Individual Counselling vs Group Counselling

Counselling can be broadly classified into two:

1. Individual Counselling
2. Group Counselling

The difference between these can be enlisted as follows;

Individual Counselling

1. It always involves the meeting of one counselor and one client
2. It is a one to one, face to face relationship marked by intimacy,, warmth and rapport between the counselor and the counselee.
3. The counselee always receives help
4. Counselor’s task is comparatively less complex as he has to meet only one person's demands.
5. The counselor and client focus on a single problem most of the time.
6. Its scope is narrow and often limited to problem at hand. It does not offer the opportunity to explore a broad range of personal concerns.
7. The client will be comparatively, more anxious and less safe in individual counselling.
8. Founding of rapport is very decisive in the success of individual counselling

Group counselling

1. It involves the meeting of one or more counselors with more than one client at a time.
2. In group counselling there is the physical proximity of other members with perhaps similar problems.
3. The counselees not only receive help but also give help to other.
4. Counselor’s task is comparatively more complex as he has to meet the demands of all group members.
5. The counselor(s) and clients(s) have to focus on multiple problems of similar nature.
6. Its scope is broad and it offers the opportunity to explore a broad range of personal concerns.
7. The client will be comparatively less anxious and more secured in group counselling.
8. Founding of group cohesion is decisive in the success of group counselling.