Group Therapy Program
Beating a substance abuse problem is no mean feat. You need professional help and a variety of proven treatment types to ensure the best possible outcome—a long and sustainable sobriety. Among the treatments currently available, a group therapy program is one of the most popular methods of achieving your recovery objectives.
Some patients are apprehensive about group therapy. They fear judgment, feel shame or are otherwise distrustful of a group therapy program. However, this fear usually dissipates after the first few meetings. Soon, you become aware that you’re among friends, people who understand your issues because they’re dealing with the same ones themselves. Your therapy group quickly becomes a valuable part of your support system.
Group Therapy Programs Explained
Group therapy meetings are led by an addiction counselor who sets the agenda for every session. Groups usually consist of eight to 14 people, all of whom remain in the group for the duration of the program. The emphasis during discussion is on trust and openness, which helps the members create meaningful bonds that often extend beyond the group. As individuals share their problems with the group, it becomes clear that they share many of the same issues, and can focus the power of the collective on solving them.
Group therapy educates its participants on the ins-and-outs of addiction and maintaining sobriety. You find that the support you are able to offer others is quickly returned to you, multiplied exponentially.
That said, a group therapy program should be augmented by a variety of other available treatments for recovery. Individual counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapies, family sessions, and dual diagnosis programs are all options to consider adding to your overall plan. Patients should consult a recovery specialist at their rehab center to help design the program that works best with their individual needs.
Individual Counseling or Group Therapy?
Individual counseling programs seem so different from a group therapy program. Which should you choose? Does individual counseling provide benefits that the group doesn’t? And can groups achieve things the individual can’t? The answer to both of these last two questions is yes. However, the good thing is that there’s no need to choose. Group therapy and individual counseling are complimentary and work extremely well together. In fact, a combination of both types helps increase your chances for lasting sobriety.
In truth, no single therapy is better than another. Their success depends both on how appropriate they are for the individual, and how well they work with other treatments. For instance, group therapy shows extremely positive results as an evidence-based recovery program. However, meeting alone with your therapist allows you to explore issues of specific importance to you and can affect your individual recovery immensely.
In addition to group and individual work, there are a number of other programs to keep consider adding to your recovery mix. Most of these can be found in holistic clinics and treatment centers. They include:
- Motivational therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment therapy
- Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Trauma Therapy
- Medication-assisted therapy
These therapies are unique and offer their specific benefits, but can be fitted easily into an overall plan for sobriety. When considering a rehab facility, check to see that they offer a variety of programs and are able to custom-fit them to your particular needs. If you find a center doesn’t offer a treatment that you feel would be beneficial to you, find one that does.
Stepping Stone Group Therapy Program in Jacksonville, FL
At the Stepping Stone Center for Recovery, we’re here to help you rediscover the life you were meant to live. Simply by reading the information above, you’ve taken a crucial step toward helping yourself or a loved one break free from a substance abuse problem.
Our complete addiction recovery program is made up of three categories: detox and stabilization treatment, relapse recovery, and aftercare. If you’re ready to put your past addiction behind you, call us at 866.957.4960. Don’t delay. Start your recovery—and the path to a better future—now.
