Group Therapy

Addiction therapy in the group setting has proven beneficial since its introduction in addiction therapy. Harmony Ridge Recovery Center is also one of the drug and alcohol treatment centers in West Virginia that deploy group therapy for addiction. We see addiction recovery as a wholesome experience and an opportunity for struggling individuals to reconnect with themselves and others. Our group therapy sessions take place in a calm and supportive environment where you or your loved one is free to express themselves.

Enlisting the help of a substance addiction treatment program is a significant step toward recovery, one that entails considerable strength. The thought of coming face to face with your demons and transforming your lifestyle in extraordinary ways may bring about various emotions, including hope, anxiety, and possibly fear. One of the most anxiety-provoking perspectives of substance addiction treatment for most is the therapy process. It’s natural to feel some resistance to the possibility of exposing your soul to a foreigner during counseling or individual therapy.

Addiction group therapy is a particular form of counseling that is practiced in treating behavioral disorders, including substance use disorders. It typically requires regular sessions where one or more therapists will work with numerous patients who are being treated for substance abuse. Many individuals can benefit from peer support throughout addiction group therapy during various levels of care.

Members in addiction group therapy will take turns discussing their feelings, struggles, and goals. Addiction group therapy can be tailored to a particular recovery topic, like how to identify and avoid triggers or how to handle other complicated interpersonal relationships. Even more intimidating is the idea of addiction group therapy, which is an essential part of most substance addiction treatment programs. While both group and individual therapy forms are intended to help patients gain insight, learn coping skills, and learn how to work through challenging problems, addiction group therapy has several benefits that complement individual therapy.

The Importance of Group Therapy

Group therapy has long played an essential role in the treatment of substance use disorders. While it might seem frightening, challenging, and even painful to participate at first, most members realize that group therapy is beneficial. One benefit of addiction group therapy is being surrounded by a group of peers who can relate. Members also share their struggles while receiving support and celebrating with each other on their journey to recovery.

Addiction group therapy provides a residential treatment setting that becomes more productive in the treatment process. Studies show that inpatient addiction group therapy helps patients overcome their addiction by focusing on treating withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. People in outpatient programs become less likely to complete treatment, usually due to a lack of motivation. Knowing a patient’s motivation to change at the beginning of addiction treatment is essential in predicting whether they’ll recover.

Addiction Group Therapy Settings

Forms of addiction group therapy are usually offered in a variety of settings which include:

• Community centers
• Hospitals
• Mental health clinics
• Private practice settings

Addictions Treated by Group Therapy:

• Alcohol
• Antidepressants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens
• Opioids
• Prescription pain medication
• Stimulants
• Street drugs
• Tobacco or nicotine

Group therapy sessions may be open or closed. Open, meaning brand-new members can join at any time, or closed, meaning that the group members remain the same from start to finish. Open groups can be continuous, with no specific beginning or end date, while closed groups are generally composed for a predestined number of weeks or months. Outpatient therapy groups are regularly closed groups, while inpatient and residential group sessions are usually open groups.

Therapy groups can be led by a singular therapist or co-led by two therapists. The therapists must be licensed and have experience doing addiction group therapy. The role of the therapist will be to set and augment group therapy guidelines and rules, lead the group discussions, and ensure the atmosphere is healthy and productive for all members. The group therapist will ask questions, encourage cooperation, give feedback when needed, and observe how members interact within the group. The principal goal is to help all members benefit in a way that leads them closer to achieving their individual therapy goals.

Confidentiality is an integral part of addiction group therapy. For everyone to feel safe with opening up in addiction group therapy, all participants must honor the privacy of everybody in the group. Depending on the treatment environment, a group rule might be that participants refrain from communicating with each other outside of the group environment. But equally, everybody is actively involved in the group.

Group therapy sessions usually proceed between one and two hours. The more extended length of the group session can help ensure that everybody has the chance to contribute to group discussions. The size of the group can vary, but usually, the groups will have between 5 and 10 members at once. Too few or too many members could negatively influence the group process.

In an outpatient setting, group therapy sessions usually meet only once weekly. In an intensive inpatient treatment setting, residential, and partial hospitalization setting, addiction group therapy sessions may be conducted two or three times per week.

Below are some of the unique benefits of addiction group therapy include.

A sense of belonging

Individuals suffering from alcohol or substance use disorders usually become isolated from friends, family, and the world in general. Their substance use strains their relationships and could even cause irreversible damage. Addiction group therapy allows these people to experience a feeling of connection and belonging that was missing from their lives. The recognition that they’re not alone in this struggle helps to ease their feelings of isolation, which will allow for healing and positive transformation to occur.

Support system

A top influential benefit of addiction group therapy is the opportunity for members to support each other and contribute helpful feedback based on their personal experiences. Both the one offering support and the one receiving it will benefit from this exchange. The ones providing support become empowered by recognizing they have something helpful to offer their peers. This also improves their self-esteem, which plays an essential role in maintaining sobriety. Receiving support allows group members to realize that it’s okay to accept help from others and often inspires them to support others moving forward.

Discovering new ways of interacting

Addiction group therapy members will learn proper ways to interact with other members and with the group leader. Since therapy groups are a microcosm of everyone’s outside life of the group, dysfunctional patterns of connecting to others will ultimately surface. A therapy group is a safe place for members to practice new ways of communicating and start creating new relationships with other members.

Improved communication skills

Addiction group therapy provides a safe setting to exercise communicating in a positive, open, honest, and respectful way. For many members, this may be an entirely new activity for them. Members can practice offering and receiving productive feedback without being offended.

Variety of Perspectives

Addiction group therapy enables members to discover different perspectives rather than just the advice of their therapist. This gives them a chance to consider various ways of looking at themselves or a situation in which they’ve struggled with. Recognizing there are multiple ways to look at something helps to enhance their problem-solving skills. It also allows them to acknowledge and move on from old perspectives that might have caused barriers in their lives.

Feedback from Peers

One of the most beneficial aspects of addiction group therapy is the chance to receive feedback from peers. Often, members will be more open to the feedback they get from other members than to the information they get from their therapist. This is mainly due to the thought that other group members can relate to their struggles more quickly than their therapist can.

Hope for a Better Future

Living with a substance use disorder leaves people feeling helpless and lost, with little hope that they can feel content again. Addiction group therapy allows members to observe others who are creating positive changes while improving themselves. Group members can also celebrate victories and support one another during challenges or setbacks. This can produce a strong sense of hope that fuels the addiction recovery process.

Building Relationships and a Support System

It’s common for group members to develop a bond with other members. These new friendships provide a source of support and encouragement long after treatment, which increases the probability of long-term sobriety.