Group Versus Individual Rehab Therapy After Brain Injury Elaine Phillips, BrainLine

My sister's outpatient rehabilitation program offers both individual and group rehabilitation therapy. Are there advantages to one versus the other?

The research so far has shown that people with brain injury make progress in both individual and group treatment settings. There is no definitive research showing that one kind of treatment is better than the other for regaining a specific skill. That said, here is some more information on the differences between individual and group treatment.

Individual treatment sessions are just that — specific to the needs of a particular person. They are intensive and focused. Because it's one-on-one, there is less chance of distraction, which can interfere with learning. And because individual sessions are private, they can also provide a comfortable setting for people to practice difficult or personal tasks.

Group rehab therapy has its own advantages. Generalization — or "carry-over" — of new skills is challenging after brain injury and group therapy can often help. Group treatment provides more chances to practice a new skill in a different setting with other people. Groups can help improve communication skills and socialization, which can be affected by a brain injury. Finally, being involved in a group of people with similar issues can provide an immense sense of support at a time of drastic change. There is a great benefit to recognizing "I am not alone." Group members can also learn from each other's experiences.

The group should be small enough so each member has sufficient opportunity to participate. Most rehabilitation programs set limits on group size. Talk with your sister's treatment team to decide on the balance that will work best for her. You might want to schedule regular reviews of her plan so treatment can be adjusted as her needs change.

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Elaine Phillips, MSP, CCC-SLP, has 17 years of experience in the field of brain injury, both as a speech-language pathologist as well as managing the outpatient brain injury rehabilitation program at Roger C Peace Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenville, SC. In addition, she is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist-Trainer and is Board President of the Brain Injury Alliance of South Carolina. Elaine is the research consultant for the BrainLine project.

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