Advantages of Group Therapy and Counseling

Group therapy is a well-known and effective form of rehabilitation commonly used both in local treatment as well as in in-patient rehab programs. People often attend group therapy sessions by choice or because of the encouragement of loved ones who want to see them start healing. It can be the first step down their path or the tool that helps give them the strength to overcome their addiction. While group therapy is generally coupled with other forms of treatment, it can be an effective tool.

How Group Therapy Works

Group therapy is when individuals who are all battling the same or similar addiction gather together to discuss how they’re feeling, tell their stories, share advice to help others on their road to recovery, and simply offer support. Group therapy in rehab facilities helps patients form bonds and gives them the tools to encourage each other daily.

Work in a group is different from individual therapeutic work. Generally, these sessions are led by someone with training in conducting group therapy sessions and managing the people in a group. Ideally, this will be a licensed mental-health professional with specific training in substance abuse. This is different from self-help support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Having a trained leader means that the session has a purpose and everyone’s needs are given the attention they require.

Types of Group Therapy

There are several common types of group therapy. The type used depends on the treatment program and the needs of the individuals. These include:

• Support Groups and Educational Groups: These groups are made up of people in the same situation who can provide feedback, a safe space to discuss issues, and encouragement. These groups can also give people insight into how their addiction functions, along with an understanding of how treatment and recovery work.
• Skills Groups and Experiential Groups: If someone is using addiction to deal with a problem at work or at home, these groups can be an excellent place to help people learn and practice the skills to deal with their life without needing to turn to their addiction. If there is a licensed therapist on hand, groups can work together to practice the skills they are discussing and have someone step in to help them through difficult situations.

Advantages of Group Therapy

All therapy has advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to work with a mental health professional who can design the treatment that will best help the specific patient. Generally, the treatment consists of a number of different therapies, one of which is group therapy.

Most humans naturally want to form connections with other humans that share mutual interests. Group therapy takes advantage of this by forming a collection of individuals who are all seeking recovery from a similar addiction. This allows members to provide support and insight to others in a similar situation. Being in a group also helps the patient build new, positive, understanding relationships with others. These connections can be the stepping stones to re-entering society with improved communication skills, better listening skills, and the ability to set boundaries and stop the triggers that caused the addiction.

While group therapy isn’t the right approach for everyone, it has been shown over time to be effective for many people. Attendees form strong bonds with their group and get the support they need to be effective at handling their own treatment process.

If you’re interested in learning more about how group therapy works and how it can help those struggling with an addiction, call 877-251-4813 today.