Group Therapy Informed Consent: What to Include

Introduction

Creating a comprehensive group therapy informed consent document is crucial for setting expectations, protecting client rights, and maintaining ethical standards in therapy. A well-structured consent form ensures participants understand what group therapy involves, its limits, and their responsibilities. In this guide, we’ll break down everything clinicians should include—from confidentiality and participation norms to crisis procedures and teletherapy rules.

What is group therapy?

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where multiple clients meet together under the guidance of one or more therapists. It offers peer support, shared experiences, and the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills.

Unlike individual therapy, participants interact with each other, which introduces unique ethical and practical considerations.

Why informed consent is different in a group

Informed consent in group therapy isn’t just a signature—it’s an ongoing process of communication and transparency. Therapists must explain the nature of group work, clarify limits of confidentiality, and ensure members continually understand their rights and boundaries.

Because other participants are involved, confidentiality and safety depend on everyone’s mutual cooperation.

What to include in a group therapy informed consent document

The informed consent document should have the following details:

Purpose, goals, and what participants can expect

The consent form should outline the group’s purpose, structure, and therapeutic goals. For instance, it should specify how sessions are conducted, duration, frequency, and whether participation is open or closed. Clients should know they can ask questions anytime and withdraw consent without penalty.

Risks, benefits, and alternatives

Group therapy has proven benefits—support, perspective, accountability—but also risks such as emotional discomfort, breaches of confidentiality, or interpersonal conflict. Clinicians should describe these risks clearly while encouraging clients to raise concerns early. Participants must understand their right to individual therapy or other alternatives if group work isn’t suitable.

Confidentiality in group therapy (and its limits)

Confidentiality is central but cannot be guaranteed in group settings. Each member must agree not to share identifying details or discuss other members outside sessions. Therapists should explain legal and ethical exceptions to confidentiality, including threats of harm, abuse, or court orders.

• Confidentiality is a shared responsibility among all members.
• Therapists will maintain professional confidentiality under HIPAA and ethical codes.
• Members must not share screenshots, recordings, or personal identifiers.

Group norms and participation expectations

Clear norms ensure a respectful and safe environment. Attendance, punctuality, and participation are essential components of therapeutic success. The form should cover:

• Regular attendance and notice for absences.
• Encouragement to participate but no obligation to disclose beyond comfort level.
• Respect for differing opinions and emotional boundaries.
• Commitment to sobriety during sessions (especially in addiction or trauma-focused groups).

Boundaries, relationships, and dual relationships

Dual relationships—interactions between members or between a member and therapist outside of group—can complicate therapy. The informed consent must clarify:

• Members should avoid meeting socially outside of sessions unless approved by the facilitator.
• Romantic or financial relationships within the group are discouraged to prevent conflict.
• Therapists must maintain professional boundaries at all times.

Teletherapy / online group-specific consent items

With virtual groups, privacy and recording rules are essential. The consent should emphasize:

• No recording, screenshots, or sharing of online content.
• Participants must join from a private, distraction-free space.
• Therapists may use secure, encrypted platforms to maintain compliance.

Crisis, safety, and what the group is (and isn’t) for

Clients must know what to do if they experience a crisis. The consent form should make clear that group therapy is not an emergency service. Instead, members should be provided with crisis hotlines and emergency procedures.

• Therapists should provide local emergency numbers and crisis contacts.
• Members should know how to reach the facilitator for urgent but non-emergency issues.
• Therapy groups are not substitutes for crisis intervention or inpatient care.

Leaving the group: withdrawal, termination, and referrals

Participants should understand that they can leave the group voluntarily, but advance notice helps maintain group stability. Therapists may also request withdrawal if behavior disrupts the group’s safety or cohesion. Consent forms should describe the referral process to alternative care if needed.

How Pabau supports compliant group therapy documentation

Pabau’s digital forms module helps mental health practitioners create secure, customizable informed consent documents for both individual and group therapy. Every consent form is digitally signed, timestamped, and stored in the client’s record for full HIPAA and GDPR compliance. This ensures that therapists can manage confidentiality, attendance, and boundaries seamlessly while reducing manual paperwork.

Through Pabau’s client portal, group participants can sign consent forms, receive reminders, and securely message the therapist between sessions. These digital tools save time, strengthen record-keeping, and enhance professional compliance standards.

Conclusion

Group therapy informed consent protects both clients and therapists by clarifying expectations, defining confidentiality, and outlining safety boundaries. By combining ethical transparency with digital tools like Pabau’s consent forms and client portal, mental health practitioners can ensure every group member understands their rights, responsibilities, and the purpose of therapy. A clear, consistent consent process fosters trust—and ultimately leads to more effective therapeutic outcomes.

FAQs

How do I handle confidentiality in group therapy?

Explain confidentiality limits upfront. Clarify that therapists maintain confidentiality under professional ethics and HIPAA, but members must also agree not to share personal information discussed in sessions.

What is an example of informed consent for group counseling?

A sample consent should cover confidentiality, participation expectations, teletherapy rules, crisis contact information, and termination procedures.

What should be included in informed consent for group therapy?

Purpose and goals, confidentiality and its limits, participation expectations, boundaries, teletherapy guidelines, and crisis instructions.

How do therapists manage group confidentiality in practice?

By setting strong rules, monitoring compliance, and using secure digital documentation platforms like Pabau to store and track signed consent forms.

What do therapists often miss in consent forms?

Clear guidance on teletherapy conduct, crisis boundaries, and how withdrawal or termination will be handled.

References

• American Psychological Association –Informed consent guidance and templates for psychologists
• VeryWellMind – What is Group Therapy
• Cleveland Clinic – Informed Consent