Group Therapy
- Group Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Group therapy is an invaluable enhancement to individual therapy at Recovery in Motion. It is an opportunity for our residents to develop compassion and empathy for people in similar positions. You will also gain self-awareness and know that you are not alone in your struggle with addiction and your recovery. Regular attendance and participation in group therapy meetings help you to hone your social skills, practice accountability, and get reassurance from others in the group.
Group therapy has many benefits and offers a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives. In conjunction with individual therapies, you will grow in ways that are otherwise not possible. As you move through the rest of your life in recovery, group therapy sessions and groups like AA can be a consistent throughline. They are opportunities to connect with fellow addicts at different stages in their recovery, including mentors and sponsors. Over time you will be able to mentor other people and pass on what you have learned in your groups.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Group Meetings
While many side effects of substance abuse are physical, addiction is a mental illness. Substance abuse treatment relies on various therapies to counteract the psychological and physical damage of substances.
Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy is a tool for discovering each person’s underlying trauma and personal triggers. It focuses on how our repeated thoughts and behaviors impact our lives. CBT focuses on changing negative thought patterns to bring about psychological change. Drugs and alcohol are common coping mechanisms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy introduces healthy coping habits and other life skills that can prevent relapse.
Some groups use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as the basis. Similar to CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy helps you create healthy coping habits and prevents relapse later on. The difference between DBT and CBT is that while CBT focuses on how your behaviors, feelings, and thoughts influence each other, DBT emphasizes being mindful, regulating emotions, and learning to accept pain.
- Psychoeducational Group Therapy
Psychoeducational group therapy sessions at Recovery in Motion are structured and moderated for people with depression, PTSD, anxiety, trust issues, similar addiction types, stress issues, and common triggers. The goal of these groups is to educate about addiction and the ramifications of substance abuse.
Psychoeducational groups stress the importance of self-awareness and encourage people to advocate for themselves by seeking out resources that will help them live a sober lifestyle. This education is designed to strengthen your motivation and ability to implement healthy coping mechanisms.
Families also benefit from psychoeducational groups. Family participation in the treatment program increases because of psychoeducational groups. We educate loved ones so that they can better understand addiction as a mental illness and how we treat it. We provide resources for friends and family as their loved one goes through the recovery process.
- Treating Trauma & Co-occurring Disorders
Addictions and mental health issues are often co-occurring. An addiction might start as a way to cope with a mental disorder but the addiction exacerbates the mental disorder, and so on in a cycle. For example, someone with anxiety might self-medicate with alcohol which in turn makes their anxiety worse.
Trauma is another mental health issue that often co-occurs with addictions. Traumatic events can occur in childhood or adulthood and is often an underlying issue for people with addictions. While not all trauma leads to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is a common mental diagnosis for people who have experienced trauma. To properly recover from substance abuse, it’s important to address and heal your trauma.
Our therapeutic trauma programs are designed to help you process your feelings and memories related to your trauma. You’ll learn how to manage feelings of fear and other strong emotions while rebuilding your capacity to trust people. Group trauma therapy helps you process trauma in a setting where you feel safe and supported by others who have been through similar experiences.
- Learning Valuable Life Skills in Group Therapy
Group therapy is an exceptional opportunity to learn and apply life skills to be successful in recovery. Substance abuse treatment and aftercare programs are designed to help you reacclimate to a life free of drugs and alcohol. You will learn healthy coping skills that will help you react to bad news, hard emotions, and other sources of pain in everyday life without resorting to using substances.
Group therapy is an opportunity to get feedback from your peers as you hone your skills and learn how to apply them to your daily life. Group therapy meetings are usually weekly, at the same time and place so they are great opportunities to practice accountability and socialization. They also help you build a routine and reliable schedule. Forming relationships after the isolating life of addiction can be complicated. In group sessions, socializing is welcome and encouraged. To participate in a group setting, respectful and effective communication is necessary. You will also practice managing the intense emotions that led to your addiction.
Group therapy is an essential component of substance abuse treatment at Recovery in Motion and can be an extension of support after treatment, well into recovery, and beyond. Our goal is to comprehensively heal your mind, body, and spirit. If you have the same goal, call us today at (866) 418-1070. We’re ready to help you get started on the path to a lifetime of recovery.
