Therapy Groups
Sharing & processing in community
The focus of group therapy is on sharing with one another and making connections through a community-focused, process-oriented approach without unsolicited teaching or therapist-led interventions.
Our therapy groups at Nido provide an opportunity to build community in an environment that acknowledges and embraces emotional and personal experiences, while setting aside shame, fear, and self-isolation.
In all of our work, but particularly in facilitating groups of individuals from varying backgrounds and developmental understandings, we prioritize emotional safety and respect as we build space together.
Therapy groups require advance reservation, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as you decide one is the right choice for you.
Neurodivergent Process Groups
Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm PT | Manhattan Beach, CA
Wednesdays 7:30-8:30pm PT | Irvine, CA
Thursdays 7:00-8:00pm PT | Irvine, CA
Fridays 6:00-7:00pm PT | Virtual
Neurocomplex Friendly DBT Skills Group
Thursdays 7:00-8:00pm PT | Virtual
Neurodivergent process groups
$60/session, sliding scale available
Virtual and In-Person
Join us to learn more about yourself and your community.
Led by neurodivergent Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists at Nido, this group is for neurodivergent adults or highly masking individuals who suspect they may be neurodivergent, as a space to explore how their experience might relate to neurodiversity. The intention for this group is to provide a shared container for each person to bring forward their neurodivergent experiences, relate to one another, and have the opportunity to build community in an environment that is celebratory, embracing individuality and personhood, rather than promoting masking or perpetuating harm.
Neurodivergent Affirming ADHD & Autism Assessment is also available, though diagnosis or evaluation is not necessary to attend. A desire to explore your neurodivergent identity and experience is enough!
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Nido IFT is absolutely an affirming space for LGBTQIA2-S+ and neurodivergent folks. All of our therapists are members of the LGBTQIA2-S+ community, identify as neurodivergent, or both. We share lived experiences with many of our clients and have a zero-tolerance policy for racism, homo/transphobia, or fat phobia in our groups. We do everything in our power to ensure the group is a safe place for folks who are minoritized in our society.
These groups have been running since our founder Sarah started a virtual Neurodivergent Process Group during pandemic quarantine in 2020, and have since transitioned to both online and in-person options since.
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In our groups, we provide AAC options in the form of writing or drawing tools (such as dry-erase and clipboards), virtual typing, and support for those utilizing their own AAC devices. Additionally, we work collaboratively to accommodate sensory needs such as dimming lights, providing earplugs and light-sensitive glasses, providing a variety of fidget toy options (or encouraging you to bring your own), offering snacks and drinks, easy access to the restroom, and taking breaks as needed during group time. We are always open to further conversation about how we can better accommodate you!
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$60 per 60-minute session, sliding scale
We offer a sliding scale to accommodate low-income participants in groups. See our Payments page for more information on our sliding scale. The amount is agreed on in advance and charged weekly following each session.
Sessions are typically held weekly for 7-10 weeks at a time in person or virtually, with groups generally capped at 5-10 people.
Neurocomplex-friendly DBT skills group
$45/session, sliding scale available
Virtual
Build practical tools for navigating emotions, relationships, and daily life through a neurodivergent-affirming lens.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for navigating big emotions, improving communication, and strengthening self-awareness. In this group designed for neurodivergent/neurocomplex folks (including but certainly not limited to those with Autism, BPD, ADHD, CPTSD, and more), we will adapt core skills from DBT to support neurodivergent needs, offer practical strategies, deepen self-understanding, and provide a supportive space that celebrates your whole self.
Each session includes a check-in, a teaching portion, and time for discussion and practice. We’ll be guided by The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills by Sonny Jane Wise, which offers a radically inclusive and affirming approach to DBT by centering lived neurodivergent experiences and moving away from compliance-based models. Together, we’ll explore and practice skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, self-compassion, and awareness, all within an environment that fosters self-trust, curiosity, and empowerment.
No specific diagnosis or previous experience with Dialectical Behavior Therapy is needed to join. Anyone can benefit from this group, and all are welcome.
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The group environment welcomes different communication styles, sensory needs, and levels of participation. Skills are offered as tools to explore at your own pace, not rigid rules to follow, and the focus is on building self-understanding, compassion, and resilience in ways that honor neurodivergent ways of thinking, feeling, and being. This group is designed to support you as you are rather than asking you to mask, change, or “fix” yourself. We do not use compliance-based approaches like ABA or any conversion-type practices.
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$45 per 60-min session, sliding scale
We offer a sliding scale to accommodate low-income participants in groups. See our Payments page for more information on our sliding scale. The amount is agreed on in advance and charged weekly following each session.
Sessions are held weekly for 12 weeks at a time online, with groups generally capped at 6-10 people.
Past Groups
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Virtual
This group is for 18-30-year-olds who need a space to process the time of early adulthood. Topics discussed include time and stress management, life transitions, relationships, and navigating situations that are specific to the experiences faced by this age range.
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Virtual
This group is a supportive, open, and therapeutic environment for anyone who desires to grow their relationship with their body. Group activities include discussions, journal and exploratory work, and psycho-education to explore personal experiences related to your body image and relationship. We’ll discuss how your individual upbringing and our society have impacted your relationship with your body and move toward an understanding of self that allows you to work on accepting the body you have from a space of body neutrality.
Interested to know if we host one of these groups again?