LiveWell Foundation

What LiveWell Foundation is

LiveWell Foundation is a peer-led nonprofit dedicated to providing free depression support through group sessions that combine peer encouragement with structured skill-building. The organization operates both in-person groups in the Philadelphia area and free online groups accessible to anyone, regardless of location. What sets it apart is that it was founded by and is run by people with direct lived experience of depression alongside professional therapists. The foundation's core mission is to ensure that everyone with depression has access to high-quality support and education they need to live well, recognizing that while depression affects millions of Americans and is the most common chronic mental health issue in the U.S., most people struggling with it cannot access or afford adequate help.

How the LiveWell groups work

LiveWell Foundation organizes support groups around the LiveWell Program, a skill-based behavioral curriculum designed to teach people practical strategies for managing depression. A first session works like this: you join a group focused on your needs (general adults, teenagers, seniors, people in recovery from addiction, physicians, or Spanish speakers), and you meet with trained peer facilitators who lead discussions grounded in the structured curriculum. The groups combine peer support with behavioral activation, guided discussion prompts, and teaching about managing thinking patterns. Sessions emphasize personal strengths and resilience rather than focusing on deficits, using what the organization calls a strength-based and trauma-informed approach. The structure means each session has direction and purpose beyond just talking; participants learn concrete coping strategies they can use between meetings. Sessions run regularly throughout the week, both in-person in the Philadelphia area and online. The online groups have no geographic eligibility limit, so someone in California or Maine can attend the same session as someone in Pennsylvania. The organization also offers free peer support to supplement any professional therapy participants may be receiving, so people can use LiveWell groups in combination with a therapist or psychiatrist.

The LiveWell Program itself combines evidence-based therapeutic approaches (cognitive behavioral techniques, psychodynamic insights, mindfulness-based strategies) with wisdom from people who have recovered from depression and best practices from peer-led interventions. It addresses how depression affects multiple parts of life: emotional (sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, mood swings, irritability), cognitive (self-criticism, impaired memory, indecisiveness, confusion), physical (chronic fatigue, lack of energy, sleep problems, weight changes), and behavioral (withdrawal, neglect of responsibilities, self-harm). The curriculum teaches people to use their social networks, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, and regain behavioral activation. Participants can attend groups for adults in English or Spanish, teens aged 14-18, seniors aged 65 and older, people in recovery from depression and substance use (the Recovery groups), or physicians (recognizing that healthcare providers face distinct mental health challenges). The organization also runs periodic online workshops and classes for mental health and personal empowerment beyond the regular support groups.

What the outcomes show

LiveWell publishes participant feedback that reflects the program's impact. According to the organization's survey data, 97 percent of participants agree that "LiveWell taught me skills to better manage my own moods." Ninety-six percent agree that "LiveWell helps me feel more hopeful about managing my own depression." Ninety-one percent say "LiveWell helps me feel more connected to others." Most significantly, 86 percent report that "my symptoms decreased or went away because of LiveWell." The organization also shares that it has recorded over 52,000 log-ins to its virtual depression support groups involving people aged 14 to 89. Participants' written feedback includes quotes like "LiveWell didn't just teach me new skills to manage my depression. I can honestly say it has changed my whole life" and "After decades of living with treatment resistant depression, I finally found some relief and hope at LiveWell." One participant reported "The LiveWell Recovery group literally saved my life."

The program was created by Stefanie Glick, a licensed social worker (LSW) with a master's degree in social work and social research from Bryn Mawr, who holds credentials in clinical practice (MSS, MA, CPS). Dr. Aaron T. Beck, founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), endorses the work, stating "The LiveWell Program is having a big impact on helping people learn to deal with their chronic depression and anxiety. I refer my own patients to the LiveWell groups." Physicians and other healthcare professionals refer patients to LiveWell groups as part of their treatment recommendations.

The peer facilitators

The heart of LiveWell is its trained peer facilitators, volunteers from diverse backgrounds and professions who themselves have lived experience of depression and recovery. The organization lists its current facilitator team, which includes social workers, educators, attorneys, physicians, coaches, business professionals, veterans, and artists. For example, one facilitator is a professional figure skater who performs internationally; another is an attorney with a passion for mental health advocacy; another is a retired physician in recovery. One is a hospital volunteer who has served on the organization's board. Their diversity means participants see that recovery comes from people across many walks of life and professions. Facilitators receive training in the LiveWell Program and peer-led intervention practices before leading groups.

Availability, cost, and geographic reach

All online support groups and peer support services are completely free. The organization operates in Philadelphia and its surrounding region in-person, but the online groups have no geographic restriction. Someone anywhere in the United States can join the online sessions. This matters because the organization's mission explicitly centers on removing barriers to care for people with depression, and geographic and financial barriers are among the largest. There is no fee, no insurance requirement, and no prerequisite screening or assessment. You can join today if you are experiencing depression or anticipating grief. The organization also offers free workshops and educational classes related to mental health and personal empowerment.

Professional therapy through LiveWell

For people who want one-on-one professional therapy, LiveWell offers therapy services through licensed clinicians. Therapy is currently available to Pennsylvania residents via telehealth (virtual appointments). The current rate is 150 dollars per hour, and the organization explicitly says to ask about sliding-scale fees, meaning the actual cost can be lower depending on financial circumstances. Therapy is not currently accepting insurance, but the organization can provide receipts that patients can submit to their own insurance for reimbursement if their plan covers out-of-network providers. Sessions with therapy staff cover depression, anxiety, substance use issues, life transitions (such as divorce or major life changes), communication and relationship skills, trauma-informed work, and mindfulness-based approaches. Therapy clinicians also incorporate the LiveWell Program curriculum into the therapeutic work. Participants can combine therapy sessions with free peer support groups for comprehensive care.

What LiveWell does not publish

The organization does not publish detailed information about waiting times for therapy appointments, the number of therapists on staff, or whether therapy spots have current availability. It does not specify whether online support groups operate at all times or run on a published schedule (though the site references groups available throughout the week). It also does not detail what happens after you join a group, such as whether groups have a time commitment, whether you can attend multiple times, or how to move to a different group if your needs change.

Who it fits and who it does not

LiveWell is an excellent fit for someone with depression who wants free, accessible peer support with a structured skill-building component, especially if they are in a state where online access matters (which is anywhere outside Philadelphia). It suits teenagers, seniors, people in recovery from substance use alongside depression, Spanish speakers, and physicians seeking community with others who understand their specific context. Someone with good insurance who needs immediate professional mental health care and would prefer one-on-one therapy to group work might look elsewhere, since LiveWell's free services are peer-led, not delivered by licensed clinicians (though therapy is available for Pennsylvania residents). It does not serve people outside the United States. Someone in acute crisis should call 988 (the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) or text TALK to 741741 (Crisis Text Line); LiveWell does not provide emergency services. People who need psychiatric medication management or evaluation for conditions beyond depression should work with a psychiatrist or physician in parallel; LiveWell is designed to supplement, not replace, medical care.