More Than The Group Chat
A therapist's guide to friendship, belonging, and creating relationships where you can truly feel seen, understood, and supported.
A book for anyone who has ever wondered why friendship feels harder than they expected—and how to build relationships where you can truly feel seen, understood, and supported.
A new book by Alexandria Gohla, LCSW
The book is still on its way, but the conversation has already begun. Join the community and be part of the journey.
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The book is still on its way, but the conversation has already begun. Join the community and be part of the journey. 〰️
Why I Wrote This Book
For a long time, I thought I was the only one.
The only one wondering why friendship felt so much harder than everyone else made it look.
The only one replaying conversations on the drive home, questioning whether I had said too much—or not enough.
The only one wondering how I could be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.
Then I became a therapist.
Again and again, people sat across from me asking the same questions I had quietly carried myself.
"Why does it feel like everyone else already has their people?"
"Why am I always the one making the plans?"
"Why does being left out still hurt this much as an adult?"
"Is something wrong with me?"
The answer was almost always the same.
No.
There isn't something wrong with you.
Friendship is one of the most meaningful relationships we'll ever have, yet it's one of the least talked about. Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing we were supposed to just figure it out.
Spoiler alert: most of us are winging it.
I wrote More Than the Group Chat because I wanted to create the resource I wish I'd had during the seasons when I questioned my friendships, doubted myself, or wondered if I was asking for too much.
This isn't a book about having more friends.
It's about building friendships where you don't have to perform, earn your place, or wonder if you belong.
My hope is that these pages remind you that you're not alone—and that meaningful friendship is something we can create with intention, vulnerability, and the courage to keep showing up.
More Than The Group Chat
Coming 2027
"The goal isn't to have more friends. It's to build friendships where you don't have to wonder if you belong."
-More Than The Group Chat
Friendship doesn't end when you close the book.
Join hundreds of others exploring connection inside the More Than the Group Chat Facebook community.
What's Inside
This isn't a book filled with rules for making friends or a checklist for becoming more likable.
It's a guide to understanding why friendship feels so complicated in adulthood—and how to create relationships where you can truly feel seen, understood, and supported.
Inside, we'll explore:
Why friendship changes as we grow
Discover how life transitions, careers, parenting, loss, and changing priorities shape our relationships—and why those changes are more common than you might think.
The difference between connection and belonging
Learn why having people around you doesn't always mean feeling connected, and how to recognize friendships that are emotionally safe and genuinely reciprocal.
The stories we tell ourselves when we feel left out
Explore how rejection, comparison, and self-doubt influence the way we see ourselves and our relationships—and how to respond with greater self-compassion.
How to build healthier, more authentic friendships
Develop practical ways to strengthen existing relationships, navigate conflict, set boundaries, and create space for deeper connection.
Friendship through every season of life
Whether you're making friends after becoming a parent, grieving a friendship that ended, navigating changing social circles, or simply longing for more meaningful connection, you'll find encouragement for the season you're in.
Reflection and practical tools
Throughout the book, you'll find journal prompts, reflection exercises, conversation starters, and actionable strategies to help you apply what you're learning to your own relationships.
Above all, my hope is that you'll close this book feeling less alone, more confident in the friendships you're building, and reminded that meaningful connection isn't about finding perfect people—it's about creating relationships where you can show up as your authentic self.
Bring This Conversation to Your Community
Whether it's a conference, library, workplace, book club, school, or women's event, I'd love to help create meaningful conversations about friendship, belonging, emotional safety, and the relationships that shape our lives.
Together, we can explore why friendship feels so complicated in adulthood—and how we can begin building relationships where people feel seen, understood, and supported.
Perfect for:
Women's organizations
Conferences
Libraries
Schools & universities
Book clubs
Corporate wellness programs
Mental health professionals
Community organizations
Let's create a conversation your audience will still be thinking about long after the event is over.
The Nest Podcast
Keep the Conversation Going
If there's one thing I hope you take away from this page...
My hope is that More Than the Group Chat becomes more than a book. I hope it starts conversations, strengthens relationships, and reminds you that you don't have to navigate friendship alone.
Thank you for being here. I'm so grateful our paths crossed, and I can't wait to continue this journey together.