There are many people who struggle with mental health conditions, which makes finding effective treatment important. There are a variety of therapeutic approaches that can be used in mental health care, but one of the most widely used is individual therapy.
Individual therapy for mental health concerns gives you a safe, private place to talk about your struggles, learn new coping skills, and work on your problems with a trained professional. Counsellors and therapists are there to help you deal with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and other challenges that can affect your life.
What Is Individual Therapy for Mental Health?
Individual therapy is a one-on-one process between you and a trained mental health professional. This approach is aimed at helping you explore thoughts, feelings, or behaviours and learn effective coping strategies.
Core Principles of Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is centred on a private, safe environment where you can discuss your concerns. Each session is tailored to your needs, allowing for a personalised approach that addresses your unique situation.
A key principle is confidentiality. You can feel safe knowing what you share is kept private. Sessions are built around trust, openness, and respect between you and your therapist. The focus is on both understanding your struggles and working together towards healthy changes in your thoughts and actions.
During therapy, you’ll explore emotions, habits, stress, and relationships. You and your therapist set clear goals, measure progress, and adjust methods as needed. This personal focus means therapy is flexible and can adapt as your needs change over time.
Differences Between Individual and Group Therapy
In individual therapy, you meet privately with your therapist. This allows for personal attention and flexible scheduling. All sessions are tailored to your situation and concerns.
Group therapy involves several people working with one or more therapists. You benefit from shared experiences and peer support, but get less one-on-one attention. Group settings may be less private, but can help you realise you’re not alone in your struggles.
Benefits of Psychotherapy in Mental Health Treatment
Individual therapy gives you a safe space to focus on your mental health. You can explore personal challenges, past experiences, and new coping skills with a trained professional.
Personalised Treatment Approaches
Individual therapy for mental health lets you work one-on-one with a therapist who tailors each session to your unique goals. Unlike group sessions or general advice, your plan matches your own needs, mental health issues, and life situation. For example, your therapist might use cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety or help you manage work stress with problem-solving techniques.
You get tools, homework, and feedback that match your strengths and challenges. This approach helps you progress at your own pace and target the areas that matter most to you. Personalised strategies can make it easier to track your growth and celebrate small wins. You are always in the centre of the therapy process, choosing which issues to discuss and how to move forward.
Building a Therapeutic Relationship
A strong relationship with your therapist is a key part of effective therapy. You meet with the same person every session, so trust can grow over time. When you feel safe and understood, you’re more likely to talk openly about your thoughts, feelings, and struggles.
Therapists listen without judgement and help you reflect on your experiences. This support can make it much easier to deal with difficult emotions or challenges. You also get regular, honest feedback that helps you see things from different points of view.
A good therapeutic relationship empowers you to make changes and work through hard times at your own pace. Research shows this bond is one of the most important factors for therapy success.
Confidentiality and Privacy
Everything you share in individual therapy for mental health stays private, with strict rules to protect you. Sessions happen in a secure setting, so you can talk about personal topics without fear of judgement or gossip.
Therapists follow professional guidelines on confidentiality, which means they cannot share what you say unless there are safety concerns. This promise of privacy gives you the freedom to discuss sensitive issues, such as family struggles, trauma, or mental health symptoms, without worrying about who else might find out.
Common Techniques and Modalities
Different therapy types use distinct tools and approaches to help with mental health challenges. Each method is backed by research and is used for specific concerns or personal goals.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This approach helps you identify negative thinking patterns that often make mental health problems worse.
Through structured sessions, you learn to question and reframe unhelpful thoughts. CBT often involves homework, such as tracking your thoughts or practising new skills outside of therapy. This type of therapy is especially useful for anxiety, depression, and phobias.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a structured, evidence-based form of care designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce harmful behaviours. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder (BPD), it’s now used for a range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use.
DBT combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies, teaching skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness to support long-term recovery and stability.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a structured type of psychotherapy used to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. It helps individuals process distressing memories by combining guided eye movements with focused recall of traumatic events.
The process of EMDR reduces the emotional intensity tied to the memory, which allows for healthier coping. EMDR can also be used for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, especially if these conditions are rooted in trauma. It has also been shown to produce faster symptom reduction for some individuals, particularly in trauma-related cases as compared to traditional talk therapy.
Finding the Right Therapist
Choosing someone to support your mental health is important. The right therapist will have the proper skills and also be someone you feel safe and comfortable talking to.
How to Choose a Qualified Therapist
Start by looking for therapists with formal qualifications. Psychologists, counsellors, and social workers often provide individual therapy. You should check that your therapist is registered with a recognised body.
Each mental health professional may have different areas of expertise, like trauma, anxiety, or depression. Consider what you want to work on in therapy and look for someone with experience in that area. Some people use online directories.
Understanding the Therapeutic Process
Therapy usually starts with an initial assessment, where you talk about your main concerns and goals. From there, your therapist works with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Some people meet weekly, others less often.
You will often talk about feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. The process might involve learning new skills to handle stress or to change habits that cause problems. Feeling safe and understood in therapy sessions is essential. If you do not connect with your therapist or you do not feel supported, it is okay to look for someone else.
Your Mental Health Can be Treated
When you’re not mentally healthy, your quality of life can suffer as a result. But at the Orchid, we offer individual therapy for mental health that can help you get well. Additionally, we also offer other psychology services to help you recover from other concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common techniques used in individual therapy?
You might work with your therapist using approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and talk therapy. Some therapists also use solution-focused or acceptance and commitment therapy methods. Your sessions may involve self-reflection, skill-building, and learning new coping techniques for stress and tough emotions.
What objectives does individual counselling aim to achieve?
The main goals are to help you better understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Therapy aims to improve your ability to handle stress, manage your emotions, and make decisions you feel good about. Personal counselling also focuses on building strong relationships, boosting self-esteem, and supporting your mental health over time.
How does one stand to benefit from participating in personal therapy?
You can gain practical skills to cope with anxiety, depression, and life changes. Many people experience increased self-awareness and learn new ways to solve problems. A therapist can provide a safe space for you to talk honestly and feel supported while working through personal challenges.
What might one expect to pay for individual counselling services?
The price for therapy varies based on your location and the therapist’s experience. In Australia, sessions usually cost between $80 and $250 per hour. Some therapists offer sliding scale fees, and you may be eligible for rebates from Medicare or private health insurance.
Can you describe typical scenarios where individual therapy is applied?
People seek therapy for a range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, grief, relationship conflict, and adjusting to major life changes. Therapy is also used for ongoing issues like coping with trauma or managing a long-term medical condition.
How can individual therapy contribute to a counsellor's professional development?
Counsellors use personal therapy to understand their own biases and emotional responses. Regular sessions help you maintain healthy boundaries with clients and prevent burnout. As a practising therapist, your therapy can support your emotional growth and make you better equipped to help others.
