Group Therapy Informed Consent Template for Mental Health Professionals (PDF & Word Doc)

Group therapy requires a thoughtful informed consent process that addresses the unique clinical, ethical, and confidentiality considerations involved when multiple clients participate in treatment together. Unlike individual therapy, group treatment requires clinicians to explain not only their own professional responsibilities but also the expectations and limitations surrounding confidentiality between group members. A structured group therapy informed consent form helps ensure clients understand the nature of treatment, participation requirements, privacy considerations, safety expectations, and their rights before joining a therapeutic group.

TherapyByPro’s Group Therapy Informed Consent Template is a comprehensive, clinician-developed consent document designed specifically for mental health professionals facilitating psychotherapy groups, support groups, psychoeducational groups, skills-based groups, and process groups. Available as both a Word document and fillable PDF, the template guides clinicians through documenting group information, client consent, confidentiality policies, member responsibilities, attendance expectations, telehealth considerations, safety procedures, fees, and participant acknowledgment. The form is designed to support informed consent discussions while allowing practices to customize policies based on their clinical setting, applicable regulations, and group structure.

The template begins by documenting client and clinician information, group details, group type, format, expected size, delivery method, schedule, and anticipated duration. A dedicated section explains the nature of group therapy, including the therapeutic benefits of shared treatment experiences and the differences between group therapy and individual counseling. Clients are provided with clear information about the role of the clinician, the purpose of treatment, and expectations for participation.

Additional sections address the complex confidentiality considerations unique to group therapy, including clinician confidentiality obligations, the limits of confidentiality between group members, mandatory exceptions to confidentiality, and member agreements regarding privacy. The form also documents group expectations, attendance requirements, social media boundaries, outside contact between members, telehealth participation standards, crisis procedures, member removal policies, financial responsibilities, and participant rights before obtaining signatures.

What Is Included in This Group Therapy Informed Consent Template

This comprehensive informed consent template includes documentation commonly used when establishing expectations for psychotherapy and therapeutic groups:

• Client and Group Information: Space to document client information, clinician details, group name, group type, structure, size, format, schedule, and service delivery method.
• Nature of Group Therapy: Information explaining the purpose of group treatment, therapeutic benefits, clinical focus, and how group therapy differs from individual therapy.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: Documentation of clinician confidentiality obligations, limits of confidentiality, group member privacy expectations, and legally required exceptions to confidentiality.
• Group Member Responsibilities: Clear expectations regarding respect, participation, attendance, confidentiality, safety, substance use, recording restrictions, and appropriate group conduct.
• Clinical Boundaries and Expectations: Sections addressing what the clinician can and cannot guarantee, concurrent individual therapy, outside contact, social media boundaries, and professional communication.
• Telehealth Group Participation: Guidance for privacy, technology requirements, private locations, camera expectations, and confidentiality considerations for virtual group sessions.
• Safety and Crisis Procedures: Documentation of emergency limitations, safety concerns during sessions, crisis response procedures, and referral considerations.
• Client Rights and Acknowledgment: Signature sections confirming that participants reviewed the consent information, had an opportunity to ask questions, and voluntarily agreed to participate.

How This Group Therapy Informed Consent Template Functions in Practice

This informed consent template is designed to be completed before a client begins participating in group therapy services. It provides a structured framework for discussing the unique aspects of group treatment while documenting that clients understand confidentiality expectations, participation guidelines, clinical boundaries, and their rights as group members.

• Before Group Participation: Establishes informed consent regarding the purpose, structure, expectations, and limitations of group therapy.
• Confidentiality Documentation: Clearly explains that confidentiality responsibilities apply to both the clinician and group members, while acknowledging that the clinician cannot guarantee another member’s behavior outside sessions.
• Practice Policies: Documents attendance expectations, cancellation policies, fees, telehealth requirements, safety procedures, and administrative policies.
• Clinical Recordkeeping: Provides signed documentation that participants reviewed and agreed to the conditions of participation before beginning treatment.

Documentation Features

• Designed specifically for mental health professionals providing group psychotherapy services.
• Addresses confidentiality considerations unique to group treatment settings.
• Includes group expectations, member responsibilities, and participation guidelines.
• Documents telehealth, safety, crisis response, and emergency procedures.
• Provides sections for fees, attendance policies, outside contact expectations, and administrative discharge.
• Includes participant and clinician signature sections for informed consent documentation.

Practical Integration Notes

This template is intended to be reviewed with each group participant before treatment begins. Clinicians should customize the document to reflect their practice policies, group structure, clinical population, applicable state requirements, and professional standards. The completed consent form should be maintained as part of the client’s clinical record in accordance with applicable documentation and privacy requirements.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2017). Record Keeping Guidelines. https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/record-keeping
• American Group Psychotherapy Association. (2022). Practice Guidelines for Group Psychotherapy. https://agpa.org/guidelines-ethics/practice-guidelines-for-group-psychotherapy/
• Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2020). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (6th ed.). https://pinkpantheractivists.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Theory-and-Practice-of-Group-Psychhe-Irvin-D.-Yalom-Molyn-Leszcz.pdf
• Burlingame, G. M., et al. (2006). Group therapy in practice: A review of the evidence. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 56(4), 431–454. https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/ijgp.2006.56.4.431
• McDermut, W., et al. (2022). Group psychotherapy for depression: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(9), e39843. https://www.researchprotocols.org/2022/9/e39843/
• Leszcz, M., & Marmar, C. R. (2010). Group psychotherapy. In J. H. Greist, J. W. Jefferson, & R. C. W. Hall (Eds.), Psychotherapy: A practical introduction. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1472-6939-11-8