“I’m Nervous to Speak up in Group Therapy and would prefer to talk in one-on-one therapy”
When it comes to therapy, many individuals have the typical vision of a licensed professional sitting in a chair with a client sitting on a couch in front of them in a one on one format, but that’s not the only kind of effective therapy. Group therapy is a wonderful complementary resource that can further enhance an individual’s therapy experience, or may be a better solution overall for certain individuals. We’d like to take a moment to explain the differences between group therapy and one on one therapy to help assist you during the process of deciding which is best for you.
Differences Between Group Therapy and One on One Therapy
When it comes to one on one therapy, a client meets with a licensed and trained professional therapist and they become established as the sole focus of treatment and provided with undivided attention. This structure also provides a variety of other benefits, such as confidentiality, a more intensive and customized treatment approach, and flexible scheduling. The downfalls of one on one therapy include higher cost, the lack of interaction with peers, and the absence of peer accountability/motivation.
On the other hand, group therapy offers many of the same benefits but differs greatly from one on one. In contrast, group therapy involves about 5-15 clients meeting with one licensed and trained professional therapist on a regular basis.
Individuals may struggle to consider group therapy due to social anxiety issues and the method’s required vulnerability, and while we completely understand the very real phobias associated, these groups offer many benefits such as affordability, peer accountability, exposure to different perspectives, increased social skills (and decreased anxieties), and much more.
These benefits are important to keep in mind when considering the advantages that group therapy offers over individual therapy. When paired with one on one therapy, group therapy can further enhance a client’s therapy experience.
Effectiveness of Group Therapy
Is group therapy more effective than individual therapy? Surprisingly, it can be! Research put forth by the American Psychological Association found that group therapy is at least as effective as individual therapy for a wide range of conditions, and it’s certainly most efficient, allowing therapists to reach many clients at once and ensure that the clients are getting the services necessary.
That being said, in many cases group therapy can actually be more effective than one on one therapy, due to its natural ability to reduce the stigma around receiving therapy as well offering a sense of formed solidarity between an individual and their peers. Because of the various substantial benefits, some psychologists are now calling for every private practice to offer at least one group!
Here at ICS, we wholeheartedly believe in the power of group therapy and have therefore made it a large part of our practice’s focus. If you still aren’t sure about this form of therapy, we invite you to browse the other articles here on our blog that cover some common group therapy FAQs, and if you’d like to chat further, our phone line is always open! Call us today at (206) 216-5000.