Over the years, there has been an increase in mental health awareness, apparent in studies from the National Alliance on Mental Illness showing that 21% of the U.S. population suffers from some form of mental illness. In turn, this has caused more people to seek professional help through therapy, in efforts to combat these mental situations.

Though specialized forms of therapy exist, therapy can be generally narrowed down into two categories: group vs. individual psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is an umbrella term regarding treating mental health problems via a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental provider.

Group psychotherapy involves a single counselor helping multiple people, as opposed to the standard therapy of one-on-one. It is quite a new concept that first started around 1905 with Dr. Joseph Hersey Pratt working with a group of tuberculosis patients. He continued his research up until 1923, observing that the patients were able to help mentally support one another with clear emotional benefits. 

One of the greatest advantages of group therapy is the cost as group therapy is often much more affordable than individual therapy. According to the Hartgrove Behavioral System, group psychotherapy can range from half to even a third of the price of standard individual psychotherapy.

However, when seeking professional help regarding mental health, the main concern should be the efficacy of the therapy, not just the cost. Efficacy can be observed by comparing the effectiveness of the treatment and improvement between a group who received individual versus group therapy.

A randomized controlled trial performed in 2008 aimed to test the efficacy of group versus individual therapy on childhood anxieties such as separation anxiety disorder and social phobia. The study concluded that there were no significant differences in efficacy between the two different treatments.

Another study in which 41 university students with moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression were randomly assigned to six weeks of group or individual therapy yielded similar results. While both therapies ended with significant reductions in symptoms and anxiety and depression scores, there was no significant difference between the two.

Finally, it should be noted that group therapy may not be for everyone. The American Addiction Centers states that group therapy may be inappropriate for those who are extremely antisocial, impulsive or passive-aggressive. Additionally, group therapy may be harder for those who have less flexible schedules, as group therapies have to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

As of current studies, there is not much conclusive research to prove that group therapy is superior over individual therapy, or vice versa. However, group therapy should not be looked at as a step down from individual therapy, but instead, as a cost-effective alternative that may help those wanting to emotionally connect with others dealing with similar issues.