Individual vs. Group Therapy: Which Works Better for You?
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‘I want to seek mental health support, but can’t decide between individual therapy vs group therapy, which one is better?’
If this question or a question of a similar nature is troubling you as well, then you can read this blog to learn more about the differences between individual therapy vs group therapy. Both these therapies have been discussed in length so that you can make a smart choice for your mental wellness journey!
What Is Individual Therapy
Individual therapy can be characterized by one-on-one interaction between a client and therapist. Here, the space is provided to the client to express and share their concerns in a confidential environment.
How Individual Therapy Works
Individual therapy can work in the following way:
1. The initial few sessions can be for rapport building, goal setting, and assessment.
2. The client’s previous therapy experience and preferred psychotherapy model can be explored.
3. Gradually, deep work is done at a pace that works for the client.
4. Homework exercises can also be a part of individual therapy sessions.
5. Goal charting and monitoring are done to identify other areas that need to be explored.
6. Once the therapy goals have been achieved, sessions can be mutually terminated.
Key Benefits of Individual Therapy
1. Safe space for expressing oneself
2. Increased self and emotional awareness
3. Improvement in one’s quality of life
4. Support in reaching one’s highest potential
These are some of the many benefits of individual therapy.
What Is Group Therapy
Group therapy usually involves multiple participants and one trained group therapist. The number of participants commonly observed ranges from 8 to 12, such that each individual gets a chance to express and share. The therapist ensures that a safe and structured environment is maintained.
How Group Therapy Works
The usual pattern in which a group therapy session can work is:
1. The interested participants can register for the specific group therapy session.
2. There can be 1 or 2 therapists who act as moderators and facilitators in the session.
3. The sessions can be conducted weekly or biweekly and at a specific time of the day.
4. There are certain goals of the session that aim to support all the participants.
5. Group therapy sessions can involve ice-breaking activities, discussions and peer reflections.
Key Benefits of Group Therapy
A few of the many benefits of group therapy sessions have been listed below:
1. Increased sense of belongingness
2. Minimized sense of isolation
3. Learning from others’ journeys
4. Can have less fees than individual therapy
5. Helps in empathy building for others
Individual Therapy vs Group Therapy: Core Differences
A tabular chart is given below highlighting the differences between individual therapy vs group therapy.
| Individual Therapy | Group Therapy |
| One-on-one consultation between therapist and client | Multiple participants and one or two facilitators |
| Sharing remains private | Sharing with the group |
| Fees can be higher | Fees can be lower |
| Session pace decided by client and therapist | Session pace decided by the group and facilitators |
| Individual goal setting | Group goal setting |
Which Therapy Is Better for Your Mental Health
The most important question for an individual seeking support can be ‘which one should I opt for, group therapy vs individual therapy?’ To identify the answer to this question, one can ask oneself the following questions:
1. Am I looking for an individual space or a shared space with a group?
2. Do I have deep concerns that I want to explore individually?
3. Can I afford individual psychotherapy sessions?
4. Would I be comfortable sharing in a group?
5. Do I want insights from a group of individuals experiencing similar concerns?
When Individual Therapy Works Best
1. In case of severe mental health challenges, it would be recommended to seek individual psychotherapy sessions.
2. In case there is a history of trauma and sexual abuse, and one is looking for a personal space of sharing.
3. If one has a high need for privacy and would not be comfortable opening up in a group setting.
Group Therapy Works Best
1. If a common concern is feeling isolated and a need for belongingness.
2. When concerns are related to grief, addiction, etc., wherein others’ experience can be helpful.
3. One wants to improve social skills by connecting with others in a group setting.
Can You Combine Both Therapies
A lot of individuals who want to do in-depth work and also build a sense of belongingness participate in individual psychotherapy and group therapy simultaneously. This allows the individual to work on multiple concerns through different setups. Therapy for mental health improvement is a great step towards achieving better well-being.
Final Thoughts
At Athena Behavioral Health, you can find answers to several mental health concerns through both individual therapy and group therapy. We offer treatment for mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, addiction recovery, etc. As a part of the treatment process, we offer pharmacotherapy, group therapy, individual therapy and also include family counselling sessions as per the client’s needs. The purpose of different types of therapies is to tailor the treatment plan as per individual concerns.
You can learn more about our services by calling us at +91 9289086193, and it would be our privilege to support you!
Confused between individual and group therapy? Learn the key differences, benefits, and how to choose the therapy approach that fits your mental health needs.
