Group Therapy Explained
Group therapy is one approach that can immensely help people struggling with addiction. This kind of therapy creates a warm and safe environment for them and can act as their pillar of support in their recovery journey.
In conjunction with alcohol detox and medication, group therapy gives people the opportunity to connect and talk about their struggles without the fear of shame and judgment. Read on how group therapy works, how it uniquely benefits people undergoing addiction treatment, and what to expect during treatment.
Understanding Group Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Group therapy is facilitated by a therapist and has a group of people participate in discussing their personal struggles with addiction. The key is to create a safe and non-judgmental space for each member. Doing this encourages everyone to share, which can become a therapeutic outlet for them.
People can connect, share, and touch each other’s lives through group therapy, especially knowing where each member is coming from. This kind of setup creates a supportive environment, which is why most patients prefer this option when it comes to therapy for their treatment.
Support and coping strategies
Unlike individual therapy, group therapy adds a lot of unique benefits for people struggling with addiction. Below are some of the advantages of this therapy approach that significantly appeal to patients:
- Sense of belongingness
Groups of people flock together in one session, and most, if not all, have the same struggles when it comes to addiction. This helps each member feel less alone about their challenges and find relief in a support system where they are encouraged to share, connect, and offer help to each other.
- Practical advice and empathy
Because of the shared challenges of most people in a group therapy session, it gives them the unique opportunity to help each other out through practical advice and shared experiences. As they know where each is coming from, they are more empathetic to the plights of each member without shame and judgment.
- Connections
Group therapy is much more than a therapeutic outlet as it allows people to create friendships and learn the importance of a support system. Most people struggling with addiction find themselves isolated before they get to treatment, where they can develop their social skills and learn how to replicate it outside treatment. This is an incredible life skill that will help them in their recovery.
- Affordability
Last but not least, this kind of therapy setup is more affordable compared to private 1:1 therapy sessions. In group therapy, the therapist can easily divide the cost of her time across multiple people in one session.
When to go for Group Therapy
Seeking therapy for addiction problems still has a stigma, and it can be very difficult to decide when and how to do it. However, some signs often push people to seek therapy as a treatment option.
For one, if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction more intensely that it’s already affecting their daily life, then it’s high time to get therapy. When the usual essential day-to-day tasks are more challenging, and you feel more and more detached from your “core self”, you may also find therapy beneficial. During this time, one may be prone to outbursts of anger, feelings of helplessness, and isolation.
Group therapy not only provides people with the outlet to process their emotions but also provides the unique opportunity to get access to a community. One where each member knows where you’re coming from and can support you in your own challenges. The best part is that it also gives you the chance to help others even if you do not feel confident.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
tiny matters compared to what lies within us
What Happens During Group Therapy?
It can be intimidating to join a group therapy at first, especially if you don’t know what usually happens inside one. Knowing how it works will definitely help you feel at ease going through the session.
The first part of a typical group therapy session is a brief introduction. You’ll get to know each other through your names, and the next thing is the sharing. Here, each participant will share something about their current struggles with addiction. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to share all the details but only the parts that you feel totally comfortable sharing.
The key in group therapy sessions is a sense of safety so people can be vulnerable without any fear or shame. In most cases, a facilitator will direct the session through a structure. The best part of a session is that anyone is free to ask questions and offer support by giving advice and their thoughts. Nobody is left behind, and all are encouraged to have their say.
This is how a typical group therapy session works; each treatment centre will have its unique style in facilitating it. Finding the right fit for your specific needs is crucial, and inquiring about the group therapy styles will help you decide.
Choosing the Right Group Therapy Centre
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing the right group therapy centre, here are some questions you need to consider:- What do you want to get out of the therapy?
- Is it managing your triggers with addiction?
- Is it understanding your behaviour around addiction?
- Is it managing your anxiety better?
- Is it getting back to what you previously loved?
Ultimately, you need to pinpoint what you specifically expect and want to get out of a group therapy session. Each person wants to tackle different problems in their addiction, and identifying them can incredibly help you decide on a centre.
What to Expect from Group Therapy
Group therapy is reasonably straightforward. A leader or a therapist usually facilitates it, and each participant follows the same structure. Everyone in the group has shared similar struggles with their addiction, and the goal is to connect and identify with each other. This can be done through asking for advice and supporting each other based on their unique experiences.
In a session, the important factor is that the space should be welcoming and have a friendly atmosphere. The goal is to help everyone feel safe to share their challenges and build bonds through a supportive environment. As addiction can make a person feel incredibly isolated, the presence of a community that not only listens to them but intimately knows addiction can be an immense source of strength in a person’s recovery.
How Effective is Group Therapy
Group therapy is just as effective as individual therapy. However, each has its own differences and advantages.
Individual therapy focuses on a patient’s personal history, inner world, fears, thoughts, and all the personal factors that motivate their addiction. It’s deeply personal and explores how a person’s past experiences affect their present thoughts and actions.
Group therapy, on the other hand, focuses on building relationships and a community. It encourages everyone to connect with other people and share their struggles. This kind of therapy is relationship-driven, and the sense of community it fosters helps every person feel that they’re not alone.
Not only does it foster community, but group therapy also helps individuals develop different life skills that they may have neglected during the worst bouts of their addiction. They can practice socialising again, communicating, and building new friendships both inside and outside a session.
Ultimately, group therapy gives people a sense of belonging that will help them feel supported on their path to recovery.
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The Role of Counselling in Group Therapy
Compared to individual therapy, where the counsellor guides, converses, and journeys with the patient, counsellors in group therapy apply a different approach. In a group therapy session, the main focus of the therapist is to create a structure that guides everyone into a fruitful conversation.
They also help everyone feel at ease and safe to be vulnerable by alleviating their anxieties and explicitly saying that everything inside the group is confidential. Trust and confidentiality are the key factors in making a session more welcoming, safe for everyone and ultimately a success.
Through the group therapy structure, everyone is allowed to speak their mind and be supportive of each other. Because of the trust afforded to everyone, they feel more relaxed about sharing and feel less shame about their personal challenges.
This differs so much in individual therapy as the counsellor in a group therapy session encourages each participant in the session and helps create interactions to drive the discussion rather than just focusing on one person.
Facts and statistics about group therapy
Here are some important facts and statistics about group therapy and how this therapy model has positively impacted people in their treatment.
- According to research, people who attend group therapy have gotten better compared to 72% of people who don’t attend any kind of therapy
- Group therapy has now increasingly become a popular therapy model because of more studies showing its efficacy for substance abuse
- Group therapy has a recorded history of being equally as effective as individual therapy
Paying for Group Therapy
Group therapy is much cheaper than individual therapy, making it more appealing to most people. If you want to know how to pay for a session, check in with your health insurance provider to see if it covers it.
Not all health insurance covers group therapy sessions, so it’s crucial to do this beforehand. Every treatment facility also has different requirements, so it’s vital to inquire about the facility of your choice directly.
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