8 Reasons To Join A Brand New Interpersonal Process Group

8 Reasons To Join A Brand New Interpersonal Process Group

We love Interpersonal Process Groups. At Nashville Psych, we are proud to have 10 ongoing weekly groups. While established groups and new groups offer many benefits to individuals seeking to improve their relationships, there is a case to be made for joining a brand new group versus a long-standing one. Before we get to the reasons why, let’s dive into what a group is and why people love them.

What Is an Interpersonal Process Group?

An interpersonal process group is a type of group therapy that helps people understand themselves better in relationships. Unlike a class or a support group focused on one theme, a process group pays close attention to what happens between people in the moment. Members meet weekly with a therapist who helps the group notice and explore their feelings, reactions, and interactions as they happen.

The “material” of the group is not just stories about life outside, but the relationships inside the room. You get to see how you connect, where you hold back, how others respond to you, and how it feels to try something different.

Why does that matter? So many struggles, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and of course, relationship difficulties, are tied to the way we relate to one another. A process group gives you a living, breathing place to notice those patterns, understand them, and practice new ways of being with others – and it can be very effective.

Why Consider Group Therapy at All?

Individual therapy offers tremendous insight – and is wonderfully helpful when combined with a group. However, it is still a one-to-one relationship. A process group is different because it gives you a whole community to learn from. Some of the benefits include:

Real-time feedback. You do not have to guess how you are coming across; you can find out directly.
A safe practice space. You can try new ways of expressing yourself and notice what happens.
A sense of belonging. You discover that your struggles are not yours alone – and others often feel the same.
Learning from different ways of seeing and being. People bring a wide range of perspectives, which can broaden empathy and challenge assumptions.
Healing through connection. Many of us carry hurt from past relationships. Experiencing trust, care, and understanding in a group can be deeply restorative.

The Difference Between Joining a New Group and an Established Group

Most groups are ongoing, which means new people join and others leave over time. If you enter an established group, you are stepping into something that already has a culture, rhythms, and ways of relating.

Joining a brand new group is different. Everyone begins together on day one. Trust and culture are built collectively, and everyone shares in the vulnerability of starting fresh. Thinking of it as showing up to a party early and allowing yourself time to get acclimated instead of arriving late when it’s already lively and perhaps overwhelming.

Both choices have value, but starting in a new group comes with its own unique advantages.

Here are 8 reasons to join a brand new interpersonal process group:

A Shared Beginning Creates Belonging. When everyone is new, no one has to catch up. The nervousness, the curiosity, and the not-knowing are shared. That sense of “we are all starting together” builds immediate connection. By comparison, joining an ongoing group can sometimes feel like transferring schools midyear. People already know the routines, the shorthand, and the history. A new group begins with a clean slate, which makes it easier to feel like you belong from the start.
You Help Shape the Group’s Personality. Every group develops its own “feel.” Some groups are gentle and reflective, others are bold and direct, many have a mix of both. In a new group, the culture emerges from the people in the room. Members have the chance to co-create the group’s tone and rhythm. This often brings a sense of ownership. You feel that your presence truly matters in shaping the community.
Vulnerability Unfolds Together. In an established group, people may already be sharing deeply while you are still learning names. That gap can feel intimidating. In a new group, everyone is building trust at the same pace. The first risks are taken together. You see others leaning in, and it becomes easier to do the same.
You Witness Growth From the Beginning. There is something powerful about watching someone’s journey from the very start. In a new group, you see people’s first tentative shares, the courage to open up, and the gradual changes that unfold. You are not only part of your own growth story but also part of the story of the group as a whole.
No Pre-Set Roles to Fit Into. Groups, like families, often develop unspoken roles. Someone may be the helper, someone else the challenger, another the quiet one. In an established group, newcomers sometimes feel pressure to step into an open spot. In a new group, roles and dynamics form naturally. You get to experiment and discover new ways of being in relationships without feeling boxed in.
You Influence the Depth and Direction. A facilitator offers structure, but much of the tone of a process group comes from its members. In a new group, you help decide how quickly the group dives into deeper waters, how people handle differences, and how intimacy develops.This early shaping can feel empowering. It reinforces that your voice carries real weight.
Trust Is Built in Real Time. Trust grows through consistency and honesty. In a new group, you watch that process from the very first meeting. You remember when someone took the first big risk, when silence gave way to sharing, when laughter first lightened the room. These moments become part of the story you all carry together, and the trust feels earned.
A Strong “We” Develops. Over time, every group develops its own identity. In a new group, you are there when that identity is born. That sense of being a founding member often deepens commitment and belonging. It is like joining a team in its first season; you carry the memory of how it all began.

What to Expect in the Early Sessions

A brand new group may feel a little awkward at first. Silences might stretch longer, people may be unsure of what to say, and you might wonder if you are doing it right.

These moments are actually part of the work. Learning how to sit with uncertainty, how to risk speaking up, and how to notice your own reactions are exactly what makes the group transformative.

Who Might Especially Benefit From a New Group?

A new group can be a particularly good fit if you:

Feel anxious about being the “new person” in a group that has already been running
Want to experience the full story of a group from its beginning
Like the idea of helping shape a group’s culture and tone
Have a history of feeling excluded and want to belong from the very start
Are curious about how relationships and communities take shape

Why Join An Interpersonal Process Group Now?

Interpersonal process groups are among the most powerful ways to grow and heal in relationships. They provide not just insight, but lived experience in a setting that mirrors real life.

Joining an ongoing group can be deeply rewarding. Yet, starting in a new group also brings its own special gifts: a shared beginning, the chance to shape the culture, and the experience of building trust and belonging, together, from day one.

If you have been curious about group therapy, we invite you to consider what it might be like to start in a group that is just forming. It may feel unfamiliar at first, but unfamiliar territory is often where the most meaningful growth begins.

We encourage you to reach out to our Client Care team at (615) 582-2882 or clientcare@nashvillepsych.com to get started or determine if joining a group might be a good fit for you.