If you suffer from problems with anxiety, then therapy can help. While some people use group therapy here, group sessions don't suit everyone. Some people respond better if they have individual one-to-one sessions with a therapist.
What are the advantages of individual anxiety therapy?
Reduce Your Initial Therapy Stress
If you have anxiety problems, then you will naturally find it hard to start therapy. You'll have to talk about things you find stressful and painful to someone you don't know.
If you work in a group setting, you'll have to get used to working with the group's therapist and all the other members of the group. Talking about your problems with multiple people in the room might make you feel too exposed, and you might feel even more anxious than usual.
This can be a bigger problem if you have social anxiety problems. Any help you do get from sessions might be offset by the anxiety you feel afterward from trying to relate to multiple people.
If you work with your own therapist, then you create a safe partnership. Once you get to know and trust your therapist, you will find it easier to discuss your problems and find solutions to them.
Focus on Your Anxieties
While group therapy can be very beneficial, it might not give you the best therapeutic start. While your group will work together, you might not feel that its work focuses on your anxieties enough to make a difference.
Your group might deal with problems that you don't relate to. You might feel that other people dominate discussions and talk about their problems. You might feel too anxious, shy, and unconfident to talk about yourself. This won't help your anxiety and might even make it worse.
If you work with a therapist in individual sessions, then you are the sole focus. Your therapist will work with you to understand and discuss your problems. You'll feel heard during every session and will make more progress.
Work at Your Own Pace
Group therapy sessions have a different dynamic to individual therapy. Work tends to follow the pace of the group and its development. This pace won't always suit your needs, especially if this is the first time you've had therapy.
For example, if you feel that the pace is too fast in your group, then you might feel left behind. Your perceived lack of progress will make you more anxious. If other people appear to be doing better than you, then you might feel like a failure.
If you work with your own therapist, then you set your own pace. You can work as slowly or quickly as you need.
To find out more, contact local therapists and ask about their anxiety therapy treatments.
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