Group Therapy
Group Therapy
Substance abuse is a common problem that millions of people struggle with on a daily basis. While some people think that substance abuse is nothing more than a lack of willpower, it’s actually a mental health issue.
Sometimes, substance abuse leads to mental health problems. Other times, mental health problems lead to substance abuse. Regardless, group therapy can help you overcome a substance abuse problem.
What Is Group Therapy?
Firstly, let’s dive deeper into what group therapy actually is. In short, it’s a type of therapy that involves a group of people. Typically, a counselor leads the group by directing the conversations.
Group therapy has proved very effective in helping people overcome not only substance abuse but also other mental health issues. That said, it typically isn’t used as the only method of treatment during substance abuse recovery. Instead, it’s part of a bigger plan that includes other types of therapy and rehab services.
Are There Different Types of Group Therapy?
Yes, there are many types of group therapy. Each one is broken up into categories depending on your mental health needs. The most common types of group therapy are cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and psychoeducational.
The purpose of cognitive-behavioral group therapy is to change inaccurate or heavily distorted thinking patterns. The idea is that changing these inaccurate ways of thinking can eliminate bad behaviors, such as substance abuse.
Interpersonal group therapy focuses on diving deep into your interpersonal relationships. However, it also focuses on your social interactions. These relationships and interactions can heavily impact your mental health.
Lastly, psychoeducational group therapy educates you about mental health disorders and ways to cope with them. Much of it is based around the same principles found in cognitive behavioral therapy.
Keep in mind that these aren’t all of the group therapy options available. Group therapy can include support groups as well, which can help you avoid relapse after you overcome substance abuse.
Does Group Therapy Work?
Group therapy has a high success rate among people who struggle with mental health issues, such as substance abuse. Experts contribute this high success rate to the support that people get in group therapy sessions. For many individuals, it’s comforting to know that they aren’t going through their substance abuse problem alone.
Group therapy sessions allow people to not only share their own stories but also listen to others. The participants are encouraged to share their stories and offer advice to each other. In a way, it gives them a sense of purpose to lend their support and stories to others. Having purpose and feeling needed is an important part in overcoming substance abuse.
What Are the Benefits of Group Therapy?
Group therapy has a number of benefits but one of the biggest is that people can receive support from other members in the group. This camaraderie can help them feel less alone while dealing with substance abuse and other mental health issues.
Also, group therapy gives people a chance to observe others. As a result, they gain access to other coping skills that they might not have discovered otherwise.
Best of all, group therapy gives people hope. The sessions aren’t just for people who are still overcoming substance abuse. They’re also for people who have succeeded. It’s reassuring to see others who have overcome their problems. It lets people know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Lastly, group therapy is often very affordable. Unlike individual therapy, a counselor can work with multiple people at once, so it’s easier for more people to receive the treatment that they need.
How Can You Make Group Therapy More Effective?
Like any type of therapy, group therapy is only as effective as what you put into it. If you go into the sessions not expecting it to work, it probably won’t. If you’re willing to put in the effort, though, you can get a lot out of this type of therapy.
Also, remember that not everyone meshes well together. In some cases, you might need to try a few different groups of people before you find individuals you get along with. The more comfortable you feel with a group of people, the more effective the therapy will be.
You have to give this type of therapy time to work too. Don’t expect one session to change your life from the start. It could take multiple sessions before you even feel comfortable sharing your experience.
Lastly, you have to be willing to share. You don’t have to share right away, but you have to be willing to participate in the group discussions eventually. In some cases, you might need to take part in role-playing exercises. You can’t get this type of interaction from individual therapy, so it’s important to take advantage of it while you can.
Group Therapy in New York
Are you ready to take control of your substance abuse problem? If so, Every1 Center can help. We offer a wide range of services that help people who struggle with drug addiction. Beyond group therapy, some programs and therapies that help addicts recover are:
- Drug inventions.
- Drug detox.
- Intensive outpatient rehab.
- Individual therapy.
- Inpatient rehab.
- Dual-diagnosis treatment.
You don’t have to live with a substance abuse problem any longer. Reach out to us today to take your first steps toward recovery. You don’t have to make the journey alone.
Group therapy is not directly offered by Every1 Center. However, we do recognize that this type of addiction treatment is often necessary and vital to one’s long-term recovery from substance abuse. If you or a loved one require any services that we do not offer, we would be glad to refer you to one of our trusted affiliate providers.
