When you think of therapy, your mind might go to one-on-one sessions with a therapist, but not all counseling is done that way. Group counseling can be a good option for some people and even offer certain advantages over individual counseling.
Here are a few ways that group counseling differs from individual counseling:
- It’s more affordable. Group counseling may be appealing to those who don’t want to pay the higher costs associated with individual therapy. The cost of individual therapy can sometimes discourage people from seeking help when they need it, but the lower cost of group counseling may help to persuade them.
- It can assure participants that they are not alone. Many problems that people have can feel isolating, but group therapy shows participants that there are others just like them struggling with similar problems. This helps to dispel the belief that something is “wrong” with them and helps them not to feel shame.
- It can help participants model the successful behaviors of others. Everyone’s journey is different, but there is no need to navigate healing blindly. Group counseling allows people to share their successes, which can provide encouragement and guidance for others in the group.
- It offers multiple points of view. Sharing thoughts and opinions can help participants to see their problems or their lives differently. A fresh perspective can help them to try different approaches and see what fits or to have more self-awareness. Seeing a therapist one on one can have a similar effect, but group therapy offers even more perspectives.
We offer group therapy at Georgia Family Crisis Solutions. Book now.