September 2024: When to Choose Group Therapy Over Individual
Hey, Practice Families!👋
Deciding between group therapy and individual therapy can be tricky, especially when considering what's best for your child or yourself as a parent. It’s common to feel uncertain about which option is most beneficial and when each might be appropriate.🤔
Today, we’ll highlight the unique benefits of group therapy—whether it’s for your child who’s building emotion regulation and social skills or for you as a parent seeking support in your role.
Group therapy, led by skilled clinicians, provides a supportive and cost-effective environment where you can benefit from both clinical support and learning from others facing similar challenges, making it a valuable tool in your mental health journey.
Let’s explore when group therapy might be the right choice for you or your child.
Your child is new to therapy!
Group therapy offers a lower-key or less overwhelming introduction to therapy that is very normalizing– you/your child have the opportunity to be in community with (and learn from!) others experiencing similar challenges and struggles.
Make a connection with a group facilitator. Moving on to individual therapy with a group facilitator or treatment team who already knows you/your child means that you are starting off individual therapy with a foundation of familiarity about how you/your child/your family work– and an already solid set of skills as a starting point!
Rapid and cost-efficient way to help your child right now!
Group therapy can be a lower-cost substitute for therapy for students and parents.
Gain social confidence!
Learn and practice social skills IRL (In Real Life)! Group therapy can be a way for students to gain practice interacting with others and managing their impulses in a supervised and supportive setting.
Easy way to reduce resistance to therapy!
Group therapy offers the opportunity for your child to learn from others “just like you” with common experiences (vs. just learning from therapists/adults). It is one thing to have a professional tell you about a skill, it’s another thing to hear from someone like you that this skill actually has worked for them.
We understand that choosing between group therapy and individual therapy can feel like a big decision, but you don’t have to pick just one unless it suits your needs! Many families find that either service alone or a combination of both provides a flexible, well-rounded approach that meets their unique needs.
If you have any questions about which therapy option is right for you, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation call with our intake coordinator or email us at hello@practicesanfrancisco.com. We’re here to support you in finding the best path for your family.
Warmly,
The Practice San Francisco Team
P.S.-- we have a handful of openings for individual therapy for kids, teens, and adults remaining in both our San Francisco and Mill Valley locations, but this is our busiest time of year, and our open slots are going quickly. If you or your child/teen are looking for individual support, please reach out and connect with our intake coordinator today.
