Benefits Of Individual Therapy Vs. Group Therapy
ShareYou might be interested in seeking counseling for one reason or another; you might be going through some things in your life, or you might just think that you could benefit and improve from seeking therapy. If this is true, then you might be wondering about whether you should seek individual or group therapy. Either option can be helpful, but you may want to opt for individual sessions with a therapist for these reasons and more.
You Might Not Feel as Embarrassed or Insecure
One downside of group therapy is the fact that you might feel a bit embarrassed and insecure about talking about your problems and your feelings in front of multiple other people. In individual therapy, however, you only have to open up with just one person: the therapist. For many people, this can be a lot more comfortable. Since it's important to open up about your thoughts, feelings, and personal issues in order to truly benefit from therapy, this is something important for you to think about.
You'll Have More One-on-One Time With the Therapist
When you attend a group therapy session, you have to share your time with the therapist with other people in the group. The downside of this is that you won't have as much time to get advice from the therapist about whatever personal issues you might be dealing with. If you choose individual therapy, on the other hand, you will have the option to spend your entire session getting one-on-one advice from the therapist, which you might find will be more helpful for your situation.
You Can Figure Out Scheduling That Works for Your Needs
If you choose to attend group counseling, then you will probably have to attend the group counseling sessions on days and at times that work for the entire group. If you choose individual therapy, however, you might have more options for scheduling. This can make things easier if you live a busy lifestyle or if your schedule is always changing.
You Don't Have to Worry About Disruptive Behavior From Others
In some cases, in group therapy sessions, one or more people in the session might be disruptive in one way or another. Obviously, this can cause problems if you are hoping to get as much as possible from the therapy session. If you choose individual therapy, you don't have to worry about disruptive behavior from others causing problems during your session.