Group Therapy For Addiction Treatment
Entering our addiction and behavioral health treatment center is a significant step toward recovery and one that requires a considerable amount of courage. Particularly vital to the journey of each patient to achieve their goals in recovery from substance use disorder and behavioral health conditions are individual psychotherapy and group therapy. If you’re considering psychotherapy or psychiatric care, Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc offers several options, including individual therapy and group therapy.
Depending on the nature of your problem, group therapy may be an ideal choice for addressing your concerns and making positive, healthy, and sustainable changes in your life. Contact our addiction treatment and behavioral health care practice today to join group therapy and to learn more about our available services.
What Is Group Therapy?
Group therapy, also called group psychotherapy, is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more group therapists working with several patients at the same time. This type of therapy is widely available in various types of treatment centers, including our behavioral health practice. Group therapy is sometimes used alone, but it is commonly integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include individual therapy, buprenorphine treatment with Subutex® or Suboxone®, medication management, and medication-assisted treatment. For our patients prescribed buprenorphine, we provide group therapy at no extra charge.
Participants in a therapy group take turns discussing their personal struggles, feelings, experiences, and goals. These sessions can cover a variety of group therapy topics, which may be specific to recovery, such as how to recognize and avoid triggers, or they may be general, such as how to better manage complex work, family, peer, or interpersonal relationships and difficulties. Unlike family therapy, members in group therapy sessions will not usually have a pre-existing relationship outside of sessions.
What Is Group Therapy Used For?
At Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc, group therapy for addiction may be an instrumental part of your addiction treatment plan. As patients proceed through their treatment and recovery processes, they often find it helpful and/or necessary to access our behavioral therapy services to deal with anger, stress, sadness, or other emotions and to form healthy habits conducive to their recovery efforts. Group therapy helps aid in the long-term recovery process by providing patients with the emotional, verbal, mental, and psychological skills they require to prevent relapse and harmful behaviors. Our mental disorder treatments and addiction treatment plans vary from patient to patient and may include various different types of therapy.
Patients may benefit from one type of therapy over another, while others may thrive in recovery utilizing a combination of addiction treatment methods. Patients struggling with opioid use disorder and other types of addiction may find comfort in group therapy sessions, as these sessions offer a social aspect to treatment, allowing patients to experience the recovery process of others and feel like part of a community on their journey to recovery. Contact us for more information about group therapy techniques and information about group therapy in psychiatry at Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc.
Types Of Group Therapy
Group therapy can be categorized into several different types depending on the mental health disorder or condition it is intended to treat as well as the clinical method used during the sessions. The most common group therapy types include the following. With knowledgeable and professional psychotherapists and mental health care providers, such as those with Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc, any of these models of group therapy can offer strong benefits to patients.
However, certain models of group therapy may better suit your individual needs. Additionally, some therapy groups may utilize several models during the course of meetings or sessions, meaning that they shift from one model to another. Groups may include 3 or 4 individuals or as many as 8 or 12 participants, though it is possible to have more participants. Groups may meet once or twice each week or more for several hours. Additionally, patients may even participate in group therapy online through telehealth.
- Cognitive Behavioral Groups. These groups center on identifying and changing distorted or inaccurate thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors.
- Interpersonal Process Groups. These groups center on managing interpersonal relationships and social interactions, such as the degree of support a patient has from others and the impact of these relationships on their mental health.
- Psychoeducational Groups. Psychoeducational group therapy focuses on educating patients about their conditions and disorders and helping them identify healthy and beneficial methods of coping. These groups are often based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.
- Skill Development Groups. Skill development groups focus on improving social skills in individuals with mental health disorders or developmental disabilities.
- Support Groups. Support groups offer patients a wide range of benefits and can be used to help those with a variety of mental health conditions, as well as their loved ones.
Benefits Of Group Therapy For Addiction Treatment
There are several benefits of group therapy. Like individual therapy, group therapy can benefit almost anyone. Whether a person is struggling with difficulties with interpersonal relationships or a substance use disorder or addiction, or they are in the throws of loss, trauma, or a mental health disorder, group therapy can provide patients with a supportive, welcoming, and trusted environment where they can grow, heal, and live a healthier, happier life. The following comprises several group therapy benefits for our patients. Contact Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc to learn how you can benefit from group therapy.
- Learn about the recovery process.
- Understand you’re not alone.
- Get support and motivation from peers to maintain your recovery goals.
- Improve your communication skills.
- Feel empowered by helping others in the group.
- Learn healthy coping skills to manage daily stressors.
- Boost the structure and routine of your life.
- Build a sense of optimism, self-worth, and belief in yourself and your group members.
- Develop connections with other group members that can be used outside of therapy sessions for support and encouragement.
- Gain quicker access to therapeutic services.
- Modify your behaviors with the help of peers and a broad range of feedback.
Is Group Therapy Right For Me?
Mental health therapy in a group setting is used to treat various conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, eating disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia-related disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, and other conditions. In addition to a wide range of different mental health conditions, cognitive-behavioral therapy-based group therapy sessions have been found to help people who are coping with chronic pain, chronic illness, chronic stress, anger management difficulties, domestic violence, grief and loss, and weight management.
Group therapy activities and techniques can help patients increase their sense of self-esteem and confidence; feel relief from pain, guilt, or stress; learn to avoid destructive and unhelpful behaviors; develop their social skills; claim responsibility for their actions; achieve a sense of belonging; feel hope; and feel less alone, as they become part of a group of individuals with similar experiences and difficulties. The best way to determine if group therapy is right for you is during an appointment with our mental health specialists and psychiatrists. Schedule your appointment today!
What Should I Expect During Group Therapy?
The precise manner group therapy session is conducted, and group therapy activities depend largely on the specific goals of the group and the style of the therapist. In some group therapy sessions, the therapist may encourage a free-form style of dialogue and conversation in which each member participates as they feel comfortable. Other group therapy sessions may use a specific plan designed by the therapist that might include having participants learn and practice new skills with other members of the group.
In in-person group therapy sessions, the group might meet in a room where the chairs are arranged in a large circle so members can see each other while participating. In online group therapy sessions, each person participates remotely using video and microphone software on a laptop, computer, smartphone, tablet, or another device, from the comfort of their living space. For more information about what to expect during group therapy, contact our practice.
Group Therapy For Addiction Treatment Near Me
If you’re considering detoxification services, outpatient treatment, and/or behavioral therapy, or another addiction treatment or psychiatric care service, Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc offers a variety of evidence-based, effective treatment approaches in several treatment settings. Group therapy is often a preferred choice in many situations for people in various stages of recovery. If you or someone you know might benefit from participating in group psychotherapy or individual therapy, call our office to begin the process and to find the right treatment for your needs.