Individual therapy is one-on-one treatment with a licensed therapist, where you work through thoughts, feelings and behaviors in private. At Lotus Recovery Treatment Center, individual therapy is part of your treatment plan for addiction or mental health, using approaches such as CBT, DBT or EMDR.
What Is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy provides a safe place where individuals are able to discuss their issues with a professional therapist. It’s different from group therapy in that you aren’t with a group of people. This time is for you to explore your emotional and psychological troubles and how they may have contributed to your substance use. By understanding these issues and resolving them, you allow yourself to be sober and healthy again.
Lotus Recovery Treatment Center offers individual therapy for those receiving treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. We see clients make real progress when they give themselves time to become accustomed to the process. Opening up can be hard at first, but we make this easier by matching clients to the right therapists and giving them the space and patience they need. Eventually, our clients emerge stronger and more resilient.
What Happens in Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is one-on-one treatment between you and a licensed therapist. Your therapist asks questions, helps you explore what is going on and works with you on healthier ways to handle it. There is no judgment about your past; the focus is on what you can change now.
Expect a good listener who guides you toward better ways of coping and helps you find your own strengths. Individual therapy can help you:
- Feel better about yourself
- Break old cycles and stop repeating the same mistakes
- Feel less depressed and anxious
- Handle stress in healthier ways
- Find more meaning and purpose in daily life
Benefits of Individual Therapy in Thousand Oaks
There are different types of individual therapy, and our treatment team will work hard to find the right balance for you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two common approaches that can help identify unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. DBT takes things a step further by addressing the emotions that some people feel very intensely.
The benefits to participating in individual therapy include:
Confidentiality. If there are certain topics that you don’t want to discuss with others, you can save them for individual therapy. This is a private, confidential space that takes place between you and your therapist.
One-on-one. Although group therapy is helpful, it can be easier to talk about certain topics alone with a therapist, such as past trauma and abuse.
You can develop a plan specifically for you.
Individual speed. People heal at all different rates. With individual therapy, you can go at your own pace and work on certain issues longer.
Individual Therapy for Mental Health
One-on-one sessions also help with depression, anxiety or trauma. Your therapist may use CBT, DBT or EMDR, matched to what you are working through. Sessions can also cover grief, relationship stress, low self-esteem or major life changes, and they continue as you step down to fewer hours of care.
For depression therapy, your therapist often uses CBT to change the thought patterns that keep low mood going, alongside practical steps to rebuild sleep, routine and connection.
Starting Individual Therapy
Substance use and mental health struggles can change how you see yourself. Individual therapy gives you a private space to work through that with someone trained to help, at a pace that fits you. At Lotus Recovery, individual sessions work alongside group therapy and psychiatric care when you need it.
Call (805) 856-6690 to start individual therapy. Admissions is open 24/7, and most insurance is accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is individual therapy?
It is one-on-one time with a licensed therapist to work through thoughts, feelings or behaviors in private.
How often is individual therapy?
It depends on your program. Your therapist sets a schedule with you at the start.
What is the difference between individual and group therapy?
Individual therapy is one-on-one with your therapist, so you can talk about private topics and go at your own pace. Group therapy brings several people together to share experience and practice skills. Most plans include both.
What happens in the first individual therapy session?
Your therapist asks about what brought you in, your history and your goals. Together you agree on what to work on first and how often to meet.