So, you're thinking about starting a support group at MentalHappy.com—amazing! You want to bring people together to talk, share, and support each other. But then you wonder…
“Wait… do I need a license to do this?”
Great question! And the answer is:
Sometimes yes. But most of the time, no!
Let’s make it super easy to understand:
If you’re offering peer support—meaning you're not diagnosing, treating, or offering clinical advice—then no, you don’t need a license. You’re simply creating a space for people with shared experiences to come together, talk, and support each other.
However, if you start offering services that look like therapy or counseling (e.g., giving mental health diagnoses, creating treatment plans, or calling yourself a therapist), then yes, you need to be licensed by your state or country.
In this blog, You will find the simple and easy details between peer-led support groups and professional therapy, so you can confidently (and legally!) run a group —without crossing any lines.
If your group is about sharing stories, listening, and supporting each other—you don’t need any kind of license.
You’re not a therapist. You’re not diagnosing people. You’re not giving medical advice. You’re just offering a safe, caring space for people going through similar struggles.
If you are just here to help people with traumas or bad experiences as just an advisor who came with multiple resources and real-life experiences you are totally allowed on mentalhappy to do so - no license required.
This is different! If you’re doing things like:
Then you are stepping into the world of psychotherapy, and you need a professional license to legally offer that kind of help.
You can not do that from a therapist’s chair without any license. Only licensed mental health professionals (like therapists, psychologists, or social workers) are allowed to lead therapy groups.
Here’s an Easy Way to Tell the Difference:
Peer Support Group
Psychotherapy Group
Yes, you can! As long as your group is about only support, shared experience, and kindness—not therapy—you’re good to go.
Just remember, You're there to listen, support, and connect—not to treat, fix, or diagnose.
As someone hosting or planning to host a support group, you’re stepping into a role that’s incredibly important right now. With more people struggling to find individual therapy, whether due to cost, long waitlists, or lack of access—support groups have become a lifeline.
The truth is, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for mental health care skyrocketed. But there’s a bright side: more people are now open to alternative ways to get support, and platforms like MentalHappy make it easier than ever to bring people together online.
Experts like Dr. Marla Deibler, a licensed psychologist and founder of The Center for Emotional Health, have noticed the shift too. She’s seen how group support can fill the gap when one-on-one therapy isn’t available and how telehealth has helped break down barriers—letting people connect from different states or communities.
That’s where you come in.
By running a peer support group, you’re offering something that many people deeply need but can’t always find elsewhere: a safe space, shared understanding, and emotional connection. And the best part? You don’t need to be a therapist to make a real difference. Just being present, creating structure, and listening can go a long way.
So whether you’re helping people through grief, stress, anxiety, or life transitions, your group matters. Now more than ever.
Just because you're not a licensed therapist doesn’t mean you can’t create real impact. As a support group host, your role is to connect, guide, and hold space, not to diagnose or treat.
You are not a mental health professional—it means you’re creating a safe, supportive space for people to feel seen, heard, and understood. But it's important to know where your role begins… and where it should stop.
Here’s what you absolutely can do as a group host on MentalHappy:
For example: Sophia runs a peer support group for young women recovering from burnout. She starts each session by sharing how her week went, then invites others to do the same. One week, she shares a breathing technique that helped her through a panic moment. Everyone in the group tries it—and they end up loving it. That’s peer-led support done right. No clinical advice—just peer-to-peer connection.
This is just an example to make you understand better. Sophia isn’t a therapist. She’s been through burnout herself and just wants to share tools that helped her. That’s exactly what peer support is all about.
Now, while you can do a lot, there are a few clear things you shouldn’t do unless you’re licensed. To stay within legal and ethical boundaries, there are a few things you shouldn’t do:
David runs a group for men dealing with grief. One of his members opens up about feeling hopeless. David listens empathetically, but instead of saying, “You need treatment for depression,” he says, “That sounds really heavy. Have you talked to a mental health professional?”
He keeps his role clear—supportive, not clinical.
Words matter. If you call yourself something like a “trauma recovery coach” or “emotional wellness expert”, it could make people think you’re licensed.
Stick with titles that clearly reflect your role:
What you call yourself - matters! Avoid titles that suggest you're a mental health professional—even if you’re not trying to mislead anyone.
You can charge for your group, even if you’re not a licensed therapist. You’re not charging for therapy—you’re charging for your time, structure, and the space you create. This might include things like:
Just be clear about what your group offers, and make it clear it’s not therapy. People appreciate honesty—and they’re paying for the space, your time, resources you provide, and your guidance—not for clinical treatment.
Transparency builds trust and protects you legally.
Sharing helpful tools is one of the best things you can do for your members. Just remember: you’re not prescribing—you’re suggesting.
Feel free to share:
You’ve done the hard work. You’ve earned your license, built a support group, and you’re deeply committed to helping others—whether they're navigating grief, coping with stress, managing bipolar disorder, or rebuilding after substance abuse. But let’s be honest—you didn’t sign up to become a full-time administrator.
If hunting for spreadsheets, juggling virtual schedules, or tracking peer support attendance feels more exhausting than rewarding—you’re not alone. Many licensed professionals, caregivers, and social work advocates feel the same way. That’s exactly why MentalHappy exists.
We’re here to take the administrative load off your plate, so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering care, offering insight, and advocating for better outcomes in your community.
You bring the empathy, the education, the advocacy mindset. MentalHappy brings the platform to make your peer support group feel seamless.
No more manually chasing updates or feeling unsure about your members' emotional well-being. With AI-powered tools, you can track behavior trends, coping strategies, and engagement patterns in real-time—ideal for those in recovery from depression, trauma, or chronic disease.
Need data for research, suicide prevention reporting, or a mental health grant application? Want to improve how your group supports parents or individuals impacted by the criminal justice system? It’s all ready for you—no need to build a dashboard from scratch.
Whether you host virtual support groups or in-person sessions, you can easily manage meetings, send reminders, and handle attendance—all in one secure space.
And yes, MentalHappy supports payment processing, so you can receive donations or session fees with ease—no third-party apps or invoicing headaches!
As a licensed health professional, social worker, or peer advocate, you care about ethical care, compliance, and protecting client confidentiality.
With MentalHappy, you get customizable privacy settings for every support group—perfect for those working with sensitive topics like grief, addiction, or crisis intervention.
Let’s be clear: MentalHappy doesn’t replace your clinical expertise—it empowers it. You’re still the guide, the lifeline, the heart of your group.
Whether your members are veterans, LGBTQ individuals, parents, or people coping with long-term stress, your advocacy and leadership remain central. We’re just here to give you the tools to manage your peer support space with less burnout—and more impact.
"As a mental health professional, integrating the MentalHappy platform into my practice has been a game-changer. It not only streamlines group therapy sessions but also fosters a sense of community and support among my clients, ultimately enhancing their therapeutic journey."
whether you’re a licensed mental health professional or someone with lived experience, there’s space for you on MentalHappy.
👉 If you’re not licensed, you can still lead a peer support group, share your story, offer encouragement, and bring people together—legally and confidently—as long as you’re not offering therapy or clinical treatment.
👉 If you are licensed, MentalHappy gives you the structure, tools, and privacy controls you need to run your group with ease, without getting buried in admin work. You get to do what you’re trained for—helping people—while we handle the rest.
So whether you’re a certified pro or a passionate peer, know this:
“You’re making a difference. And MentalHappy is here to support you, every step of the way!”
If you are in a life-threatening situation - DO NOT use this platform.
Use these resources to get immediate help.
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