A new weekly process group · Vista, CA
The Social Lab
Where your relationship patterns show up in real time.
Not your typical therapy group. A weekly daytime process group in Vista, CA led by Lisette Montañez, PsyD
Led by a licensed psychologist • 6–8 members • $80 per session • Weekly in Vista, CA
Does any of this sound familiar?
You might relate if…
01 Your friendships start strong… then fade
02 You overthink how you come across
03 You people-please… then feel resentful
04 You feel like you're either too much or not enough
05 You don't fully understand how others experience you
There's nothing wrong with you. There's just a pattern — and patterns can change.
How the work actually works
This isn't just talking about your life.
This is a real-time process group.
Most therapy happens in isolation. You talk about your relationships with someone who wasn't there. You describe how you come across, based on your best guess. You work on patterns from the outside.
The Social Lab works differently.
In a process group, you're not just talking about your life — you're living a slice of it in the room. The way you show up here is the way you show up with your coworkers, your partner, your friends, your family. That makes it the rare space where your patterns are actually visible, not just remembered.
It can feel uncomfortable at times. That's often where real change happens.
What happens in the room
01 You don't just talk about relationships — you have them in real time
02 You see how you show up with other people in the room
03 You get honest, caring feedback about how you come across
04 You start to understand patterns as they're happening
A note on Bernie
Therapy dog in training.
Bernie joins some sessions. He has a talent for lowering the temperature in the room.
Is this for you?
Who The Social Lab is for.
A good fit if
This is your speed.
- You're an adult (18+) open to looking at your relationships honestly
- You're in or have been in individual therapy, or have done enough self-reflection to know that how you relate to people is a recurring theme
- You want more than insight — you want to see yourself from the outside and try something different
- You can commit to showing up weekly
Not the right fit if
A different kind of support fits better.
- You're in active crisis and need stabilization first
- You're looking for advice, worksheets, or a structured curriculum
- You can't commit to consistent weekly attendance
- You'd prefer to process privately in 1:1 therapy for now
Not sure? That's what the free consultation is for — we'll talk it through.
What to expect
How The Social Lab works.
A snapshot of the practicals. The group time is finalized once members are set — your availability is part of the conversation.
Size
6–8 members
Adults, 18 and over
Facilitator
Dr. Lisette Montañez
With Bernie on some sessions
Format
90 minutes
Weekly, final time set by the group
Schedule
TBD
Thursday morning or afternoon
Location
Vista, CA
1800 Thibodo Road, #110
Investment
$80 / session
Paid weekly
Group therapy at CTG costs roughly a third of what individual therapy with a licensed psychologist costs at our practice — and in many cases, it does something individual work alone can't. You can attend group alongside individual therapy, or on its own.
Meet your facilitator
A warm, direct, attuned facilitator.
Dr. Lisette Montañez, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Montañez is a licensed psychologist at Coastal Therapy Group who works primarily from our Vista and Carlsbad offices. She brings years of experience facilitating group and individual therapy for adults working on identity, relationships, and the way early experiences shape how we show up with others.
Her style is warm, direct, and attuned. She makes it safe enough to take the risks that group therapy asks of you.
She's joined some sessions by Bernie, a therapy dog in training, who has a talent for lowering the temperature in the room.
"Group is the rare space where your patterns are actually visible, not just remembered."
Frequently asked
Questions people ask before the first call.
What is a process group, exactly?
A process group is a small therapy group where the focus is on what's happening between members in the room — the patterns, reactions, and dynamics as they unfold. Instead of rotating through individual check-ins or working from a lesson plan, members bring whatever is alive for them and use the group itself as the material. Over time, you start to notice how you relate, what you avoid, and what you're capable of when someone gives you honest feedback.
How is this different from group therapy I've heard about before?
Many therapy groups are psychoeducational or skills-based — you learn coping tools, do worksheets, or follow a curriculum. The Social Lab is not that. It's an interpersonal process group, which means the work is relational and experiential. You're not preparing for relationships. You're practicing them.
Do I need to be in individual therapy to join?
No. Some members do both. Others find group is what they need right now. During the free consultation, Dr. Montañez will help you figure out what makes sense for where you are.
Is everything confidential?
Yes. Every member agrees to confidentiality before joining, and that agreement is central to how the group functions. You'll learn more about how confidentiality works during your consult.
What does a typical session look like?
There's no agenda. Sessions begin, and members bring what's on their minds — what's happening in life, what's happening in the group itself, or something they noticed about themselves since last week. Dr. Montañez helps the group stay focused on the relational work that makes process groups powerful.
How long do members usually stay?
Most members stay for at least six months, and many stay a year or more. Change in group therapy is cumulative — the longer you stay, the more visible your patterns become, and the more room you have to try new ones.
Do you accept insurance?
Coastal Therapy Group is a private-pay practice. We're out-of-network with all insurance plans, but we provide monthly superbills you can submit to your PPO for possible reimbursement. For more on cost and insurance, see our cost and insurance page.
What if I try it and it's not for me?
That happens, and it's fine. During your consultation, we'll talk about whether The Social Lab is the right fit. Once you join, we ask for a commitment, but if you decide the group isn't serving you, you and Dr. Montañez will talk about it directly and figure out the right next step.
Ready when you are
Interested?
The Social Lab meets weekly in Vista, CA. Daytime hours, $80 per session, capped at 8 members. We're recruiting now, with the goal of starting once the group is formed.
The first step is a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Montañez. You'll get a feel for her, ask any questions you have, and decide together whether the group is right for you.
The
Social Lab
- Where
- Vista, CA
- Who
- 6–8 adults
- Cost
- $80 / session
- When
- Daytime, weekly