It might be said that all therapy is indeed ‘individual,’ at least in the sense that ultimate influence and control of behaviour and attitudes is the purview and concern only of the individual.

Although we often think and act as if we are able to control our spouse, children, boss, neighbour etc, overwhelming evidence is to the contrary.

The serenity prayer of the 12-step programme of alcoholics anonymous speaks succinctly to this point: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

This knowledge can be quite freeing, in truth, in that controlling our own thoughts, feelings and intentions can and should be a full-time job, leaving no time to attempt the same with or to others.

Having said all this, one-on-one therapy either alone or in conjunction with couples and/or family therapy, is unique and ‘simple,’ in that only you and the therapist need interact.

You may wish to speak about other people or you may not. In any case, the primary action, here and now, in the present, is between you and me.

This offers more of a freedom to ‘be oneself’ than when one’s spouse is present or other family members. in individual therapy, you wear only one hat. you are not primarily a parent or spouse. you are the sum of all the hats you wear in life, certainly, but for this session, it is above all simply you and I spending an hour of our lives trying to make sense of it all.

Individual therapy can be extremely powerful as the bond between therapist and client can be formed more quickly than in other therapeutic milieu. this is valuable since, as mentioned above, the strength of the individual is key.