Group Therapy For Substance Abuse

The group method of therapy has been shown to be effective in domestic violence cases, as in an example study participants were found to have a decrease in mental distress and perceived greater social support (Constantino, Kim & Crane, 2005) as a result of an eight week group program.

There are several different kinds of psychoeducational groups for addictions: Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, Nar-Anon, and so many more. Although those these groups may focus on different types of addiction one thing they all had in common to decide how the group was to be formed. Each one group has their own unique why on how it is ran, but according to to Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry-Rooney, and Strom-Gottfried success of a group rests largely on the thoughtful creation

A 12 step group enhances recovery in two ways. Firstly, it offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol,

For example a member of the group mention how the group meeting helps her to be open and honest about a day by day struggle with temptation and addiction because the group members can relate to her bawl while she has to be silent about her emotions with her coworkers because of the stigma and the lack of understanding on the disease as well as the taboo of talking about it. Another example that aid me to understand the role of the group meeting is the fact that each member identified himself or herself as an addict by the time they mention their name which from my point of view relate to the fact of acceptance instead of denial about who they are, that even when years passed from the last time they used they are aware that they are still vulnerable to the drugs and that the support the group therapy provide is essential to stay clean as a member also mentioned that he was born an addict and stay an addict for many years but incompletely denial of it because he thought he could stop using drugs whenever he wanted to but failed each time until he finally join the group and follow the discipline and stipulations of the group

It is important for substance use disorders counselor to know what happens in support group because a member from the group might need additional support and the counselor can referral the member to individual therapy. According to SAMHSA “Counseling can be provided at the individual or group level. Individual counseling often focuses on reducing or stopping substance use, skill building, adherence to a recovery plan, and social, family, and professional/educational outcomes. Group counseling is often used in addition to individual counseling to provide social reinforcement for pursuit of recovery.” Therefore it is important to know what happens in support group to see if the client fits well in group or individual therapy. It is also important

Treatment is based on the patient’s individual and realistic goals, concerns, and meaningful activities. A lot of the time group therapy can be useful for patients with substance abuse to regain their social skills and be associated with people going through the same situation. Also, treatment could be broken up into several stages to meet the needs of each individual and inpatient or outpatient treatments can occur. “Therapists need to educate the patients about the addictions they have. They need to learn that their moods will be exacerbated and to learn that they can deal with their feelings through certain techniques for anger and stress management

There are many forms of therapy for many different mental illnesses. Some work better for certain people than others but there are a few advantages and disadvantages that stand out. An advantage of self-help groups may be that people tend to thrive on socialization and knowing they're not alone. It would be beneficial to hear other people's perspectives, tips, and motivation if they've gone through or are going through the same type of situation. Having small group sessions and pairing up with people to hold each other accountable to not drink, or whatever the situation may be, helps some people because they want for the other person to get well just as much as they want wellness for themselves. Since people in the group have gone through similar situations, the person may feel they're able to be more sympathetic and understanding than a therapist who may have not struggled previously with addiction or a mental illness. Some disadvantages could include; people in the group therapies, while being sympathetic and encouraging, don't necessarily have the education or resources to help some of the more extreme of cases, hostility within the group may arise and hurtful words may be exchanged (which could further

The reason I selected Standards for Assessment in Substance Abuse Counseling is, because of personal past experiences. Therefore, I have developed a passion of wanting to help people afflicted by substance abuse issues overcome this deadly obsession breaking the chains that bind them.

In the successful addiction treatment program, intervention should be a structured process where in the family members, friends as well as the co-workers come together to communicate their concerns about the behavior and its effects on self and others in a caring way.

S: This therapist conducted a process group which included the client and discussed how his substance abuse has affected his family. The client discussed how his substance abuse contributed to him getting arrested which caused him to spend less time with his child.

A person who has a substance abuse and a mental health disorder are identified as having a co-occurring disorder. Patients with substance use and mental health share common ground, because they hold the philosophy that treatment of chronic illness requires a long-term approach in which stabilization, education, and self-management are central (Drake, Mercer-McFadden, Mueser, McHugo, & Bond, 2016, p. 589). A counselor can help give resources (NA meetings being available in their community) as well as skills needed to help one not to relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy, family counseling, and other therapy approaches can help people recovering from addiction stay clean ("counseling," 2017, para. 2). Psychotherapy can also treat the other

People are drawn to one another and naturally form groups in order to share concerns, seek life direction, and solve problems (Maguire, 2002). I had the privilege of observing a substance abuse group therapy session in Kotzebue, Alaska. This paper will describe the group, discuss the facilitator and the leadership roles within the group, evaluate my personal observations of the group, explain the group intervention and purpose, provide insight into the cultural sensitivity of the group, and offer a reflection of the group’s influence on my professional development.

Group therapy is an important method that is commonly used by psychiatric professionals in the treatment of many types of mental illnesses. They consist of three or more people and are targeted at promoting psychological development and change. There are three different types of groups. The task group works by using tasks, such as activities and techniques, designed to help clients work toward desired goals. In addition, midrange groups work by allowing clients to share their thoughts and feelings with others who have learned to cope with similar problems over a longer period of time. Lastly, process groups work by allowing clients to work on their communicating patterns, skills and methods (Fortinash & Holoday Worrett, 2008).

The majority of alcohol abuse treatments are designed for groups. The basis behind this model is that the participants can interact amongst each other and identify with one another. Some early studies suggest that attempts at individual alcohol abuse therapy may be dangerous and ineffective, however since that time not much research has been done on the subject.

In Counseling for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the need to use different techniques is an integral part of the process. Working with an individual that is either entering into recovery or actively in recovery, the clinician must take their time with introducing the 12 Steps. The individual may not be open to the 12 Step philosophies at the onset. Addiction is very complex and actively affects the person on a daily basis; therefore, it is so important to start from the beginning of counseling to create a structured program.