For centuries, book gatherings have created safe spaces for connection, learning, and empowerment. From 1600’s underground reading circles to today’s community-based book clubs. Oprah’s book club is good example of how people have used shared stories to find their voices and support one another. At Sage and Serotonin Integrative Mental Health, we honor this tradition by offering a modern, therapeutic version of the book club to teach individuals about mental health topic using a fun—one rooted in compassion, science, and whole-person wellness.

This group is a warm, supportive circle for people navigating depression, stress, anxiety, trauma recovery, or major life changes. It is facilitated by a trained psychiatric provider and blends psychoeducation, guided discussion, emotional processing, and community connections anchored in thoughtfully chosen books that illuminate mental health, resilience, healing, and personal growth.

Therapeutic (“curative”) factors originally identified by Irvin D. Yalom in The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy:

1. Instillation of Hope – observing others’ progress fosters optimism

2. Universality – realizing one is not alone in suffering

3. Imparting of Information – sharing guidance, feedback, psychoeducation

4. Altruism – helping others boosts self-esteem

5. Corrective Recapitulation of the Primary Family Group – group provides a safer family-like environment to heal past wounds

6. Development of Socializing Techniques – practicing social skills like boundaries and empathy

7. Imitative Behavior – learning through modeling others’ healthier patterns

8. Interpersonal Learning – gaining insight through real-time feedback and relationships

9. Group Cohesiveness – experiencing belonging, acceptance, mutual support

10. Catharsis – emotional release within the group context

11. Existential Factors confronting themes like death, freedom, responsibility and meaning

People seeking:

Support with depression, anxiety, stress, or emotional exhaustion

A meaningful sense of community

Personal insight and empowerment

A structured yet gentle space to grow

A supplement to their individual therapy or psychiatric care

Format: 6 sessions

Session Length: 60 minutes

Books: Selected a month ahead of time, it will be listed in advance so you can purchase or borrow from the library.

Monthly reading: 1-3 chapters.

Facilitators: Hilder & Amanda using an integrative, trauma-informed and holistic approach.

During each session, we explore the book’s themes, share experiences (only if you want to) and build skills around emotional regulation, self-compassion, boundaries, lifestyle healing and more. You may share as much or as little as feels comfortable - your presence is enough.

Come as you are. Healing begins with connection, compassion and feeling truly understood.

You don’t have to walk this path alone, we take each step together, chapter by chapter.