Interpersonal Group Therapy in Sydney

Break free from the relationship patterns that keep you stuck.

If you keep losing yourself in relationships, people pleasing or worrying what other people think, Interpersonal Group Therapy offers a different path to lasting change.

Applications are now open for our next 10-week group. Every application includes a free assessment to ensure the group is the right fit.

Mondays 6:30 - 8pm | Oct 5th to Dec 7th | Bondi Beach, Sydney

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✓ Small group (maximum 10 people)

✓ Facilitated by experienced psychotherapist Linde van Der Burg

✓ Opportunity to continue beyond the first 10 weeks

You can’t practise healthier relationships by yourself.

Many people who join our groups are intelligent, self-aware and have already done years of personal development.

They understand why they struggle, yet they still find themselves people pleasing, avoiding conflict, second guessing themselves or feeling disconnected.

That’s because the patterns that were formed in relationships can’t always be changed by talking about them alone. They change when we find a space safe enough to practice relating differently.

“I’ve become better at setting boundaries, connecting with my feelings, opening up and letting people in. And a very big shift has been that things I already understood intellectually for years finally seemed to land somewhere deeper.”

— Group Participant

01
Your patterns become visible
The group becomes a social microcosm.
The same ways you relate to your partner, friends, family and colleagues naturally begin to appear within the group. Rather than talking about your relationship patterns after they happen, you get to notice them in real time.
02
You receive honest feedback
We all have blind spots.
One of the greatest gifts of group therapy is learning how other people genuinely experience you. With the guidance of your therapist, members share observations that help you understand yourself in ways that aren’t possible alone.
03
You have a different emotional experience
Many of us expect criticism, rejection or abandonment when we show our true selves.
Group therapy creates opportunities to experience something different. As you take healthy interpersonal risks and are met with understanding rather than judgement, long-held beliefs about yourself begin to soften.
04
You realise you’re not alone
Many people arrive believing they’re the only one who feels insecure, disconnected or afraid of getting relationships wrong.
Discovering that others struggle in similar ways often reduces shame and creates a sense of connection that becomes part of the healing process itself.

What makes group therapy so effective:

The goal of group therapy isn’t to become a different person. It’s to become more fully yourself.

Over time, many people may notice changes like these:

Pattern...
Possibility...
Constantly worries what others think
Can tolerate not being liked by everyone
Hides parts of themselves
Shares thoughts and feelings openly
Seeks reassurance
Develops trust in their own judgement
Avoids conflict
Can express disagreement respectfully
Feels “different” or alone
Realises others struggle in similar ways
Expects rejection
Learns relationships can survive honesty
People pleases
Sets boundaries without overwhelming guilt
Defines themselves through others
Has a more stable sense of self

“Despite years of personal development, I kept finding myself bumping into the same patterns.…

I’m very self-aware, but I still experienced anxiety in relationships, overwhelm, and a tendency to disconnect or disappear.

I’ve always found something incredibly powerful in witnessing other people’s vulnerability, the moments when someone shares something and you think, “Wow, me too.” That was a big part of what drew me to the group.”

Read the full client story

What to expect:

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1. Join a carefully matched group

You’ll first chat with our facilitator to make sure the group is the right fit. Once accepted, you’ll join a small group who are all committed to understanding themselves and building healthier relationships.

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2. Experience yourself in real relationships

Over 10 weekly sessions, you’ll take part in honest conversations that naturally bring your patterns to the surface. You’ll work with them in real time, with the support of your therapist and group.

A couple standing close together on a sandy beach with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background. The woman is leaning her head on the man's shoulder, and they appear to be relaxing.

3. Take new patterns into everyday life

As you begin experimenting with healthier ways of communicating, setting boundaries and expressing yourself, those changes naturally carry into your relationships outside the therapy room.

This group is for you if you:

  • Worry too much about what other people think.

  • Find yourself people pleasing or avoiding conflict.

  • Keep repeating the same relationship patterns.

  • Struggle to express what you really think or need.

  • Long for deeper, more genuine relationships.

  • Have done self-work before but still feel stuck.

You don’t need to relate to every point. If a few resonate, this group may be the next step for you.

If you’re not in Sydney, you can put yourself on the waitlist for our next online group here.

What happens in a session:

Groups are closed, meaning you’ll meet with the same group of up to 10 people each week. As trust develops over time, members often feel increasingly comfortable being open, honest and themselves.

Sessions aren’t built around a set topic or agenda. Instead, the conversation follows what feels most important in the moment, creating space for genuine interactions and meaningful connection.

With the support of an experienced psychotherapist, you’ll explore your thoughts, emotions and relationships as they unfold. Some weeks you’ll speak more. Other weeks you’ll learn by listening. Many people find they gain as much from witnessing others’ experiences as they do from sharing their own.

There’s never pressure to share before you’re ready. People participate at their own pace, with honesty, curiosity and respect at the centre of every session.

Meet your facilitator:

A woman with curly red hair smiling and relaxing on a white sofa in a cozy, well-lit room.
A woman with curly red hair smiling and relaxing on a white sofa in a cozy, well-lit room.

Linde

Integrative Psychotherapist and Group Facilitator

Linde is an Integrative Psychotherapist with a special interest in attachment, relationships and nervous system regulation. Her calm, grounded presence helps people feel safe enough to be honest, curious and open, creating the conditions for meaningful change to unfold. 

Drawing on both psychotherapy and her background in yoga and somatic practices, Linde thoughtfully guides the group while allowing genuine conversations and connections to emerge naturally.

FAQ

  • Interpersonal group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a small group of people meet weekly with an experienced therapist.

    Rather than simply talking about problems, the group becomes a place to notice the patterns that show up in your relationships and begin experiencing new ways of relating to yourself and others.

    Research shows group therapy can be as effective as individual therapy, while offering unique benefits that individual therapy can’t provide.

  • $900 for the full 10-week program

    or 3 monthly instalments of $300.

    Compared to weekly individual therapy, group therapy offers significantly more therapeutic time and the opportunity to learn from both your therapist and other group members, making it one of the most cost-effective forms of psychotherapy available.

  • Cocoona Bondi - Suite 2/81 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach NSW 2026

  • Very normal. Most people who join have never experienced group therapy before and often feel nervous about what to expect. It’s completely okay to arrive feeling uncertain.

    As trust develops over the 10 weeks, most people naturally become more comfortable participating.

  • You will never be forced to speak before you’re ready. Many people spend the first few sessions listening and getting to know the group. You’ll always have choice over what you share and when you share it.

  • No. Everything shared within the group is confidential. Every participant agrees to maintain the privacy of other members so that everyone can feel safe enough to be open and honest.

    While confidentiality can’t be absolutely guaranteed in any group setting, it is a core expectation of every participant.  

  • Each group includes up to 10 participants and one experienced facilitator. The group is intentionally kept small enough for everyone to be known, heard and actively involved.

  • Yes. The group begins together and commits to the first 10 weeks, allowing trust, safety and meaningful relationships to develop.

    At the end of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to continue if you feel the group is still supporting your growth, or finish knowing you’ve completed the program.

    As places become available, new members are invited to join at the beginning of the next 10-week intake. This allows the group to remain stable while also welcoming new people over time.

  • Because each week builds on the last, we encourage you to attend every session. If you know you’ll be away, let your facilitator know in advance. Your place in the group remains reserved for the full 10-week program, so missed sessions are not refunded.

  • Absolutely. Many people continue with individual therapy alongside group therapy. The two approaches often complement each other well, giving you space to explore your personal reflections from the group in more depth. 

  • Strong emotions are a normal part of therapy. Our facilitators are trained to support people through these moments with care and sensitivity. You won’t be judged or expected to handle difficult feelings on your own.

  • It’s one of the most common concerns people have before joining. The interesting thing is that many people arrive believing they’re different from everyone else. Over time, they often discover that while everyone’s story is unique, the underlying struggles are remarkably similar.

    Feeling understood by people who have never met you before can be one of the most powerful parts of the experience.

  • The first step is to fill out an application form. This gives us the opportunity to understand what you’re hoping to work on and ensure the group is the right fit for you.

    If it’s the right fit, we’ll reach out to organise a 15 minute chat with the group facilitator.

    If accepted into the program, you’ll receive an invitation to enrol and choose either payment in full or a payment plan.

Every meaningful relationship begins with the relationship you have with yourself.

If you’re ready to stop repeating the same patterns and discover a different way of relating, we’d love to welcome you into the group.

Apply for the next group.

Apply Now
Three women lying on the grass, smiling and laughing, with their heads close together and dressed in white tops and blue jeans.

Not in Sydney? Put yourself on the waitlist for our next online intake.

THE WAIT LIST