The Pros and Cons Of Individual and Group Therapies In Substance Rehab

Every year, millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse of some kind.

It can be hard to deal with these issues alone, so many people work with Behavioral Health Centers and other treatment or rehab centers to get the assistance they need.

While there are many things that people will do in rehab to help improve their situation, therapy can help more than many other methods to get people back on track and help them beat their addiction.

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But when it comes to therapy for substance abuse, there are two main options that people have, individual therapy and group therapy.

This article is going to go over some of the pros and cons of each type, to help make a decision easier if you need to seek out therapy at one time or another.

Pros of Individual Therapies

Individual therapy is great because it is completely confidential. No one else has to know about your struggles and what you are going through, except your therapist.

This can often make people more comfortable and ensures that they can be as honest as possible.

Individual therapy also gives those struggling some one-on-one attention and assistance, which can be incredibly helpful.

The entire session can also be personalized and customized for the exact issue that people may be facing.

Cons of Individual Therapies

One of the major drawbacks of individual therapy is that it can be much more expensive.

Because the session is dedicated solely to you, there is often a higher cost as there aren’t other people there to lessen the financial burden for you.

The lack of peer interaction with others can be an issue, as it can often make you feel alone, and like no one else can understand what you are going through.

In a similar vein, having others going through similar issues to help hold you accountable can be a major asset during your recovery, and individual therapy doesn’t allow this.

Pros of Group Therapies

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Group therapy is beneficial because it gives you a chance to give and receive support from others in a similar position to yourself.

You can form important bonds, hold others accountable, and generally help others not feel like they are alone in their struggles.

Some people are also more comfortable opening up to others when they hear their experiences and stories first, as well.

This type of therapy can help people communicate, can provide a safety net, and allows you to see different points of view.

If you are on a budget, this can often be a good option as it will be cheaper than individual therapy, as well.

Cons of Group Therapies

But on the other hand, there are also some potential drawbacks when attending group therapies.

One is that you almost certainly won’t get as much attention and one-on-one assistance as you would otherwise, which can be difficult for those who want it.

Also, in group therapy, all of your issues and problems will be brought up in front of others. While this can be therapeutic and helpful, it can certainly make some people uncomfortable, too.

The sessions won’t be as flexible as some might like, and when in a group setting, there is always the chance that some people aren’t actually making the right changes, and are simply avoiding accountability.

This isn’t possible in individual therapy, but can certainly be done when a group is involved.

We hope that this article has been able to highlight both the pros and cons of individual and group therapies in substance rehab.

All types of substance abuse therapy can be helpful, but it couldn’t hurt to choose the type you are more comfortable with.