Watching your teen struggle with their mental and emotional health can feel overwhelming as a parent. If you’ve started to research different types of support, you’ll likely come across two of the most common treatment approaches for teens: group therapy and individual therapy.

Group therapy is led by a licensed clinical therapist who facilitates the group and provides a collaborative, safe space for teens to open up to their peers. Individual therapy, on the other hand, offers one-on-one time between a teen and a therapist to allow for a deeper focus on their personal experiences and challenges.

Both can be helpful, but they serve different purposes. Understanding how each works can help you feel more confident as you explore the right type of support for your teen.

This post will go over the basics about each option before showcasing the differences. Then we’ll discuss how to know which is the right fit for your teen as well as how Lightfully combines them.

What to know about group and individual therapy

Let’s start by going over what to expect from each therapeutic approach.

Group therapy takes place in a structured therapeutic setting where teens meet together with a licensed clinical therapist. In group sessions, teens might:

• Share experiences related to stress, anxiety, depression or relationships
• Learn new coping skills through guided exercises
• Practice communication and conflict resolution
• Offer and receive encouragement from peers
• Participate in skill-building activities based on evidence-based treatment approaches

Individual therapy gives your teen a therapist’s undivided attention during sessions that are shaped around their specific needs and challenges. A therapist may help them:

• Explore difficult thoughts or emotions
• Understand patterns in behavior or relationships
• Build coping tools for anxiety, depression or stress
• Work through specific life challenges
• Develop personalized strategies for emotional regulation

Comparing group and individual therapy for teens

Therapy, in any form, can help your teen become a better version of their current selves while also figuring out who they want to be as an adult. But here are the key differences to keep in mind when considering group versus individual therapy:

• Social connection vs. personal focus

Group therapy emphasizes peer interaction and shared learning. Teens gain insight from others’ experiences and build social skills while broadening their support system.

Individual therapy focuses on the teen’s unique thoughts, emotions and life circumstances.

• Learning from peers vs. private exploration

In group therapy, teens learn by listening, sharing and supporting each other.

In individual therapy, teens can explore personal experiences more deeply and privately with their therapist.

• Skill-building vs. deeper processing

Group therapy often emphasizes skill development and practicing coping strategies that can help teens recognize their own strengths and capabilities to take control of their well-being.

Individual therapy allows for deeper exploration of underlying emotional patterns or life events to help your teen gain a better understanding of their thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

• Community support vs. individualized attention

Group therapy for teens can create a powerful sense of belonging. For many teens, realizing they’re not the only one struggling can be one of the most powerful parts of group therapy.

Individual therapy offers focused guidance tailored to the teen’s specific mental health needs for the impactful treatment that will lead to long-term positive results.

Despite similar dynamics, group therapy isn’t the same as support groups. While they can make your teen feel less alone in their experiences, support groups are often led by peers as opposed to a licensed mental health professional. 

How to know which option may help your teen

If you’re not sure whether group or individual therapy will be the most beneficial for your teen, here are a few factors to consider:

• Your teen’s comfort level sharing with peers
• The type and severity of mental health symptoms
• Your teen’s communication style
• The level of care recommended by a licensed clinician

Encourage open and honest communication with your teen about what they hope to gain from therapy as you collaborate with their providers to make a decision.

Lightfully’s levels of care combine individual and group therapy

In many treatment environments, group and individual therapy for teens work best together rather than separately because they complement each other. At Lightfully, we want to make sure that your entire well-being is treated from every angle. That’s why our Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program incorporate both group and individual therapy.

 At Lightfully Behavioral Health, treatment plans are designed using Precision Care Model. This personalized framework uses evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These therapies are used in both our group and individual therapy settings. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to help your teen take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.