Individual vs. Group Therapy: Differences & Costs

Individual and group therapy are both crucial components of a sustainable recovery. Learn how The Recovery Village integrates both individual and group therapy into our treatment programs.

In comprehensive recovery programs, individual and group therapy are integral components of treatment. These two approaches are not at odds with each other. Instead, the skills and insights gained in individual sessions complement those of group therapy and vice versa. Effective treatment plans often utilize both therapeutic approaches along the entire course of recovery, fromresidential treatmenttoaftercare.

There are, however, significant differences in the content, style and delivery of individual therapy vs. group therapy. Understanding how each of these modalities works can help make the differences between individual therapy and group therapy feel more navigable.

Individual Therapy

You are probably aware that programs that help provide recovery from substance use disorders utilize therapy so that individuals can explore the psychological underpinnings of addiction. Studies show thatmore and more peopleare utilizing mental health care options, like psychotherapy, for self-improvement. But how does psychotherapy work on the roots of addiction and substance use?

Inindividual therapy, a client works with a mental health professional — a therapist, social worker, allied health professional, psychologist or psychiatrist — in private sessions to acquire self-knowledge, insight and a stronger sense of identity. Professionals are responsible for creating the frame of therapy: where and when therapy will be conducted, what the responsibilities of the client and professional are, which approach to therapy will be used and how progress will be measured.

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Since individual therapy allows clients to talk about uncomfortable emotions, thoughts or behaviors with their therapist, confidentiality is of critical importance. The therapist is ethically bound not to disclose any identifying information about a client or details of what is shared with them in therapy. The only exceptions to this mandate are situations where:

Sessions of individual therapy are held on a one-on-one basis, usually in a therapist’s office. However, individual therapy can also take place in a meeting room, classroom or outdoor environment if privacy can be reasonably assured. A typical individual psychotherapy session lasts from 50 minutes to an hour. Frequency of therapy depends on the client’s needs, but most programs require that the client attend at least one individual session each week.

Individual therapy sessions are structured according to both the needs of the client and the therapist’s areas of comfort and expertise. Some styles of therapy have the patient talk aboutwhatever comes to mind. These therapies are designed to help patients gain insight into how their past experiences influence their present behaviors. Other types of therapy examine howemotions and beliefsinfluence behavior or help patients becomeless judgmentalabout their own thoughts.

Individual therapy sessions can touch on many topics, but most therapists will focus on the subjects that are currently preoccupying the client, such as:

A therapy session will often end with the client and therapist working together to set goals for the days ahead. These goals might include staying sober for a certain number of days, attending a specific number of meetings or trying a new recovery activity. In some recovery programs, therapists use a therapeutic approach calledcontingency managementto motivate their clients. In exchange for achieving a certain number of sober days or reaching another personal goal, clients may receive tokens or other tangible rewards.

In modern therapeutic approaches, the therapist refrains from directives, judgment, criticism or condemnation of the client. Instead, the client and therapist team up to help the client take on the work of recovery. More recently developed therapies likemotivational interviewingand integrative therapy stand in stark contrast to classic therapies, as they use less confrontational approaches and give clients more agency.

A therapist’s credentials should meet the requirements for the state or national board that oversees health professionals. All therapists should hold some form of licensure or certification, in addition to specialty credentials in specific topics, like substance abuse treatment. In a program dedicated to treatingco-occurring disorders, or the existence of a mental health condition combined with substance use disorder, therapists must be cross-trained in mental health services and substance abuse treatment for therapy to be effective.

Pros and Cons of Individual Therapy

Thebenefitsof individual therapy can have an outsized effect on a client’s life; such benefits often last much longer than the therapy itself does. Among the many advantages of individual therapy are the ability to:

Individual therapy is generally more expensive than group therapy and can be more subject to the effects of personal bias. It also requires individual therapists to extrapolate: the therapists must use the feelings generated in their interactions with clients to gain insight into how one client’s beliefs impact that client’s relationship to others.

Group Therapy

Group therapygives people in recovery the opportunity to learn new coping techniques,practicetheir communication skills, and gain hope and strength from their peers. For many who have experienced the ravages of addiction, their primary interpersonal relations have been reduced to interactions with dealers and other people who use drugs. In group therapy, they can meet men and women like themselves who are facing the same struggles with substance use disorders.

Even though groups often form around a common circumstance, group therapy offers awealth of inputfrom diverse member experiences. The life experiences some members share can help others understand their own situations in a new way. Many profound connections are formed in group therapy, where individuals learn how to develop trusting, sober relationships with others.

In group therapy, multiple clients meet in a session led by a trainedmental health professional. Sessions can last one to two hours, depending on program structure. In some programs, clients observe speaking time limits to ensure full group participation. Other programs give the therapist latitude in determining fairness in the amount of speaking time per client. In aresidential treatment program, group sessions are typically held daily. Topics vary depending on the format of the meeting, but common subjects include:

It is the therapist’s ultimate responsibility to ensure that group therapy provides a safe, supportive environment where clients can discuss painful memories and emotions, celebrate their successes and share their setbacks in recovery. These sessions reinforce one of the most important messages of rehab: that no matter what the outcome of treatment may be, the client is not alone when experiencing difficulties with addiction.

The therapeutic techniques for interacting with an individual client are different from the methods for leading a group. For group therapy to be effective, the leader must have specialized training in conducting group therapy sessions and managing group dynamics. Group therapy should be led by a licensed or certified mental health professional trained in substance abuse treatment. The leader may be a counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse practitioner or other credentialed specialist who has been trained in both substance abuse treatment and group therapy techniques. The American Group Psychotherapy Association providestraining and guidelinesfor group therapists, as well as certification in group therapy techniques.

Group therapy is a different experience than self-help support groups or mutualsupport groups. In mutual support groups likeAlcoholics AnonymousorNarcotics Anonymous, meetings are led by members of the community rather than by trained professionals. In mutual support groups, such as12-step groups, members are invited to share their “experience, strength and hope” without the expectation that the content or technique must be scientifically validated. Though the structure of mutual support groups can sometimes be quite formal, group members in this setting typically have more autonomy in their choice of format and subject. By contrast, group therapy is led by a trained professional, follows professional guidelines and standards, and aims to maximize the benefit of the therapy for all clients.

Pros and Cons of Group Therapy

Group therapy derives its benefit from our natural need to relate to others. Group work allows the client todevelop new relational skills, build trust in others and earn trust from others. In group settings, clients can practice their communication skills, learning how to talk and listen effectively and how to set healthy boundaries with others.

A significant consideration in group therapy is that it is subject to group dynamics. These dynamics take time to establish and properly modulate to provide a safe and effective experience for all group members.

Overlapping Therapeutic Modalities

Many of the most effective forms of addiction treatment can be undergone as individual or group therapy. Some of the most common of these treatment modalities include:

Which Is Better For Me?

Fortunately, group and individual therapy are not mutually exclusive. They are both integral parts of almost all recovery programs. If you’re considering the benefits of group therapy vs. individual therapy, you will need to take into account factors specific to you, such as:

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Individual vs.Group Therapy

Researchers have compared the effectiveness of group therapy vs. individual therapy for decades. Studies tend to reach the same conclusion: there is no functional difference in overall outcomes in group therapy and individual therapy participation. That means that group therapy and individual therapy are equally effective.

However, group therapy is usually more cost-effective, since it typically is less expensive than individual therapy. Group therapy is also typically more effective than individual therapy for the treatment of conditions that are affected by social interaction, like interpersonal problems, obesity orsocial phobias; conversely, individual therapy is the preferred treatment for conditions where one-to-one trust relationships may be critical, such as in thetreatment of psychotic disordersor thetreatment of specific phobias.

Individual and Group Therapy in Combination

There is no treatment modality that can “cure” the disease of addiction. To achieve recovery on a mental, physical and spiritual level, a program must include a combination of therapies. In addition to individual and group therapy, advancedtreatment programsoffer medication therapy, nutritional therapy, exercise therapy and expressive therapies. Holistic stress reduction practices like yoga and meditation are also included in a comprehensive treatment plan.

A truly effective treatment plan merges the strengths of individual and group therapy to give the client the best chance at healing.Individual therapysets the stage for an in-depth exploration of the client’s experiences in treatment, whilegroup therapyoffers new opportunities for education, mutual support, and connection.

The treatment plans at The Recovery Village are tailored to the needs of our clients. We promote overall wellness through a powerful combination of individual therapy, group therapy, experiential therapies, nutritional counseling and more. To learn more about our advanced approach to recovery,contacta representative today.