and hesitant to seek further assistance. Being aware of other groups that are currently accepting new clients allows you to provide effective referrals and uphold your commitment to mental health. Making referrals is also an excellent way to expand your professional network and community.

As a healthcare provider, you are in a special position to help people see beyond their current circumstances. You may recognize someone’s blind spot and help them identify what workshop, support group, or group therapy experiences may address that area. ZestLife serves as a resource for finding group offerings. Having an account here enables you to stay informed of group offerings which may benefit those in your life.

Posting you first group is free! Beyond that there are different tiers. This fee covers operational, infrastructure, and advertising costs to make this vision a sustainable reality.

ZestLife recognizes the sensitive nature of your data and are deeply committed to ensuring your confidentiality, security, and proper handling. We take all necessary steps to protect data.