Deciding to undergo counseling is a huge step towards regaining control in the area of your life in which you feel you need extra support. There are various different types of counseling available, and one of the other decisions you will need to make will be whether you seek support in a group setting, or whether you would prefer to have professional advice on an individual basis.

 

Acceptance

One of the biggest benefits of group counseling is the feeling of acceptance that you can achieve when you meet with a number of people who are all experiencing the same issues as you. Often, people feel isolated before they begin therapy, feeling that nobody can understand where they are coming from. They may even feel that they are alone in their unique situation. However, by meeting with others, it is possible to obtain a sense of relief that you aren’t alone and have people who can identify with exactly how you are feeling. This provides patients with just as much reassurance, or even more than they can achieve during individual counseling.  

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a pre-requisite of any counseling session whether in an individual or group setting. Unsurprisingly, some people have concerns about this in a group setting where they are sharing private information with a number of different people. However, all of our group sessions are carried out with the premise that what is said within the group is completely confidential and doesn’t leave the group. Since everyone is in the same position, this helps confidentiality to be maintained. Nevertheless, some patients still prefer the guaranteed discretion that can only be achieved through individual counseling sessions.

Breadth of discussion

Being able to discuss your issues and concerns is one of the most important aspects of counseling. However, a valuable discussion takes many different forms. When you choose individual counseling, you will be able to have a very in-depth and valuable conversation with your trained and experienced counselor and discuss the issues that you need to in detail. When you select group counseling, the breadth of conversation may be a little different since many people will be participating in the discussion. However, at the same time, you will also get to hear and experience many different viewpoints from others in the same situation as yourself.

Coping strategies

Developing coping strategies is another key component of counseling and these are valuable tools that you can take with you from your sessions out into everyday life. When you choose individual counseling, your professional will work with you one-on-one to develop techniques that you can use to support you. When you choose group counseling, you will be able to hear from a variety of different people at different stages of their own treatment, and this could give you a range of different coping strategies to try, any of which may be beneficial to you.

Social skills

Many people feel a sense of isolation that stems from the condition for which they are seeking counseling while others actually withdraw from society while they try and cope with the issues that are troubling them. This can cause their social skills to diminish, making it even harder for them to interact with people around them. However, when you attend group counseling, it gives you the opportunity to work on your social skills, particularly talking and listening, enhancing your ability to communicate your problems with others which is mutually beneficial for everyone involved in the session.

Cost

The cost of a group counseling session is split between the people in attendance. Meanwhile, if you choose individual counseling, you will be solely responsible for the costs incurred. This usually makes group counseling a less expensive option.

If you would like more information about either individual or group counseling, or if you are unsure which is right for you and you'd like my expert to advise and guidance, please contact my practice today.