By Emily Safron
After receiving critical acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, Group Therapy has officially released on Prime Video. The film, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Neil Berkeley, showcases a unique take on mental health through the voices of several renowned comedians including Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Birbiglia and London Hughes.
The unique concept, formulated by HartBeat productions, was thought up to be comparable to an AA or roundtable meeting. “We wanted to give them an intimate space to talk about personal things,” shared Berkeley. “There are these moments among the comedians where it’s just a couple of them talking; very personal and soft and amazing.” Berkeley’s biggest goal with Group Therapy was for viewers to have their feelings normalized and not be ashamed anymore. “They spend an hour and a half watching people they respect and admire and realize it’s okay to share these things and to say these things out loud.”
Initially hesitant, London Hughes viewed the project as a leap out of her comfort zone. “I’ve never ever shared vulnerable things about me personally, like I go on stage and talk about men and dating easily, but talking about my feelings and insecurities? I’ve never done that,” Hughes shared. “I was scared going in but it was such a safe environment. All the other comics were so lovely and it was just like talking with friends.”
In 2023, Hughes wrote her memoir “Living My Best Life, Hun: Following Your Dreams Is No Joke.” In it, Hughes shared a lot of insecurities and feelings on paper, but still hadn’t said them out loud. While her memoir was a stepping stone, she viewed the documentary as a way to continue to vocalize her feelings. “My default is to look for the funny and this experience allowed me to not do that, and focus on the story and the vulnerability,” she shared. “I hope people feel inspired to share their stories, build community and stop shying away from their deepest fears.”
At its core, Group Therapy was created by people who were truly passionate about the project. One of Berkeley’s favorite memories happened after filming. “About 30 crew members asked to sit in the chair and tell their own stories. It was never meant to be in the film, but they just wanted to sit and talk. I’ve never experienced anything like it on a set,” he shared. Berkeley has discussed creating similar style documentaries with creators in other genres and communities.
Group Therapy is available now to stream on Prime Video.
