How Important Is Group Therapy as Part of Outpatient Rehab in NJ?

Group therapy is one of the forms of treatments that are offered by a drug rehab center. The treatment at a rehab center consists of two major components; medical detoxification that addresses the biological factors that cause addiction and therapy sessions that address the psychological dimension of drug and substance addiction.

The rehab can offer this treatment in the form of group therapy or other types of therapy, such as individual therapy, expressive therapy, family therapy, and animal therapy. Group therapy sessions are led by a therapist, making them different from group recovery meetings, which are often conducted anonymously by a group of people experiencing a similar form of addiction.

Group therapy allows the recovering individuals to practice their communication skills while learning new coping techniques after overcoming their addiction. It also allows them to gain strength and hopes from their group members. Through these sessions, individuals who have experienced the ravages of drug addiction can interact with women and men who are experiencing similar struggles and find the most suitable solution.

The therapist facilitating the group therapy session is certified and may have specialized in conducting such sessions. He or she uses a technique that is used specifically for groups. However, many of the concepts used are adapted from the individual therapy model. In most cases, the rehab clients receive group therapy sessions at least once a week. Typically the sessions run for 45 to 60 minutes.

In most cases, the therapist starts off the session by setting a conversational tone that encourages the group members to open up and share their experiences. The therapist then explains the form of therapy that he or she is using in the session such as the REBT approach and either introduces the topic that the group will discuss, or picks up where they left off from the previous session. The therapist ensures that everyone is engaged in the discussion and may use a whiteboard to explain some of the points. He or she ensures that each client’s case is addressed individually, although the session takes place in a group.

Benefits of Group Therapy

Although every patient has a different addiction and recovery story, there are some significant similarities in the experiences that these individuals have. One of the most significant similarity is feeling the need to hide the addiction from their family and friends. By doing so, the patients hope to protect the addiction and perpetuate it. This secrecy creates a communication barrier between the patient and his or her loved ones, causing them to lose trust.

Through the group therapy sessions, the individual can voluntarily discuss their experiences and thoughts to a group of people that understand them. The group, therefore, adds on to the efforts of the therapist to aid the recovery process of the affected individual. Other benefits of group therapy include the following;

• It helps to improve a person’s interpersonal skills and confidence.
• It provides each group member with a social network that helps them learn how to interact with other groups outside of the therapy context.
• It provides members with a diverse perspective. They get to learn about every other group member’s unique situation and receive well-rounded advice towards overcoming addiction.
• Since the clients are constantly meeting with the same group members, they learn how to build trust, develop accountability, and conflict resolution skills.

Group therapy helps each of the group members to integrate the lessons and training that they learn from their sessions into everyday life. It helps them develop awareness in their thinking, and with time, they learn how to overcome the negative thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that were keeping them in the cycle of addiction.

To benefit from group therapy, the individual struggling with addiction must be ready to open up and take part in the discussions and entire therapy process. He or she must be an active participant and be as honest and authentic as possible. It is essential to remain receptive to the feedback of the group members and provide their own. The process may feel uncomfortable at first, but soon enough, the benefits of sharing the addiction struggle become evident. With time, hearing constructive criticism becomes bearable, and an integral part of making changes.

The group members are encouraged to remain respectful of each other as they speak and accommodate each other’s viewpoints and beliefs. Judgment, threats, or attacks are discouraged so as to create the most conducive environment for each group member. If you or a loved one is suffering from drug and substance addiction and would like to benefit from group therapy sessions, you can call us today at 833-610-1174.