Group therapy is a crucial component of addiction recovery. Enrolling in a drug and alcohol rehab program is a wonderful accomplishment and a courageous first step toward long-term recovery. If you are going to commit to the journey of rehabilitation, you need to carefully identify the thoughts and emotions that trigger your substance abuse, change your habits, and find new, healthier ways to cope with difficulties. For some, the mere idea of group therapy in addiction recovery might be unnerving in the beginning, but sharing your experiences with other like-minded individuals can help you stay clean and support your efforts to create the life you have always been working towards. Today, North Jersey Rehabs will detail the importance of building a sober network and why group therapy is a vital part of success.
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Group therapy denotes a form of counseling used to treat psychological disorders such as substance abuse and addiction. Unlike individual counseling, group therapy usually involves a therapist and 2 or more individuals at the same time. During these sessions, individuals will take turns talking about their deeply rooted struggles, feelings, experiences, and goals. Group therapy in addiction recovery will typically cover the following topics:
We won’t lie, there is a sense of awkwardness that many patients harbor, during the early days of their group counseling sessions. However, once you have grown accustomed to the process, there are many ways you can benefit from group therapy. Apart from being a safe, non-judgmental outlet to open up about your struggles, group therapy can do the following:
Even though group counselors will typically moderate discussions and provide feedback and any other additional device, participating in group therapy can provide individuals other benefits that surely include:
Now that we have assessed the reasons for why group counseling is beneficial, here is what you can expect during a group therapy session. Typically speaking, group counseling sessions have anywhere from 3-12 members, depending on the setting where sessions take place. Most of these groups meet once or twice a month for 1-2 hours, but can meet more often, if needed. Groups can be structured in either an open or closed manner. Open groups allow new members to join at any time, while closed groups only allow members to participate until the end of the sessions. What is often the case is these sessions take place on-site at our recovery center, closed off to the public. Whereas, other types of groups like AA, NA, and other peer support groups can be open or closed. Here are some examples of what you can expect structurally:
Group therapy is a highly efficient component of addiction recovery, because being around other people looking to get clean can help keep you motivated, challenged, inspired, supported, social, and more importantly, sober. One of the hardest parts of recovery is remaining substance-free. Thankfully, being around like-minded people in group therapy can challenge you to remain sober. Apart from individual counseling that focuses solely on you, which in itself isn’t a bad thing by any means. Group counseling takes it a step further, just from the mere fact that it is a safe space that provides an open platform for others to air their grievances. Simply hearing about someone else’s experience could be the difference maker in ensuring that you stay inspired, no, grounded in your lifelong journey of recovery.
Here at North Jersey Rehabs, we take great pride in our patient-centric approach to treatment. We firmly disavow the idea of patients navigating the trenches on their own. Come join our close-knit, family-like sober community. We can help you get back on track and rediscover your purpose in life, without the negative influence of substance use. Contact us today to learn more!
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