When living with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, therapy is often the first choice in treatment to overcome your symptoms. First, you need to determine whether group therapy vs. individual therapy is right for you. Starting a therapy program can help, but making the right decision ensures you get the most benefit.
If you’re looking to get started with therapy, reach out to the team at Promises by calling 844.875.5609. Our team can answer any questions you have, get you scheduled with a therapy appointment, and be there to support you every step of the way.
Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy
Both group and one-on-one therapy can provide substantial relief from a number of common mental health symptoms. Deciding which one is right for your needs depends less on how effective these treatments are and more on what you need specifically to make a lasting and worthwhile recovery.
To help you make the choice, let’s break down the core elements of each style of therapy to see what provides the right type of care for your needs.
Benefits of Group Counseling
Group counseling is a powerful approach to creating lasting change. This style of therapy first began as a way to make it more accessible, reducing the cost of treatment while letting a therapist share their knowledge with multiple clients at a time.
However, these early group therapists rapidly came to the conclusion that group therapy was often more effective than individual therapy for a number of reasons that remain true today. The power of group therapy comes from several different factors:
- Social support for people struggling with mental health challenges
- Being able to hear how people in similar situations achieved recovery
- Providing a space for people to help others with similar challenges
- Creating powerful social connections between group members
The social aspect of group therapy is a powerful motivator for change. For people who feel like social support is lacking in their lives, group therapy may be the best choice.
Individual Therapy Benefits
In contrast, one-on-one therapy is meeting directly with a therapist for a private session. This provides several benefits for the client, including:
- Having your therapist’s full attention during the session
- A much greater breadth than group therapy, which typically stays on a single topic
- More time getting professional advice
- More time to dig deep into the underlying causes of mental health challenges
Individual talk therapy has long been the gold standard of care for treating a number of mental health challenges. If you are experiencing a mental health challenge that is relatively unique or you have specific challenges that you feel uncomfortable addressing in a group format, individual therapy might be the better option for you.
Which Treatment Method Is Best for You?
Deciding whether to enroll in group therapy or individual therapy is ultimately a personal decision. The clear benefit of group therapy approaches is a more robust social support system, while individual therapy provides more depth and breadth in your path to mental health recovery.
Find a Therapy Program to Fit Your Needs at Promises
At Promises, our multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals provides several therapy options for our clients. Whether it’s group or individual, in person or virtual, or any number of therapeutic modalities and specialties, our team strives to bring the very best in evidence-based care to help you overcome your mental health symptoms.
Getting started with therapy at Promises is simple. Just use our online contact form or call our team today at 844.875.5609. Answer a few questions about your specific needs, and get scheduled with a mental health provider who can help you achieve a lasting and healthy recovery.