Irvin Yalom called psychotherapy groups a 'social microcosm' [Irvin Yalom 2007, p.32]. Psychological support groups and closed psychotherapeutic groups are especially important for patients in psychiatric institutions. The article substantiates the value of group work in psychiatric institutions; describes the main forms of group interaction; the features of interaction with patients in Russian psychiatric hospitals are analyzed. The proposed concept of care and work with patients is based on the ideas of positive and transcultural psychotherapy by Nossrat Peseshkian. The purpose of this article is to actualizethe importance of group forms of work with patients for specialists in helping professions. Irwin Yalom called psychotherapy groups a "social microcosm" [Irwin Yalom 2007, p. 32]. Psychological support groups and closed psychotherapy groups are particularly important for patients in psychiatric institutions. The article substantiates the value of group work in psychiatric institutions; describes the main forms of group interaction; analyzes the features of interaction with patients in Russian psychiatric hospitals. The proposed concept of patient care and work is based on the ideas of positive and transcultural psychotherapy by Nossrat Pezeskian. The purpose of this article: to update the importance of group forms of work with patients for specialists of helping professions.