Support group for Young Adults in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
You can’t practice relationships alone. Group therapy frequently outperforms individual therapy for the things that matter most:
- How you see yourself — self-esteem, confidence, and the stories you carry about who you are
- Loneliness and social anxiety — and why closeness can feel as threatening as distance
- How you relate to others — friends, partners, colleagues, and family
- Work, career direction, and what it means to build a life that actually feels like yours
- Major life transitions — a first child, a marriage, a new chapter — and the identity shifts they bring
Format
This group brings together English-speaking young adults (20–40) — whether you grew up here, moved here for work, or somewhere in between — in a structured, confidential setting led by a licensed clinical psychologist. The group has a maximum of 8 members. That limit is what keeps the space intimate, focused, and genuinely therapeutic.
A space for what you can’t say elsewhere
Many people who come to this group carry something specific: the sense that there is no quite right place to bring what they are actually carrying.
Not because the people in their lives don’t care. But because every relationship comes with its own weight — what the other person needs from you, what they can handle, what would worry them, what would need to be explained or managed afterward. And so the harder things stay private, held quietly, sometimes for years.
The group is not a replacement for those relationships. But it is something those relationships often cannot be: a place where you can speak honestly about what is hard, without managing anyone else’s feelings about it. Where struggle is not a source of shame, but the very thing that makes connection possible.
What you practice here — saying what is true, hearing yourself think out loud, noticing how others respond — tends to change how you move through the relationships outside. That is usually where the real shift happens.
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.
About the group therapist:
The group is facilitated by clinical psychologist Tran Ngoc Hieu. Trained and licensed in Norway, with clinical experience spanning inpatient psychiatry, university hospitals, and private practice. He holds a Cand.Psychol./M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Bergen, and is registered with the Norwegian Psychological Association and the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA).
His work is shaped by the conviction that lasting change happens through relationship — not just reflection.
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.