If you know someone recovering from alcohol or drug abuse, they may be pessimistic about participating in a group therapy program. It is difficult enough to open up to a single therapist, let alone share your thoughts and hardships with a group of people. However, this type of mental health therapy can help those struggling with addiction in more ways than one.
What Is a Group Therapy Program?
Group therapy is often included in the recovery programs of those dealing with addiction. This therapy method involves grouping together people dealing with the same issues and allowing them to work together to understand themselves and their situations. Group therapy programs have been around for a long time and offer advantages that one-on-one treatment cannot provide.
Group therapy programs have been proven effective for physical and mental health. In addition to alcohol or drug addiction, a group therapy program is also used in:
- Process groups
- Yoga therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Body image improvement
This program is a core part of the journey to recovery. Sharing with your peers who understand you can be very empowering, and realizing you are not alone in your struggle will help you open up, which is crucial for recovery. It is also important to note that people need social interaction to support recovery and prevent a relapse.
Being in a group therapy program also allows people to cheer for each other and help set goals towards their recovery process. When a person in your group brings up a challenge, you may have an identical problem. Soon, you will see your struggle in a new light.
People who are part of a group therapy program are inspired to take on new behaviors in a safe environment before they face the real world. It also makes people understand the importance of abandoning misleading myths that they are alone in dealing with their thoughts and feelings. Our group therapy program in Maryland is a natural way to overcome addiction, and it proves that humans are wired to grow with each other.
Types of Group Therapy Programs
There are different types of group therapy models that are used to treat substance abuse that include:
- Psychoeducational
- Skill development
- Support group
- Cognitive-behavioral groups
- Psychotherapy
Psychoeducational group therapy teaches participants about substance abuse and highlights its effects on the body and personal relationships.
Skill development emphasizes coping skills needed to break free from addiction.
Support groups allow members to have a role in inspiring change in each other. Here, the participants challenge excuses that may turn into bad habits.
Another group addiction therapy is called cognitive behavioral groups. Here, a leader helps participants avoid destructive thinking, which could lead to negative consequences. Instead, this model emphasizes healthy new habits and actions that reinforce the techniques they need to stay clean.
The last type of therapy is called psychotherapy. This is not as commonly used as its other counterparts, but it lets members explore past relationships and situations that have led them to abuse substances.
All these models of group therapy programs are used at various stages in the addiction process. For example, skill development, psychoeducational, and cognitive behavioral groups are important in the initial rehabilitation process, while support groups are continued after the beginning rehabilitation stages.
In many cases, the group therapy program in Maryland will use exercises found in the types mentioned above. Depending on the background and cause of addiction in a person, some methods may be more effective than others.
Let Fresh Start Recovery Help You Heal
Working with an alcohol or drug addiction group can greatly help you naturally overcome your problem and avoid isolation in the process. Once you’ve decided to participate in a group therapy program, call Fresh Start Recovery Center at 833.625.0398 to begin your journey to recovery.