In group psychotherapy, individuals gather in a supportive environment to explore and address their psychological concerns. This group draws on Irvin Yalom's existential approach, adapted here specifically for queer men, many of whom learned early to read a room before entering it, and to keep something in reserve even among friends. Through interpersonal interaction, feedback, and shared experience, members develop self-awareness, empathy and new ways of relating. For queer men in particular, being seen and still accepted by other men can interrupt patterns of hiding that have often been in place since childhood, reducing isolation and building a felt sense of belonging. Guided by skilled therapists, participants challenge patterns that no longer serve them, build resilience, and deepen their understanding of themselves and each other.

Read more about group psychotherapy on our blog here.

This group is for queer men who have ideally undertaken at least one year of personal psychotherapy (though this isn't a requirement), and who are seeking to:

• Understand how growing up different, visibly or invisibly, has shaped the way you connect, trust and protect yourself.

• Explore the gap between how you connect with men online or in the moment, and the kind of closeness you actually want.

• Examine your relationship to masculinity, inherited, rejected, performed or still being worked out, and what it costs you.

• Practise being direct, vulnerable and honest with other men, without the armour.

• Build friendships and chosen family that can hold real weight, not just good times.

• Learn to stay in connection through difference and disagreement, rather than defaulting to withdrawal or conflict.

Within this weekly time together, the focus is on creating the conditions for sharing honestly what's happening in the 'here-and-now' — within yourself, and in response to each other.

With an interpersonal focus, the facilitators will hold the conditions for both difference and collaboration to exist. For many queer men, this is unfamiliar ground: a room of men where hiding isn't required. Each session becomes an opportunity to make contact with how your history, with fathers, brothers, mentors, first loves, rejections, show up live, in these relationships, in a deeply supportive way.

There will be between 8-10 people in this group, to support both intimacy and diversity. Intimacy supports us in each having sufficient time to explore our own life and minds, and diversity allows there to be a rich representation of life experiences in our space to be in relationship to.

This group meets once per week for 90-minutes for 10-week terms. Attendance is required at each of the meetings. Following our first 10 week term, the group and facilitators will convene to discuss the ongoing nature of the group, and in turn, you may have the opportunity to continue ongoingly into the next terms.

This group will run on Wednesday mornings from 10:30am - 12:00pm for 10 weeks, beginning September 9th until November 18th.

Most people experience the most meaningful personal and social change in their lives over a period of 12 to 24 months of weekly group therapy.

Given this, our groups run with the view to continue. This first 10-week term is framed as a beginning and a trial period, during which time the participants and facilitators can decide whether this group is a good fit for each member.

During the group, we will discuss the potential to continue, and if so, the group will typically close for 2-3 weeks after a Term, members may exit the group, and new members may join.