In our respective recovery journeys, it can often feel like we are bearing the burdens on our own–and to a certain degree, those feelings are understandable. It is true that in our transition from active addiction to meaningful sobriety we must do the heavy lifting as far as doing the things necessary to stay clean and sober. However, we also must keep in mind that our recovery will not be successful if we do so in isolation. A huge component of achieving and maintaining recovery is sharing and learning from others in group therapy.
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When we have support and encouragement of our peers who share our victories and setbacks in recovery is a tremendous benefit in helping us stay positive and motivated to stay on the right path. Because of that fact, drug and alcohol rehab centers feature group therapy as one of the crucial components in a comprehensive drug treatment and aftercare program. Group therapy has been the backbone of drug treatment programs of all types for one simple reason—the peer interaction, support and empowerment that is derived from that support can be instrumental in helping those addicted to drugs address and overcome the underlying issues that keep them firmly in the grip of substance use.
FindAddictionRehabs.com features a wide array of group therapy programs that can be tailored to fit your individual needs, and these programs are conducted in a safe and supportive environment that will empower you to transform you life. Call us today to learn more.
What are the Benefits of Group Therapy?
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For those who undergo group therapy in an addiction treatment setting, they will experience numerous benefits that will help build a solid foundation to build lasting recovery. Some of these benefits that you will receive from group therapy are as follows:
Support From Peers in Group Therapy
First and foremost, group therapy helps you recover from addiction because you receive substantial encouragement from those who walk a similar path to your own in sobriety. When you were active in your substance abuse, your behaviors isolated you from family, friends and others that you love and care about. When you start the process of recovering from substance abuse, you continue to feel loneliness and isolation and can often feel overwhelmed with the sometimes raw and visceral emotions you feel.
In group therapy, you ultimately realize that you are truly not alone and that other people are going through the same thing. The group shares their stories, cheers each other’s small victories and provides a collective shoulder to lean on when someone falls short. This support will give you the confidence to move forward in your recovery.
Collaboration in Group Therapy
Another of the big ways group therapy helps you recover from addiction is the fact that group members can be open in sharing their struggles in an environment which is safe, supportive and most importantly free of judgment. Sharing your daily struggles and accepting the feedback of others you allows you to create healthy solutions to your own problems. When you share your problems with the group, there will be a peer who probably had gone through a similar experience and found a way to resolve that challenge. You will start seeing things from a different perspective and you may find easy solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable.
The Development of Life Skills
Group therapy is also an excellent way to develop the life skills that you will need to adequately interact with your environment when you leave treatment and resume your daily life. Life skills such as employment coaching, money management, and the development of a healthy daily schedule are an essential part of your relapse prevention and long-term recovery plan. Group therapy will also give you the chance to put into practice life skills such as anger management and other coping techniques that will help you deal with stress in a healthy manner. Additionally, Group therapy will help you learn to communicate with others is a healthy and respectful manner. Additionally, you will learn how to truly listen to others and develop empathy.
You Put New Behaviors to Use
An additional benefit of group therapy is the fact will give you the opportunity to try out those behaviors that you are learning in group. In a supportive and empowering environment, you are also able to confront your old and maladaptive ways of thinking and myths about addiction and recovery that you may have held when you first came into treatment. If you try out a new way of behaving or thinking and it doesn’t work out, you have the support and guidance of the group to give you encouragement and feedback.
Group Therapy will Give the Tools to Change
Group therapy helps you overcome addiction in the fact that experienced therapy staff can utilize specific methods that can help you uncover the deepest roots of your addictive behaviors and give you the tools to overcome those issues that keep you stuck. One common therapy approach that is used in this type of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT). With CBT, people identify negative behaviors that keep them stuck and give them ways to modify those behaviors. In a group setting, you will learn to change your behavior in real time and transform them into healthy and beneficial behaviors. The added elements of peer feedback and support reinforces those changes. Therapists can also utilize psychotherapy, skills development and interpersonal therapy techniques to help those in group therapy identify the root causes of their substance abuse.
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Contact FindAddictionRehabs.com Today
While group therapy is a staple of effective drug treatment programs, not all group therapy programs are created equal. In your search for the best treatment program that suits your needs, facilities need to offer a wide array of group therapy programs that are run by experienced professionals who are able to modify various therapy approaches to fit your needs. FindAddictionRehabs.com is able to provide you the therapy and compassionate care you need to move forward confidently in your recovery.
Anna M. joined Find Addiction Rehabs with extensive experience in the field of addiction treatment. As a former Nurse Practitioner in Miami, she found her passion for addiction treatment when a family member was lost to his disease. With each article and resource, she hopes to save other families from experiencing the anguish of a loved one’s passing due to drinking or drugs.
