Online Group Trauma Therapy in a Community Setting: Group Climate and Satisfaction in Relation to Treatment Response

Group climate and treatment satisfaction are increasingly relevant in determining therapeutic outcomes in group therapy. Despite the growing use of virtual formats, limited research has explored these factors in online trauma-focused groups. A free, skills-based trauma therapy program was delivered online to 80 individuals in an urban setting. Trauma-related symptoms were measured pre- and postgroup using the PCL-5 and TSC-40. Postgroup assessments of group climate and satisfaction were captured using the GSC-S and a custom service satisfaction survey. Participants reported a positive group climate and high levels of satisfaction. Treatment satisfaction emerged as a significant predictor of symptom reduction. Notably, satisfaction with the practicality and real-world applicability of the group's content was closely linked to improved outcomes. These findings support the feasibility of online group trauma therapy and underscore the central role of participant satisfaction-particularly the perceived utility of therapeutic skills-in driving meaningful clinical improvements.