India, Aug. 14 -- Emotional well-being is stepping out of the therapist's office and into shared spaces. 'Cry clubs' are cropping across Indian cities as strangers sit down in groups where listening and speaking matter equally. Such wellness circles are designed with care to create a safe and supportive environment. Sessions often start with calming exercises, move into an open-sharing phase, and conclude with reflective activities. Organisers share helpline numbers, therapy contacts, or online support group details so the benefits can continue beyond the session. The Cry Club in Mumbai, for instance, gathers participants in an intimate space where they permit themselves to let them cry. There is a small entry fee and attendees can use pseudonyms if they wish. Founder Saurav Arya says this "encourages emotional honesty". Support Circle, based in Delhi-NCR, was founded to let people to connect with others facing similar emotional challenges. "Our circles are led by trained psychologists who guide people to adopt habits that help improve their well-being," notes founder Vishal Bisht. The Listeners' Circle in Bengaluru and Healthy Crying Club in Surat have a similar set-up; the latter holds monthly sessions where people are invited to release pent-up emotions through tears. Mumbai-based Ananya Sharma, 29, recalls her first visit to a cry club: "I walked in with months of bottled-up emotions. The session began with deep breathing; we then went around the circle, and people spoke and let the tears flow. By the end, I felt lighter; it was the first time in years I cried without feeling guilty or weak." Psychologists point out that crying in a collective setting is both a physiological reset and a form of social bonding. "When people share their fears or grief, it strengthens coping skills and turns vulnerability into a bridge for deeper relationships," shares Pavitra Shankar of Aakash Healthcare, who believes such spaces help counter urban isolation. Minakshi Manchanda, associate director of Psychiatry at Asian Hospital says crying together can ease headaches and disrupted sleep. She notes, "We live in a performance age where people suppress emotions. Communal wellness reflects a growing desire for unrestricted connection." Arpita Kohli at PSRI Hospital agrees: "Traditional family and community structures in urban India have weakened." Sharing emotions in such settings, she says, reduces loneliness and strengthens feelings of belonging....