What Are Online Support Groups?
Live, peer-led video groups for anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, and 150+ other topics. Free to join, 30 to 90 minutes, from anywhere.
Quick Answer
Online support groups are live video gatherings where people facing similar challenges talk and listen to each other. They are peer-led, not therapy, and on ShareWell they're free to join. Sessions run 30 to 90 minutes across 150+ topics including anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, and relationships. You can listen, share, or both. No waitlists, no cost to join.
What Are Online Support Groups?
An online support group is a small, live video conversation among people who are facing the same kind of life challenge. Members take turns sharing what's going on, asking questions, and listening. A Peer Host keeps the conversation respectful and on-topic, and most groups run between 30 and 90 minutes.
Online support groups are different from therapy and different from internet forums. They're not led by a clinician, and they're not async text threads. They're real-time human conversation, hosted on video, with people who actually understand what you're going through because they've been through it too.
On ShareWell, every group is peer-led, centered on a specific topic so the conversation stays relevant, and free to join on the Explore plan (4 sessions per month). You can browse 150+ topics, pick a time that works, and join from your phone, laptop, or tablet.
Can I just listen?
Yes. Plenty of members listen for their first few sessions before sharing. You're never put on the spot, and the facilitator will not call on you.
Who else will be there?
Other members who chose this topic because they're going through something similar. Groups are intentionally small so everyone has space to participate.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Video is not recorded, and confidentiality guidelines apply to every conversation. You decide what to share.
How Online Support Groups Work on ShareWell
Pick a topic, find a time, and show up. That's it.
Choose a Topic
Browse 150+ topics - anxiety, body doubling, ADHD, grief, relationships, and more.
Popular: Anxiety, Body Doubling, Depression, ADHD, Grief, Relationships, Career Stress, Parenting
Pick a Time
New Groups are created throughout the day. Find one that fits your schedule.
Small-group video conversations. Book up to 7 days ahead.
Join the Live Video Session
Join on video. Share if you want, or just listen. A Peer Host guides the conversation.
Groups last 30-90 minutes. No commitments - come back whenever you need to.
What Makes ShareWell Groups Special
Live & Interactive
Face-to-face video with real people
Peer Host-Led
Community members with lived experience
Flexible Scheduling
New Groups created throughout the day
150+ Topics
Anxiety, ADHD, grief, parenting, and more
Are Online Support Groups Effective?
Yes. Decades of peer support research consistently show that people who participate in support groups feel less isolated, cope better with their challenges, and stay more engaged with the rest of their care. Online support groups carry the same benefits as in-person groups, with the added accessibility of joining from anywhere.
The reason they work is simple: hearing from someone who has lived through the same thing changes what's possible. A clinician can give you tools. A peer can show you that someone else has used those tools and come out the other side. Both matter, but they do different work.
Online support groups are not a replacement for therapy or medical care, and ShareWell doesn't claim to be one. They're a complement: a space to feel less alone, hear how others are coping, and process what you're going through with people who actually get it.
Members consistently report reduced isolation after attending peer-led groups.
Sharing with peers who've been through it gives you tools you can actually use.
People who join peer support stay more engaged with their broader mental health care.
Are Online Support Groups Free?
Yes, on ShareWell. The free Explore plan includes 4 support group sessions per month, no card required. Paid plans add unlimited groups, workshops, and 1-on-1 sessions with peer specialists.
Explore
Start with peer support groups, no card needed.
- 4 support group sessions per month
- 150+ topics
- Live peer-led sessions
- No credit card required
Core
Unlimited groups and workshops for people who keep coming back.
- Unlimited support group sessions
- Unlimited live workshops
- 1-on-1s available at $40 per booking
- 7-day free trial
Complete
Everything in Core, plus a 1-on-1 with a peer specialist each month.
- Everything in Core
- 1 included 1-on-1 session per month
- Extra 1-on-1s at $30 per booking
- Priority access to new programs
Online Support Groups vs. Therapy vs. Coaching
Online support groups, therapy, and coaching all help people work through hard things, but they do it in different ways. Most people benefit from more than one. Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Support Group | Therapy | Coaching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free on ShareWell | $100 to $300+ per session | $75 to $300+ per session |
| Who leads it | A peer with lived experience | A licensed clinician | A trained coach |
| Format | Small live video group, 30 to 90 min | 1-on-1 with a clinician | 1-on-1 or small group with a coach |
| Goal | Connection, validation, shared coping | Diagnosis, treatment, clinical care | Goal setting, accountability, performance |
| Best for | Feeling less alone with what you're going through | Mental health conditions, trauma, clinical care | Specific goals, life transitions, professional growth |
| Limits | Not a substitute for clinical care | Costly, often waitlisted | Not regulated; quality varies |
Support Group
- Cost
- Free on ShareWell
- Who leads it
- A peer with lived experience
- Format
- Small live video group, 30 to 90 min
- Goal
- Connection, validation, shared coping
- Best for
- Feeling less alone with what you're going through
- Limits
- Not a substitute for clinical care
Therapy
- Cost
- $100 to $300+ per session
- Who leads it
- A licensed clinician
- Format
- 1-on-1 with a clinician
- Goal
- Diagnosis, treatment, clinical care
- Best for
- Mental health conditions, trauma, clinical care
- Limits
- Costly, often waitlisted
Coaching
- Cost
- $75 to $300+ per session
- Who leads it
- A trained coach
- Format
- 1-on-1 or small group with a coach
- Goal
- Goal setting, accountability, performance
- Best for
- Specific goals, life transitions, professional growth
- Limits
- Not regulated; quality varies
How to Find the Right Online Support Group
Not every group is the right fit, and that's okay. Here's what to look for so your first session is the start of something that actually helps.
- 1
Match the topic to what you're going through
Generic "mental health" groups can feel scattered. A group focused on the specific thing you're navigating, grief, divorce, ADHD, narcissistic abuse, keeps the conversation relevant.
- 2
Check who is hosting the group
Look for a Peer Host whose lived experience matches the topic. On ShareWell, the host of each group is shown when you book, along with their background and the kind of conversation they tend to lead.
- 3
Look for a small group size
Big groups feel like webinars. Small groups feel like conversation. ShareWell groups are intentionally small so everyone gets space to participate.
- 4
Pick a time you can actually keep
Support is something you build over weeks, not a one-time visit. Most ShareWell groups recur on the same day and time, so you can come back to the same room and the same people once you find one that fits.
- 5
Try a few before you settle in
The first group you try is rarely the perfect fit, and that's normal. The free Explore plan includes 4 sessions per month, which is enough to sample several groups before deciding which one to come back to.
What to Expect in Your First Session
Walking into something new is hard, especially when you're already going through something. Here's what your first ShareWell support group actually looks like, minute by minute.
- 1
Before the Session
You'll get a confirmation email with the join link. A few minutes before the start time, click the link to enter the video room. No app download needed.
- 2
Joining the Call
You'll see the Peer Host first, then other members as they join. Camera and mic requirements are set by each host and shown on the group page before you book.
- 3
The First Five Minutes
The Peer Host welcomes everyone, reviews ground rules (confidentiality, respect, no advice-giving unless asked), and invites people to introduce themselves. You can pass.
- 4
During the Conversation
Members take turns sharing or asking questions. The host keeps things moving and makes sure no one dominates. You can speak when you want, or just listen.
- 5
Wrap-Up
The host closes with a check-in: how is everyone leaving the session? You can drop off when the call ends. Most groups run 30 to 90 minutes.
Common questions
About online support groups, hosts, and how sessions work
What is an online support group?
Are online support groups free?
Are online support groups effective?
How are online support groups different from therapy?
Are online support groups confidential?
Do I have to talk in a support group?
How long are the sessions?
Who leads the support groups on ShareWell?
Can I join more than one group?
How do I find a group that fits my situation?
Still have questions? Reach us at [email protected]
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