If you’re weighing group therapy against individual therapy, you’re probably wondering which one actually fits your life right now. Both approaches offer proven paths to healing, yet they differ significantly in structure, privacy, and therapeutic benefits. Individual and group therapy are both proven to be effective for conditions like anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
At Laguna Shores Mental Health, we think knowing what sets these approaches apart helps you choose what’s actually going to work for you. Whether you want focused one-on-one time or the support that comes from connecting with others who get it, here’s what each option brings to the table. Learn more about our comprehensive therapy programs designed to support lasting wellness.
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy involves one-on-one sessions between you and a licensed mental health professional. You get your therapist’s full attention for 45 to 60 minutes, usually once a week.
Therapists use evidence-based approaches tailored to your specific needs:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how unconscious thoughts and past experiences influence current behaviors and relationships
Privacy means you can dig into what’s really going on without worrying about anyone else hearing it.
What Are the Benefits of Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy has some clear benefits, especially if you need care that’s tailored just to you. The privacy gives you room to talk about things you wouldn’t want to share with a group.
Key benefits include:
- Complete privacy: Full confidentiality between you and your therapist for discussing deeply personal matters
- Customized treatment: Sessions tailored entirely to your specific symptoms, triggers, and recovery goals
- Flexible pacing: Treatment moves at a speed matching your comfort level and readiness
- Stronger therapeutic bond: Working exclusively with one therapist builds trust for deeper emotional exploration
Some things are just too personal for a group setting. Individual therapy provides the privacy for processing trauma and abuse, suicidal thoughts requiring immediate intervention, and identity struggles involving self-worth or life direction.
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy typically includes 6 to 12 people meeting regularly with a licensed therapist. Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes and follow a structure that addresses concerns everyone in the group shares.
Different group formats serve specific treatment goals:
- Process groups: Focus on interpersonal relationships and communication patterns as they unfold in real-time
- Skills groups: Teach specific coping strategies like mindfulness, emotion regulation, or stress management
- Support groups: Provide peer encouragement for people facing similar challenges
The therapist leads discussions and activities, helping everyone learn from each other’s experiences. Group therapy can achieve symptom reduction equivalent to individual therapy for many common conditions, including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. Explore our group therapy offerings to learn more.
What are the Benefits of Group Therapy over Individual Therapy?
Group therapy offers something individual therapy can’t: peer support and the connection that comes from shared experiences. When people work through similar struggles together, they understand and validate each other in ways that feel different from one-on-one therapy.
Here’s what makes group therapy work:
- Universality: Realizing you’re not alone in your struggles reduces isolation and shame
- Hope: Witnessing others at different recovery stages demonstrates that progress is possible
- Altruism: Helping fellow group members builds self-esteem and sense of purpose
Cost is another big plus. Group therapy typically costs 50 to 75 percent less than individual sessions because one therapist works with multiple clients simultaneously. This makes treatment more affordable without sacrificing results.
Group sessions also provide real-time practice for communication and interpersonal skills. Members learn to express emotions, set boundaries, and navigate conflicts in a supportive environment. Therapists watch how people interact and offer guidance based on what’s actually happening in real time.
What are the Key Differences Between Group and Individual Therapy?
Here’s how they stack up against each other.
| Factor | Individual Therapy | Group Therapy
|
| Privacy | Complete confidentiality with one therapist | Shared disclosure within the group |
| Focus | Entire session centers on your experiences | Attention distributed among participants |
| Pace | Moves at your readiness level | Follows structured timelines |
| Cost | Higher per-session rates | 50-75% less expensive |
| Feedback | Professional insights only | Peer and therapist perspectives |
Both work equally well for anxiety and depression. For example, both formats have been shown to produce significant improvements in anxiety and depression scores, with no meaningful difference in outcomes.
When is Individual Therapy the Best Choice?
Individual therapy makes sense when you need privacy and your therapist’s full attention. People dealing with complex trauma often benefit from one-on-one sessions that allow therapists to use specialized techniques like EMDR or trauma-focused CBT in a controlled, private environment.
Individual therapy tends to work better for:
- PTSD and trauma: Requiring specialized, trauma-informed approaches with careful pacing
- Severe depression: Needing intensive focus and crisis intervention
- Complex anxiety disorders: Benefiting from personalized exposure therapy adjusted to individual triggers
- Crisis situations: Recent loss, suicidal thoughts, or acute episodes requiring immediate support
- Highly personal issues: Topics like abuse or identity struggles that feel too vulnerable for group settings
Early in recovery, individual therapy often makes more sense because building trust with a therapist takes time. During this period, you may not feel ready to share personal struggles in a group setting.
When is Group Therapy the Best Choice?
Group therapy works especially well in certain situations. Group settings actually help with social anxiety because you practice talking to people while your therapist watches and gives you feedback on what’s working.
Group therapy works particularly well for:
- Social anxiety: Gradual exposure to social interaction within a supportive setting builds confidence
- Depression: Combating isolation through peer connection addresses a core symptom
- Substance use recovery: Learning from others’ experiences while maintaining accountability
Depression usually comes with isolation and feeling disconnected from other people. Group therapy addresses these symptoms by creating peer connections and reducing loneliness. Seeing others deal with the same struggles makes your own feel less isolating and more manageable.
It also helps reinforce coping skills you’ve learned in individual sessions. Participants share techniques that work for them and receive encouragement when applying new skills. That peer support helps the skills stick and makes lasting change more likely.
What are the Disadvantages of Group Therapy?
Group therapy has real benefits, but it’s not perfect for everyone. Knowing the downsides helps you figure out what’s actually going to work for you.
Potential challenges include:
- Privacy concerns: Information shared with multiple people despite confidentiality agreements
- Divided attention: Less personalized focus compared to individual sessions
- Personality conflicts: Difficulty connecting with certain group members
- Scheduling complexity: Fixed meeting times that may not align with your availability
- Pace mismatch: Group timeline may not match your individual readiness
Some situations just aren’t right for group therapy. Severe crises, active suicidal ideation, or conditions requiring immediate intensive intervention often benefit from the focused attention that only individual therapy provides.
If you’re not comfortable sharing personal stuff in front of others, it’s hard to get much out of group therapy. Topics like trauma, abuse, or deeply personal fears may feel too vulnerable to discuss with peers, limiting treatment effectiveness.
How does Laguna Shores Utilize both Therapy Formats?
Using both individual and group therapy together often enhances treatment outcomes. Combining both formats can help people stay engaged and dig deeper into what comes up in groups during their private sessions.
At Laguna Shores Mental Health, treatment plans blend both approaches:
- Personalized care: Individual therapy addresses specific trauma and personal issues requiring privacy
- Community support: Group therapy provides peer connection and social skills practice
- Comprehensive approach: Both formats working together create holistic healing
The residential setting in Laguna Niguel, California provides structure for this integrated model. Daily programming includes scheduled individual sessions alongside group activities. Therapists coordinate care between formats, ensuring insights from one setting inform work in the other.
Treatment teams check in regularly to see how your individual and group work are connecting. This flexibility means your care adapts as you progress instead of following some rigid plan.
How Do You Choose the Right Therapy Format?
Choosing between group and individual therapy comes down to what feels right for you and what you’re dealing with. How comfortable you are sharing personal stuff matters a lot. Some people like talking with peers; others want privacy.
Consider these decision factors:
- Personality type: Introverted individuals may prefer one-on-one sessions; extroverted individuals often benefit from group interaction
- Condition severity: Crisis situations typically require individual attention; stable maintenance therapy can incorporate group formats
- Treatment goals: Skill-building benefits from group practice; deep personal exploration happens more readily in private sessions
Your therapist will help you figure this out during your first meeting. Both work equally well for most conditions, so the decision comes down to what feels right for you and your personal goals, not which one is objectively better.
FAQs about Group Therapy vs Individual Therapy
Group therapy typically costs 50-75% less than individual sessions, with most insurance plans covering both formats equally.
Yes, combining both formats often produces better outcomes, using individual sessions for personal issues and group sessions for peer support and social skills practice.
Individual therapy sessions run 45-60 minutes, while group therapy sessions last 60-90 minutes to accommodate multiple participants.
Most insurance plans cover both formats, though coverage levels and copayments vary depending on your specific plan and provider network.
Group participation can be gradual, starting with listening and sharing only what feels comfortable, with no pressure to disclose sensitive information immediately.
Therapists assess your specific symptoms, comfort level, treatment goals, and personal preferences during an initial evaluation to recommend the most appropriate format.
Find the Right Therapy Format for Your Recovery
The choice between group and individual therapy is personal, as it depends on what you’re comfortable with and what you’re trying to work through. Research shows both work equally well for anxiety, depression, and substance use issues. A lot of people do best with both, getting personalized attention one-on-one while building connections and practicing skills in groups.
The compassionate team at Laguna Shores Mental Health in Laguna Niguel, California can help you explore both options within our comprehensive residetial treatment programs. Our team creates a treatment plan that fits what you’re dealing with, whether that’s depression, anxiety, trauma, or a combination. By combining one-on-one therapy with group support, we help you build insight, resilience, and real connections as you work toward recovery.
Contact Laguna Shores today to speak with an admissions specialist about finding the right therapy format for your mental health journey.
