| Feature | Individual Therapy | Family Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | One person's thoughts, feelings, behaviors | Family system, relationships, communication patterns |
| Participants | Just you and therapist | Multiple family members |
| Privacy | Complete confidentiality | Shared with family members |
| Best For | Personal issues, individual symptoms | Family conflicts, communication issues, child/adolescent problems |
| Approach | Focuses on individual change | Views problems in context of family system |
| Change Focus | Individual change | Systemic change, family dynamics |
| Duration | Variable | Typically shorter-term (8-20 sessions) |
| Structure | One-on-one sessions | Multiple people, may include different combinations |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Individual Therapy If:
- You have personal issues you want to work on privately
- You prefer one-on-one attention
- You want complete confidentiality
- Your issues are primarily individual (anxiety, depression, trauma)
- You're not ready or able to involve family
Choose Family Therapy If:
- Family conflicts or communication problems
- Child or adolescent behavioral/emotional issues
- Family transitions (divorce, remarriage, loss)
- Substance use affecting the family
- Everyone is willing to participate
Consider Both:
Many families benefit from combining individual and family therapy. A child might have individual therapy for personal issues while the family does family therapy to improve relationships and communication.