To achieve sobriety after obtaining a substance addiction, it’s best to attend professional addiction treatment. The primary form of treatment that’s used when treating addiction is addiction therapy. There are many different forms of addiction therapy; this includes group therapy.
Group therapy sessions include a therapist and multiple patients at one time. Group therapy is a great way to help build your support group while in addiction treatment. This is because all the patients in an addiction group therapy session have experienced similar trials and tribulations. Therefore, each patient in an addiction group therapy session can empathize with one another.
All the patients within an addiction group therapy session can also advise one another on ways to improve their addiction recovery journeys. By hearing the perspectives of other patients in addiction recovery, group therapy participants can gain some insight into themselves. The hope is that group therapy patients can take these insights with them into their individual therapy sessions.
As we mentioned earlier, group therapy occurs between a therapist and multiple patients at one time. Individual therapy, on the other hand, occurs one-on-one between a therapist and a patient.
One of the primary benefits of group therapy is that it helps its patients build support groups for themselves. This enables them to spend time with others and build social skills. Often, these skills deteriorate as a result of substance abuse. But, group therapy offers people the chance to rebuild these abilities. Individual therapy, on the other hand, provides patients with undivided time and attention. As a result, individual therapy patients get the opportunity to focus on just themselves and be incredibly introspective.
In most cases, both individual and group therapy are involved in addiction treatment. Group therapy allows people to gain different perspectives about their addiction journeys. On the other hand, individual therapy provides an opportunity for people to dive deeper into their own thoughts and emotions.
Family therapy sessions involve a therapist and a group of family members. Group therapy and family therapy are similar in that they both consist of one therapist and multiple individuals. But what makes these two forms of therapy different is the fact that family therapy occurs between a therapist and family members. Group therapy, on the other hand, occurs between a therapist and a collection of patients.
There are various types of addiction group therapy. Some of the most popular types of addiction group therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychoeducational group therapy, interpersonal process group therapy, and skill development group therapy.
The purpose of cognitive behavioral group therapy is to change the negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of patients into positive ones. This means changing the way the patients think and feel into positive thoughts and feelings when they encounter addiction triggers. That way, these patients will behave in a positive manner rather than resort to substance abuse.
Dialectical behavior group therapy aims to make patients accept their negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. As a result, individuals won’t need negative coping mechanisms such as substance use.
When therapists use dialectical behavior therapy in group therapy settings, they often instruct patients to role-play with one another. This allows patients to learn new and healthy ways of interacting with others while faced with their addiction triggers.
During dialectical behavior group therapy, therapists also often teach patients behavioral skills. Dialectical behavior group therapy therapists will even often give homework. This enables people to practice their newfound coping skills in the real world.
The purpose of psychoeducational group therapy is to educate patients about the dangers of addiction. It teaches patients about the negative effects that substance abuse can have on their physical and mental health.
Psychoeducational group therapy for substance abuse also teaches patients about all the ways that substances can ruin their lives. The purpose of teaching this is to motivate patients to develop positive coping mechanisms and make positive life choices.
The purpose of interpersonal process group therapy is to alter the negative thoughts of patients that cause them to interact poorly with others. Therapists observe the way their patients interact with one another in order to help individuals to grow socially.
Interpersonal process group therapy therapists then pinpoint the negative thoughts and emotions that drive their patients’ poor social skills. Finally, interpersonal process group therapy therapists compile these negative thoughts and emotions as points of discussion within the group.
Ultimately, interpersonal process group therapy helps recovering addicts interact with others. This, in turn, will help those in addiction recovery function better when they return back to society.
Skills development group therapy helps patients in addiction recovery develop life skills. These life skills will help recovering addicts better function in society as sober individuals. During skills development group therapy, patients practice their life skills with one another to develop them. Examples of life skills that patients practice in skills development group therapy include handling triggers, communicating with others, anger management, parenting, and managing finances.
To learn more about our addiction rehab center and the programs and services that we offer, contact us today! We look forward to joining and helping you to achieve your sobriety and recovery goals!
Grace Land Recovery Center is a dual diagnosis treatment facility that provides patients with addiction treatment, therapy, and co-occurring disorder services. Group therapy is just one of the many primary business services that we offer!
Our mission is to help individuals achieve sobriety by getting to the root of their addiction issues. We also aim to treat the minds, bodies, and souls of our patients.
