Description
Planning a group program involves much more than choosing a topic. From determining the structure and capacity of your group to creating session agendas, tracking participants, and understanding your budget, having an organized system can make the process much easier.
The Therapy Group & Retreat Planning Toolkit was designed for therapists and wellness professionals who are creating or launching their own groups and want a practical planning system to help bring their ideas together.
Whether you’re developing a therapy group, psychoeducational series, wellness group, support group, or other structured group offering, this toolkit gives you a centralized place to plan the operational and organizational details.
What’s Included
Group Setup Planner
Define and organize the foundation of your group, including:
- Group name and purpose
- Group type
- Clinical or non-clinical format
- Target population
- Maximum and minimum group size
- Session length
- Number of sessions/weeks
- Frequency
- Delivery format
- Additional planning notes
8-Week Sample Session Agenda
Use the included sample structure as a starting point for creating your own group curriculum and session flow.
Includes sample themes and activities such as:
- Welcome and group agreements
- Psychoeducation
- Personal reflection
- Skills practice
- Group discussion
- Midpoint check-in
- Deeper processing
- Integration and application
- Closing and next steps
Each session can be customized to fit your population, topic, professional approach, and group format.
Group Budget Tracker
Track estimated and actual costs associated with running your group, including:
- Space or room rental
- Technology costs
- Marketing materials
- Printing
- Workbooks and handouts
- Supplies
- Insurance/liability considerations
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Revenue and program costs
Use the budget to better understand the financial sustainability of your group before launching.
Participant Tracker
Keep enrollment and participation information organized in one spreadsheet, including:
- Participant information
- Intake completion
- Payment type
- Amount paid
- Session attendance
- Additional tracking notes
Retreat Setup Planner
Start by defining the foundation of your retreat, including:
- Retreat name and working title
- Retreat type
- Target audience
- Format
- Total programming hours
- Location type
- Location information
- Dates
- Maximum capacity
- Minimum capacity needed to run
Use the planning sections to clarify your retreat concept before moving into the logistical details.
Sample Retreat Itineraries
Get a starting framework for different retreat formats, including:
- Half-day retreats
- Full-day retreats
- Weekend retreats
Sample schedules include time for:
- Welcome and arrival
- Opening circles
- Teaching or psychoeducation
- Breaks and movement
- Experiential activities
- Journaling and reflection
- Group or partner sharing
- Integration
- Closing rituals and next steps
Customize the templates around your own retreat theme, audience, activities, and professional approach.
Retreat Budget Tracker
Track the financial side of your retreat with estimated and actual expenses, including areas such as:
- Venue rental
- Deposits
- AV and equipment
- Tables and chairs
- Parking or transportation
- Insurance considerations
- Catering and food
- Supplies
- Marketing
- Facilitator expenses
- Vendor costs
- Other retreat-related expenses
Use the budget to understand your expected expenses and evaluate the financial sustainability of your retreat.
Vendor & Contact Tracker
Keep your retreat team and vendors organized in one place.
Track information for:
- Venue contacts
- Co-facilitators
- Yoga or movement professionals
- Sound healers or musicians
- Photographers
- Caterers or chefs
- Other vendors and partners
You can also track contact information, fees, deposits, contract status, and notes.
Perfect For
- Therapists
- Counselors
- Mental health professionals
- Wellness practitioners
- Psychoeducation group facilitators
- Support group facilitators
- Professionals developing their first group program
- Clinicians expanding their private practice services
- Professionals creating recurring workshops or group offerings
This toolkit is designed to help you move from “I want to start a group” to having a clearer plan for how that group will actually operate.
Digital product: Downloadable Excel workbook. No physical product will be shipped.
Professional disclaimer: This resource is intended as an organizational and educational planning tool. It does not replace professional training, clinical supervision, applicable laws or regulations, ethical requirements, informed consent, documentation requirements, or professional judgment. Clinical users are responsible for determining how the materials should be adapted to their population, setting, scope of practice, and applicable professional requirements.
