Group Therapy vs Individual Therapy

Group counseling is an aspect of psychological therapy between a mental health professional and some people.

It is the opposite of individual counseling/therapy where there’s one person involved alongside the mental health counselor. People in group counseling are usually facing similar problems like anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.

When it comes to group counseling, one of the biggest perks is that it helps each individual to realize that they are not alone because other people in the group have similar issues. This realization often comes as a big relief because it helps individuals to focus on getting better.

It is important to mention that group therapy helps individuals to learn skills to communicate better with others.

Even though the individuals in the group have similar challenges, they are different individuals.

Therefore, the differences they share as people sheds more light on the differences that society presents in general. Hence, learning how to interact with people during group counseling helps you to relate better with people outside the group.

It might get uncomfortable for you to share your problems with strangers. However, since most of the people there have similar problems to yours, you will find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Group counseling comes in different formats, but the fundamental setting is, that a sizeable number of patients meet regularly to discuss their mental health challenges.

Each person takes turns in describing how tough or how easy it has been for them to navigate their mental health problems and the progress they’re making.

Group counseling sessions are guided by mental health counselors or therapists who are trained in group therapy. Sometimes, the mental health counselor picks the topic of discussion or allows the participants to suggest any topic for the session.

Members of the group counseling session always strive to ensure that they adopt new and healthier ways of living and that they drop off their old ways.

Aftercare treatment is the post-recovery phase of an individual who has conquered addiction. This is the stage where the individual implements some strategies and coping skills to help retain their sobriety permanently.

For some people, the thought of going for group therapy might be terrifying because of the presence of other people. It could also be challenging for those coming out of anxiety disorder. Telling people about your mistakes is a hill that many people are not willing to die on.

However, group therapy during aftercare treatment has proven to be pivotal in providing healing to the body and mind of recovering individuals. Here are some of the benefits that come with group therapy.

Learning the art of communication

Many individuals are not great at communicating their thoughts and feelings. This is primarily because they are still recovering from the mental and emotional damage that came with their addiction.

Hence, they are still likely to have not-too-smooth relationships with family and friends.

During group therapy, they will have the opportunity to hear from other people who were once addicted. This will give them the motivation to keep working on repairing their strained relationship.

Receiving and giving support

One of the best places to get support in aftercare treatment is during group therapy. When you listen to the stories of other people, you might realize that they had worse cases than yours. This might put you in the position to be empathetic and supportive with your words and actions.

Similarly, when other people in the group therapy listen to your situation, you will receive sufficient support to continue your journey to sobriety.

Creation of a genuine bond

A group therapy environment provides the chance for people to bond with each other and feel connected. The bonds created during group therapy can be the foundation of a solid support system that will be with you all through your sobriety journey.

Group therapy is the opposite of individual therapy and there are some people who prefer the former to the latter. Group therapy comprises people who have similar interests and life issues and they are keen on making a change in their lives.

When you are in group therapy, you realize that you are not alone. A good number of patients have this wrong notion that when they are going through life’s problems, they are all alone. They feel some thoughts, feelings and emotions are peculiar to them alone.

The truth is we are unique and our circumstances might be distinct. However, we are not all alone. During a group therapy session, you will discover that there are people who might have issues worse than yours.

When you realize this, you will certainly appreciate the uniqueness of life and draw inspiration from their cases.

Another importance of group therapy is the receiving and giving of support. During group therapy, it is expected that members draw encouragement from one another. They are advised to draw support and feedback from their fellow members.

When you have a problem and you feel there is no one to hear you out, you are rest assured that you have people in therapy who will listen to you.

In group therapy, you are certain that you will find your voice. Group therapy sessions assists you to be aware of your emotions and thoughts when expressing them.

This is why counselors would encourage everyone to voice out their minds during each group therapy session. They are advised to feel free when talking about what is bothering them.

Also, group therapy helps you to connect with people in healthier ways that you will be surprised. You will also learn the act of communicating effectively and you will learn the act of empathizing with other people.

In conclusion, group therapy provides a safety net for everyone. Irrespective of the problems you are facing, attending a group therapy is one of the best decisions you can make.

There are various reasons why anyone would want to opt for individual counseling. Whatever the reasons might be, one thing is certain, there are lots to gain from individual counseling.

In the aspects of addiction and mental health for instance, individual counseling comes in handy and it goes a long way in determining how effective a treatment might be.

One of the benefits of individual counseling is knowledge. A counselor helps you to understand what you are going through perfectly. You might be surprised to find out that a counselor has this much knowledge.

The reason for this is not far-fetched, a counselor is a professional who has studied much and has experience.

Therefore, he or she would have a good idea of what you are going through no matter how peculiar the case might be.

When you have a good idea of what you are going through, you are certain that it is one step away from your problems. It helps you cooperate properly during the course of individual counseling.

In addition to this, individual counseling helps you to imbibe coping skills that give you a healthy lifestyle. When you have proficient coping skills, it would help you take on any challenge that life comes with.

Since it is individual counseling, you are certain that the counselor would do a proper follow-up on you to make sure that you are imbibing these coping skills.

The main theme of individual counseling is help and assistance and this is why the counselor would conduct an assessment on you.

The reason for this assessment is to create a treatment plan for you. A treatment plan does not involve medications in all cases. It could be a routine schedule that you have to stick with.

People who opt for individual counseling are usually advised to cooperate fully with the counselor. Whatever answers given during individual counseling forms the bulk of what would be used all through the counseling sessions.

To wrap it up, at various points of our lives, we need people to come through for us. It is impossible to face every challenge all by yourself. Having the right counsel goes a long way in helping you live a better life.

Individual counseling and group therapy are both topics that arise when discussing mental health treatment. They are both all about sharing experiences for the purpose of gaining insight about them. Yet they go about it through completely different methods. One is private while the other is in a group setting. One is about arriving at conclusions as an individual while the other is about arriving at conclusions collectively. One seeks advice from a mental health professional while the other seeks advice from people with personal experience. And one acquires healing through self care while the other acquires healing through a support system. The differences are vast but the goal is always the same: optimal mental health.

• Private vs Group Setting. Individual counseling maintains a private addiction counseling environment between a licensed professional counselor and their patient. Group therapy is in a setting of three or more people who share communally about what they have been through.
• Collective vs Individualistic. Group therapy is all about learning from, advising and supporting one another, making it a very collective experience. Individual therapy is very individualistic, as the self is the sole focus of the discussion.
• Certified Mental Health Professional vs People with Personal Experience. Individual counseling takes place with a mental health professional who has achieved a higher education to obtain their counselor’s license. Group therapy is more likely to be hosted and conducted by people who merely have personal experience in the topic area and can offer valuable insight.
• Healing through Support System vs Healing through Self Care. Group therapy entails a healing process that is generated by the love and support of other people. Individual counseling entails a healing process that is generated by self-discovery and self-care.

Clearly, both methods of healing are useful and relevant to a person experiencing a difficult life circumstance or condition, but they are executed in different ways and carry different benefits. Typically, people gain a lot of valuable insight by engaging in both individual counseling and group therapy.