Group therapies of all sorts are available for helping people who are struggling with drug addiction. The most popular group therapy for drug addiction is known as Narcotics Anonymous, and many people have reported that the group was instrumental in helping them stay clean and sober.
In this article, we’ll discuss what group therapy is and how it can be useful for helping encourage people to stay sober.
What is group therapy?
Group therapy is a form of therapy that allows a number of people to engage in some form of therapy.
In its most common form, group therapy for recovering drug users provides a format in which a number of different recovering users can share their experiences with each other.
Depending on the particular group and its facilitator, there may or may not be a ‘theme’ to the therapy session. In many cases, there is no theme, and instead, just an open discussion. However, some forms of group therapy – particularly those that are provided during a rehab program – are facilitated by a counselor or psychiatrist, who will guide the group through some therapeutic practice.
In most group therapy sessions, individuals will meet in a room where a number of chairs are arranged in a circle. This allows all the members of the group to engage with each other. In open-ended discussions, there is no ‘head’ of the group, and discussion will be organic.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Group therapy provides a number of benefits that one might not be able to experience if they were participating in one-on-one therapy.
- During group therapy, a recovering drug user will be able to communicate with other drug users who have had similar experiences. Any drug user who has gone to therapy can attest to the difficulty of trying to explain addiction to someone who has never been addicted to drugs themselves.
- Members of the group can share their own experiences, advice, tips, and tricks that they’ve used for managing their own addiction.
- Group therapy provides recovering users an open, non-judgmental space where they can be open and honest about their addictions. Many users have a hard time finding a safe space where they can openly express themselves without being stigmatized.
- Struggling group members will be able to model their behavior by figures in the group who have tackled their problems. Group sessions can provide recovering users with positive influences.
- Group members can work together to overcome feelings of shame, guilt, pain, or stress, which they may otherwise have a difficult time confronting on their own or with friends and family who have never used it.
- Recovering drug users will be able to practice new social skills to help themselves reintegrate into society after sobering up.
These are just a few of the benefits that group therapy can provide.
Conclusion
Group therapy has been instrumental in helping many recovering drug users to stay sober. The group dynamic allows for a greater exchange of information and learning. If you or a loved one are struggling with recovery, perhaps group therapy could help propel you further down the road to recovery.
