Group Therapy & Support Groups in HCMC: Support for Depression, Anxiety, and ADHD

Anxiety Support Group

The “Always-On” Work Culture: Managing the stress of the HCMC “hustle”—where the boundary between professional life and personal recovery is often non-existent and living in a high-density urban environment like District 1 or District 3.
Shared Experience: Normalizing the physical and mental toll of anxiety through shared stories, reducing the shame often associated with mental health struggles in Vietnam.
Sensory & Urban Overwhelm: Addressing how the physical environment of Saigon—the traffic, noise, and high-density living—contributes to a constantly “on-edge” nervous system.
The Expat “Identity Gap”: For the international community, managing the stress of navigating a foreign culture while lacking the traditional support networks of home.
Performance Anxiety: Exploring the pressure to succeed in a competitive urban economy, which often manifests as chronic worry or the fear of “falling behind.”

Depression Support Group

Combatting “Saigon Loneliness”: Specifically designed for those feeling isolated in the fast-paced environment of HCMC, providing a community of others who understand the weight of depression.
Safe Space for “Chữa Lành”: A non-judgmental environment focused on emotional healing, moving beyond clinical labels to focus on the person.
Building Connection: Group exercises focused on breaking the cycle of withdrawal and rebuilding social confidence in a safe, therapist-moderated setting.
Bilingual & Inclusive: Facilitated in English (with Vietnamese support available) to serve both the local community and the HCMC expat “tribe.”

ADHD & Executive Functioning Groups

Neurodivergent-Affirming Support: A group tailored specifically for adults in HCMC navigating the unique challenges of ADHD in their careers and relationships.
Executive Functioning Strategies: Collaborative sessions focusing on time management, organization, and “un-sticking” from procrastination within the Vietnamese work culture.
Reducing “ADHD Shame”: Moving away from the “laziness” narrative and focusing on how the ADHD brain works, providing a space where you don’t have to mask your symptoms.
Social & Relationship Friction: Addressing how ADHD symptoms like impulsivity or forgetfulness create stress in local friendships and family dynamics.
Navigating Chaos: Managing the specific difficulty of staying organized and focused in a city as chaotic and stimulating as Ho Chi Minh City.
The Cost of “Masking”: Discussing the exhaustion that comes from trying to “act normal” or “work harder” in traditional professional settings that don’t understand neurodiversity.
Burnout Cycles: Breaking the cycle of “hyper-focus followed by total collapse” that many ADHD professionals in HCMC experience.

What is group therapy?

Group therapy is not simply a more accessible alternative to individual work. It is a distinct — and for many people, more powerful — form of therapy. In a relational group, the group itself becomes the therapeutic medium. What unfolds between members: moments of connection, friction, recognition, misunderstanding, and repair — mirrors what happens in the rest of life. That is precisely what makes it useful.

Unlike individual therapy, where the focus is on one person’s inner world, group therapy works with what happens between people. Patterns that have developed over a lifetime — ways of relating, of withdrawing, of seeking closeness or avoiding it — tend to appear naturally in the group. Seeing them as they happen, in real time, and with the support of both the therapist and other members, is what creates the conditions for change.

What is it like to go to group therapy

Beginning group therapy can feel unfamiliar, even daunting. Sharing something personal in the presence of others is not
something most people have much experience with. It is normal to feel uncertain at first — about what to say, how much to
reveal, or whether the group will feel safe.

In practice, most people find that the sense of exposure diminishes quickly. The group develops its own rhythm over time,
and what initially felt risky gradually becomes one of its strengths: the experience of being seen and heard not just by a
therapist, but by a room full of people who are also working honestly on themselves.

Sessions follow no fixed agenda. What arises — a feeling, a tension, something that happened during the week, a reaction to
another member — becomes the material we work with. The therapist’s role is to help the group notice and make sense of
what is happening between people, particularly the patterns that tend to repeat across different relationships.

Adult relational Group

The adult relational group is a weekly, closed-membership group grounded in group analytic principles. The work focuses on the
here-and-now of the group itself — what is happening between members in the room — as a lens for understanding and shifting
longstanding patterns in relationships, self-perception, and emotional life.

This group is suited to adults who carry complex or chronic difficulties, including personality-related patterns, relational
trauma, depression, and anxiety that has not shifted through other means. Groups are small, typically six to eight members,
and meet weekly for 90 minutes.

Conducted in English and based at the Vietnam Institute of Psychology (VIP), Ho Chi Minh City.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is group therapy as effective as individual therapy?

Yes. For many conditions—especially social anxiety, depression, and interpersonal issues—group therapy is often more effective than individual sessions. It provides a “social laboratory” where you can receive immediate feedback and support from peers, which is something a 1-on-1 session cannot replicate.

What is the difference between a “Support Group” and “Group Therapy”?

In HCMC, many use these terms interchangeably, but there is a key difference. A peer support group is usually led by volunteers. Our Group Therapy is led by a licensed clinical professional who uses evidence-based psychological frameworks to facilitate growth, ensure safety, and provide clinical interventions.

I’m an expat—is my privacy protected in the small HCMC community?

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of our practice. Before joining, every member signs a strict confidentiality agreement. I also have a strict “strangers group”-rule, which means that every members cannot have previous connections to each other. We understand the “small town” feel of the HCMC expat and professional communities, and we prioritize creating a safe container where what is shared in the room stays in the room.

Do I need to be fluent in English to join?

Our groups are designed to be inclusive. While English is the primary language of facilitation, we are deeply familiar with the bilingual nature of HCMC. We encourage participants to express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable, and our therapists ensure everyone—regardless of their primary language—is fully included.

How much does group therapy cost compared to individual sessions?

Group therapy is one of the most cost-effective ways to access professional care in Saigon. Typically, a group session costs 40–60% less than a private individual session, making it a sustainable long-term option for those seeking high-quality support without the high price tag of international clinics.