Individual Psychotherapy is one of the most popular forms of treatment that goes by several names including Individual Therapy, Talk Therapy, or just Psychotherapy.
According to the American Psychologic Association, approx. 75% of people see some benefits as a result of participating in individual psychotherapy.
Which makes sense, when you think about it, as you’re working through a problem or an issue that’s bothering you. Individual Psychotherapy makes it more effective by providing a structured approach, that is well-planned, and in a safe space.
And thanks to that, you’re definitely going to see improvements that are the most effective, and you’ll see them quicker too, as opposed to random unstructured attempts.
Ahead, we’ll be exploring the Top 5 benefits of individual psychotherapy as a part of mental health treatment.
If you’re interested, keep on reading ahead; you can also talk to Forrest Behavioral Health’s medical professional by clicking here to discuss how Individual Psychotherapy can benefit you specifically.
What Is Individual Psychotherapy?
Individual Psychotherapy is a treatment technique; used by a trained professional; to help a single individual identify troubling emotions, thoughts, or behaviors; and work through them in a therapeutic process.
You might have heard the expression that sharing burdens makes them lighter. Individual psychotherapy works just like that. Only now, you are in the presence of a professionally trained psychologist – who can give you much better advice, and help you work through the process in a structured environment.
So, instead of becoming a part of the meme that says “I learn through the experiences of others who took my advice”, you can improve effectively, quickly, and in the comfort of your privacy.
During these sessions, you will talk with your therapist; they will listen, ask you questions, and offer suggestions to help address your issues.
When Is Individual Psychotherapy Used?
Individual Psychotherapy can be employed in a variety of scenarios ranging from helping you tackle daily life challenges to dealing with a chronic illness. Here are a few situations that Individual Psychotherapy can significantly help you with:
- Cope with difficult life events; for example, facing the death of a loved one, navigating a divorce or a breakup, or experiencing a job loss.
- Diagnose and recuperate from a chronic illness, mental health challenges, addiction, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorder.
- Navigate daily life challenges such as experiences at a job or managing a relationship.
- Heal from all kinds of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, paranoia, behavioral disorders, etc.
- Self-discovery so you can develop strong resilience, coping mechanisms, and dedicate yourself to continuous improvement throughout life.
Top 5 Benefits Of Individual Psychotherapy
1. One-On-One Attention
In our opinion, this is the biggest benefit of Individual Psychotherapy as it develops an individualized approach to treatment. You have your therapist’s undivided attention, so your specific concerns can be discussed in a private and confidential setting.
The goal is to find the root cause of your apprehension, so a one-on-one setting is the best way to achieve that.
2. Confidentiality
The other big benefit of Individual Psychotherapy is the confidentiality – these sessions are highly private, and the information shared remains only between you and your therapist.
There’s an unjustified stigma around therapies due to which only 16.5% of individuals facing depression seek any form of help.
With these private sessions, you can have peace of mind that the information shared remains confidential and between you and your therapist. Therefore, it works best for individuals who are shy or feel any kind of embarrassment in sharing their issues.
3. Customized Specific To The Individual
Since this treatment is a one-on-one session with you and your therapist, we can take a completely customized treatment approach.
For instance, for individuals who need more time to adjust—a slower-paced therapy works best for them. On the other hand, if they can handle intense interventions or more focused therapies, a quicker pace is more suitable.
So, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, you can get the most effective form of treatment that’s tailor-made for you.
4. New, Unbiased, And A Professional Perspective
It’s logical that you wouldn’t want to share your challenges with everyone, because not everyone keeps your benefit in mind. We would say that the same often goes for even your well-meaning friends or family members.
We say this because they tend to give advice based on their own experiences. Which is appreciated but it does introduce a bias that may not be fruitful for you.
Therapists, on the other hand, can give you an unbiased opinion; that is often backed by science and evidence-based. Meaning, you get informed advice from a trained professional that can work best in your favor.
5. Becoming Self-Aware
Your development of self-awareness comes from having these one-on-one sessions in Individual Psychotherapy. You understand your concerns by discussing them with your therapist and getting their feedback.
Additionally, you start understanding your body language – the information you’re giving out. This also works in your favor as you’d also be able to understand the other person by interpreting their body language.
For instance, crossed arms are sometimes perceived as uninviting and are a sign of closed body language. It shows that you have your guard up, which might not work in your favor if you’re at an event trying to socialize.
So, try to have your arms relaxed and to the side if you’re trying to be open and inviting. You can learn this, and more information about yourself, as a part of individual psychotherapy.
6. (BONUS) Flexible Scheduling And Quick Appointments
Since you are the MVP of these private sessions, it’s a no-brainer that they’d be arranged around your schedule. Unlike group therapy, there isn’t a meticulous need for planning and scheduling with multiple individuals. You don’t have to work around other’s schedules, and the sessions can be arranged as and when convenient for you.
Are There Any Shortcomings Of Individual Psychotherapy?
Yes, there are a few scenarios where Individual Psychotherapy isn’t the most effective form of treatment.
These are private sessions; meaning, that you don’t have any peer interactions. So, this doesn’t allow you to share or learn from the experiences of other individuals who face similar challenges.
Additionally, it needs a lot more motivation as compared to group therapy sessions. Because, humans are social creatures, and our socializing experiences serve as motivational as well as therapeutic.
Lastly, since the costs aren’t split between multiple individuals – as the sessions are exclusively between you and your therapist – Individual Psychotherapy can be more expensive than Group Therapy.
Final Thoughts
As more and more people are educated about the benefits of therapy, more people pursue it every year. As a result, the number of people receive Individual Psychotherapy is increasing each year – about 60 million Americans receive therapy each year.
If you’re also interested, or would like to know more such as when, where, how, or would also like to discuss insurance and pricing, Forrest Behavioral Health is here to help you out. Call 781-570-5781 or visit Forrest Behavioral Health to get started.
