1:1 Coaching vs. Group Therapy for Binge Eating & Emotional Eating – Which Is Right for You?
First thing’s first - You’re not meant to do this alone
If you're struggling with binge or emotional eating, you are not alone - and you don't have to figure it out on your own either. One of the main reasons why I started Food Freedom Coach was because I was so alone in my own recovery journey, and I couldn’t find specialised eating disorder support; let alone a professional clinician who had lived experience. So I understand that reaching out is often the hardest (and bravest) step in the recovery journey. But once you've decided you're ready, another big question comes up: What kind of support is best for me—1:1 coaching or group therapy?
Both formats offer powerful and evidence-based pathways toward healing, but they offer different experiences and benefits. This blog will help you understand the pros and cons of both, so you can make an informed choice that fits your personality, needs, and recovery goals.
Why Reach out for Help in the first place?
Binge eating, bulimia and emotional eating can feel like a shameful secret - something you're battling on a daily basis, but rarely talking about. These behaviours are often coping mechanisms rooted in deeper emotional struggles, past trauma, perfectionism, or chronic dieting. Trying to "just fix it" on your own rarely works in the long term, and can leave you feeling more stuck and alone.
Professional support - whether through individual coaching or group therapy - can help you:
Understand why you're stuck in the cycle
Learn tools to regulate emotions without turning to food
Challenge the food rules and negative beliefs that fuel the binge/restrict cycle
Reconnect to your body’s signals and your deeper values
Build a healthy, compassionate relationship with food and yourself
1:1 Coaching - a Private and Tailored Approach
Pros:
✅ Personalised support: This is probably the biggest benefit of 1:1 coaching. Every session is focused entirely on your story, your goals, and your pace. We can dive deeper into your personal history, beliefs, trauma, and lived experiences without needing to "fit" into a group structure.
✅ Flexible and responsive: We can adapt each session based on how your week has been. If something triggering happens mid-week, we can spend the session unpacking that in real-time.
✅ Confidential space: For those who feel nervous or ashamed discussing food behaviours, private coaching offers a safe space to open up without fear of judgment or comparison.
✅ No time limit: There is no time limit to how long we spend on each tool, trigger or roadblock. The support doesn’t end after 8 weeks; we keep fighting until the eating disorder is completely out of your life.
Cons:
❌ Cost: 1:1 coaching can be more expensive, and not everyone has the ability to fund this themselves.
❌ Lack of peer support: You may miss the powerful sense of community and shared experience that comes from hearing “me too” from others on the same journey.
Group Therapy - Healing in Community
Pros:
✅ Shared experience: One of the most healing parts of group therapy is realising you're not the only one who struggles. There is so much relief in hearing your thoughts spoken by someone else - and being met with empathy instead of shame.
✅ Peer learning: Watching others challenge their food rules or navigate emotional triggers can inspire you to do the same. You’ll often pick up insights you might not have thought of on your own.
✅ Cost-effective: Group therapy is often more affordable. It provides access to professional support at a lower cost.
✅ Structured curriculum: Many group programmes (including mine) follow evidence-based models like CBT, DBT, and ACT, ensuring you’re learning the gold standard tools for recovery.
✅ Safe exposure: For those who struggle with talking about food and their fears, the group can be a non-judgemental place to face these obstacles and confront them safely.
Cons:
❌ Non-personalised support: The group follows a structured course and may not meet your personalised recovery goals.
❌ Less individual time: While the sessions are still interactive, you won’t get as much time focused exclusively on you.
❌ Requires emotional readiness: Group therapy can stir up emotions. You’ll need a certain level of emotional stability and a willingness to participate, listen, and be vulnerable in a shared space.
❌ Privacy concerns: While confidentiality is upheld, some people feel more exposed in group settings.
So…Which One Is Right for You?
Choose 1:1 Coaching if you:
Prefer a personalised, tailored approach
Want to work at your own pace
Have complex trauma or deep-rooted patterns needing individual attention
Are looking for help that isn’t restricted by a set number of sessions
Choose Group Therapy if you:
Want to feel less alone in your journey
Learn well from listening to others
Are motivated by structure and community
Are looking for a more affordable option
The Bottom Line: There’s No “Better” - Only What’s Right for You
Whether you choose 1:1 coaching or group therapy, the most important thing is that you reach out. Binge and emotional eating are treatable, and recovery is absolutely possible with the right support. I know because I’ve been there and come through to the other side!
If you're still not sure what's best for you, feel free to book a free call with me. We’ll talk through where you’re at and find the path that makes sense for you.
