Hello Lostandfound,
I willingly joined an outpatient therapy program at my hospital at the advice of my psychiatrist at two different times.
Both times they were very helpful for me. It taught me tools on how to deal with situations I lived with daily and that came up along the way in my life. It taught me how to get through each day one step at a time.
I too was worried about other people being there, but when you see that everyone has similar issues as yourself if becomes easier to share your feelings. Anyway, there isn't any pressure to talk about anything that you're not ready to share.
But in my outpatient program they also had doctors come in and give lectures about special issues like, what bipolar, depression, mania, anxiety, etc are like and what happens to our bodies during these times. Doctors come in and give information about different types of medications that are available. Every lecture at the end had time for personal questions and answers.
All activites were geared to get in tune with our thoughts and actions how to use them in a positive way.
I agree with serafena, definately give it a try. I was hesitant at first too but found out I really liked it because it helped me tremendously. That is why when I fell in another slump a year later I told my psych that I knew it was time for me to get back in and get jump started again.
Good Luck, I hope you give it a try.