Individual vs Group Counselling in Singapore

Individual vs Group Counselling in Singapore: What's Right for You?

Last Updated on October 3, 2025 by Prath

Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW

So, you’ve decided to start counselling in Singapore. What now?

From the type of therapy to the modality of sessions, there’s often a lot to consider when it comes to caring for your mental wellness. Some people prefer talking to a therapist online, while others feel more comfortable with in-person sessions.

Beyond that, you may also wonder whether to speak with a therapist one-on-one or explore the support that comes from a group setting.

In this article, we’re looking specifically at the type of mental health service you may most benefit from. The two most common formats are individual counselling and group therapy. The best part about both types is that they’re equally effective and can lead to positive outcomes.

Understanding Your Counselling Options

The two types of counselling in Singapore that most people opt for include:

Individual counselling

Group counselling

While both these types can help you manage most mental health challenges, the format and the dynamics may differ.

Understanding the basics about the two types of services can help you make an informed decision about what suits you best.

Let’s look at what each format entails.

1) Individual Counselling 101

Individual counselling is a private one-on-one exchange between you and a trained counsellor in Singapore. With this option, you may meet the professional either online or in-person and focus entirely on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

Each session at Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO) lasts approximately 60 minutes and can be booked on a weekly, monthly, or package basis. Package sessions may also include discounts.

TYHO counsellors are trained in a diverse range of therapeutic approaches. Based on your presenting problems and requirements, the counsellor may work with you to:

Address negative childhood experiences

Build your emotional regulation skills

Equip you with scientific therapeutic tools

Improve your overall life and well-being

For example, imagine you’re struggling with imposter syndrome at work (ie having self-doubts on your skills/intelligence). This is starting to affect your sleep, self-esteem, and confidence.

In individual counselling in Singapore, your Therapist will help you identify the root causes of your beliefs, challenge your negative thoughts, and provide practical tools to help you cope better in high-pressure situations.

2) Group Counselling 101

Group therapy may involve one or two counsellors facilitating a session with a small group of people (usually around 6 to 10).

People involved in the session may be dealing with similar issues such as grief or addiction. In fact, the group therapy session may have a specific theme each time.

While it may seem intimidating to share your personal thoughts in a group setting, it can actually be an enriching experience. The core of group therapy lies in the shared human experience.

The two types of group therapy formats are:

Psychoeducational groups (with a focus on building mental health awareness)

Process-oriented groups (open-ended discussions)

For instance, in a group centred on stress management, you might learn mindfulness techniques while hearing how others manage similar challenges.

5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing

1) Nature of the Issue

On the one hand, some issues are better managed through individual counselling in Singapore, in comparison to a group setting.

For example, if you’re dealing with unresolved trauma and are seeking help for the first time, you may not immediately feel comfortable opening up with a group. In such cases, individual counselling might be a good starting point.

On the other hand, group therapy can be a great space for issues that can be better managed through shared understanding.

For example, if you have social anxiety or low self-esteem, hearing other people share their experiences in a group is healing in itself.

Tip: Try writing down the main presenting issues you’re currently struggling with. Does it feel deeply private, or does it have a social component? Think about these prompts to identify which type of service can be helpful:

Am I dealing with something I’ve never spoken about before, even with close friends or family?

Do I often feel misunderstood or judged when I talk about this issue?

Would it help me to hear how others are managing similar challenges, or would that feel overwhelming right now?

Does this issue involve my interactions with others, like conflict, rejection, or people-pleasing patterns?

If I picture myself talking about this in a group, does it make me feel curious, anxious, relieved, or all three?

Use these reflections to identify which service may suit you better.

2) Comfort with Sharing in a Group

The process of counselling may require you to be honest and vulnerable with yourself and with the professional.

However, the question is, how vulnerable can you be in front of others?

Some people may prefer talking in the presence of strangers, while others start with individual sessions where they can build trust with a single person.

For example, if you’re someone who tends to shut down or freeze in group conversations, you may benefit more from individual counselling in Singapore.

But for those who are extroverted and thrive among other people, group therapy can be a starting point!

You can also begin by testing the waters. Book individual counselling in Singapore and attend a couple of sessions. If you’re confused, talking to a professional counsellor may give you some clarity on your needs.

3) Need for Peer Support or Shared Experiences

The most important benefit of group therapy is knowing you’re not alone in this journey. Group sessions specifically provide space for:

Empathy

Perspective

Relatable examples

Community-driven healing

For example, let’s say Ana is dealing with parental stress. Her children won’t listen to her, and she feels like a ‘bad mom’. In this case, hearing how other parents manage their guilt or pressure to be perfect can be emotionally reassuring and provide hope to carry on.

If you’re thinking along the lines of community support and feel isolated from your support system, group therapy may be the right choice for you.

However, if you have good peer support but are struggling with personal issues from your childhood, relationships, or workplace, individual counselling can be helpful.

4) Budget and Accessibility

Counselling in Singapore starts from SGD 120 at TYHO. You can buy sessions in bulk for a discount. For instance, we offer a 6% discount for packages costing between S$360 and S$959, and an 8% discount for packages costing between S$960 and S$5,000.

NGOs, universities, or your workplace may also offer low-cost or subsidised options. If you are an employee, your workplace may have an employee assistance program.

If you are on a tight budget, group therapy may be an affordable option.

Alternatively, opting for a mix of occasional individual sessions alongside group therapy sessions to supplement the therapy journey could help balance both the cost and accessibility issues.

If you are confused, try online therapy in Singapore. Online sessions are cheaper than in-person counselling, but are just as effective. As you attend sessions and become consistent in showing up for yourself, you may have a better idea of how to manage your finances.

5) Flexibility and Scheduling

We’re constantly juggling a lot daily. Work, self-care, exercise, friends, and family time probably consume most of your time in the first place.

In such a fast-paced world, it can be hard to commit to a new endeavour like counselling in Singapore.

However, here’s the key to managing your time more effectively: planning. Planning ahead of time and scheduling sessions can help you cross a big to-do.

On the one hand, individual counselling allows for more flexibility in scheduling. You can reschedule or adjust the frequency of your sessions with your therapist as needed.

At TYHO, we also have a new feature on the dashboard called ‘Messages’. Here, you can use the chat box to coordinate the session timings and scheduling with your Therapist personally. This makes scheduling quick and easy.

Group therapy, however, tends to be more structured. Sessions often run at fixed times (eg every Wednesday at 7 pm), which can either be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your lifestyle.

If you travel frequently or are often busy with multiple tasks, you may find individual sessions easier to manage.

Benefits of Counselling in Different Settings

Both individual counselling and group therapy have several benefits. Let’s look at some of them in the two sections below.

1) Benefits of Individual Counselling

Individual counselling is an ideal choice if you prefer:

Introspective work

Exploration of your thoughts and emotions

In-depth inner work to improve your daily life

Some major benefits of this type of counselling in Singapore are:

Depth and privacy: You can explore each presenting issue in-depth and without any judgment or bias from the professional.

Personalised therapeutic plan: Every session is tailored to your needs and focused on achieving your life and therapy goals. If you prefer a solution-oriented approach, individual counselling is ideal for you.

Faster progress: With the full attention of an expert Therapist, it’s easier to make progress sooner and stay consistent with your therapy journey.

Emotional safety: There are no potential risks of encountering problematic individuals, conflicts, or judgements in individual counselling.

2) Benefits of Group Therapy

Group therapy is a great choice if you’re looking for:

Peer support and shared experiences

A sense of belonging and connection

Real-life practice in communication and emotional expression

Some major benefits of this type of counselling in Singapore are:

Shared experiences: It’s often easy to feel like you’re alone in the struggle…until someone in the group therapy session describes exactly what you’re going through. The shared experiences and thoughts can be validating and make you feel seen and heard.

Multiple perspectives: In group therapy, everyone is encouraged to share their opinion and thoughts after someone shares their problems. Hence, you may get multiple fresh perspectives that may help you better cope with the issue.

Skill practice: Group therapy sessions are an excellent way to practice therapeutic skills in real-time. For example, you may be involved in a role play to set boundaries or improve your confidence.

Final Thoughts

There’s no universal rule for choosing between individual and group counselling. Each format offers something meaningful. What matters most is how supported and seen you feel within that therapy space.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to decide on a service:

Do I need to explore deeper, more personal issues or would I like to engage within a community?

Do I want a fixed structure aan scheduling option or am I okay to book sessions whenever they come up?

What do I need the most right now? Which option makes me feel safe?

Remember, the decision isn’t permanent. You can start with one and explore the other later. Many in Singapore find value in doing both at different stages of their journey.

Get started with counselling in Singapore today.