Group Therapy for Depression
Grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), this psychotherapy group offers a supportive, structured space to better understand and manage depression. Sessions run weekly for 50 minutes and are held either online or in person. This group runs for a total of 9 weekly sessions and is open to adults aged 18 and up.
CBT GROUP THERAPY
Depression: Brighter Days Ahead
Group Description
This therapy group is designed to support adults who feel weighed down by low mood, fatigue, or a sense of hopelessness. Rooted in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), each session offers practical tools to help you better understand your depression, shift unhelpful thought patterns, and reconnect with activities that bring meaning and joy.
Week by week, we’ll explore topics such as how depression develops, what keeps it going, and how to gently re-engage with life through behaviour and mindset shifts. The group combines psychoeducation, guided exercises, and supportive discussion to help you regain momentum and emotional clarity.
You’ll receive a weekly PDF with key concepts, worksheets, and strategies to challenge negative thinking, build healthier habits, and move toward a more balanced, empowered sense of self.
Group Facilitator
Michelle Lehoux holds dual professional registrations with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). With a background in both psychotherapy and education, she has facilitated workshops across diverse sectors—including mental health, family wellness, and refugee resettlement—bringing a trauma-informed lens and deep respect for each person’s lived experience. Known for her calm and grounding presence, Michelle brings a gentle, steady energy to her work, creating a safe and supportive space where clients can reflect, connect, and grow.
Weekly Topics
Week 1
Understanding Depression
- We’ll begin by exploring the symptoms, causes, and common experiences of depression. You’ll gain insight into how depression can affect your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and body—and how therapy can help.
Week 2
Reclaiming Enjoyment and Activity
- This week focuses on behavioural activation—reintroducing meaningful, pleasurable, or routine activities into your day-to-day life to help lift mood and break the cycle of withdrawal and inactivity.
Week 3
Noticing the Thought-Feeling Connection
- You’ll learn how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected, and begin identifying automatic negative thoughts that can fuel low mood.
Week 4
Using Thought Diaries to Explore Patterns
- This session introduces the ABC (Antecedent–Belief–Consequence) model and thought diary tools to help you track and understand how specific thoughts influence your emotional responses.
Week 5
Recognizing Unhelpful Thinking Styles
- We’ll look at common cognitive distortions like all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, and mind-reading, helping you spot when these show up and how they may be impacting your well-being.
Week 6
Challenging Your Thoughts
- You’ll learn how to become a “thought detective” by examining the evidence for and against your negative thoughts and experimenting with new perspectives.
Week 7
Finding Balanced Thoughts
- This week helps you develop more balanced, realistic ways of thinking that support emotional resilience and a more grounded view of yourself and the world.
Week 8
Exploring Core Beliefs
- We’ll dive deeper into the underlying beliefs that often fuel depressive thinking—like “I’m not good enough”—and introduce strategies for shifting these deeply held views over time.
Week 9
Planning for the Future
- In our final session, we’ll focus on how to maintain the progress you’ve made. You’ll create a personal self-management plan and identify strategies to support ongoing growth and prevent setbacks.
Next Session:
Start Date:
End Date:
Format:
Frequency: Weekly
Total sessions: 9
Cost per session: $40/session (Total: $360)
Group size: Limit of 6