One of the key components of substance abuse treatment and recovery is group therapy. It can be intimidating to think about participating in a group treatment option with other people, but it doesn’t have to be something that makes you anxious. When done right, group therapy is an effective tool for helping people just like you overcome their alcohol and/or drug addiction and start a healthier, drug-free life. Let’s take a look at the benefits of group therapy for a better idea of what you can expect from participation.
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is a way of helping multiple people in addiction treatment at the same time. Everyone meets together in the same place once or several times per week, and the meeting serves as a chance for individual people to engage with the group. Through group interaction, led by a trained professional, members of the group begin to learn things like universality (others exist who share your struggle), altruism (helping others), renewed hope (seeing others succeed allows you to believe that you too can succeed), and cohesiveness (feelings of support, trust, and belonging to one another in the group). These are just some of the mechanisms that exist in group therapy.
Since many people who struggle with addiction struggle alone and in silence, going to group therapy can be an effective way to change how you see your addiction struggle and begin to see you are not alone and gain encouragement from others.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Everyone Stays Connected and Accountable
One of the biggest problems that people fighting drug addiction have is that they are often isolated from other people in the same situation. This isolation makes it difficult for anyone to make progress on their treatment. It is easy to fall into various mental struggles and be influenced by the wrong things when you are isolated.
Group therapy serves as a way of keeping people connected and accountable. By engaging in the group, people find themselves connected to others who share the problems, triggers, and backslides they themselves have experienced. They connect through understanding and in treatment, members, who trust one another, find a way to hold each other accountable and encourage each other to stay on track.
The Group Can Respond to Problems as They Arise
In some cases, problems for individuals arise in a way that the group can address. If you share that you are challenged by certain situations or people, the group members can help identify what you may fail to see as problematic. The group members can step up and try to help you by giving examples of how they handled similar situations, encouraging you to break free from certain triggers, and offer different ways to handle things without turning to self harm though substance abuse.
Universality – You See That You Are Not Alone
Connecting with other people that have similar experiences and goals can be eye-opening. Many addicts continue to use and avoid treatment because they believe that they are uniquely troubled. Group therapy is an exceptional way to show you that substance abuse or seeking treatment is not unique. You experience the realization in a tangible way that there are other people in the world just like you, in the same situation, who are walking the same path towards good health. It can make a big difference in your recovery process.
Build a Community With the Same Goal
Going to group therapy helps you build connections in several ways. You can benefit from an opportunity to properly recreate family dynamics in a controlled and safe environment. You can gain new awareness and understanding through the feedback of other group members. You receive and give encouragement to each other and celebrate reaching goals and successes. You experience feelings of support, trust, and belonging to one another. Many people in group therapy often make lasting friendships.
Build Self Esteem
By helping others, you improve your own self-concept. By sharing information, solutions, problem solving you are giving worthwhile information to others and that is a good feeling. You begin to build back your self worth and understand your value to others.
Contact Serenity Treatment Center of Lousiana
At the Serenity Treatment Center of Lousiana, we have ways to help including group therapy. We encourage you to take the next step in addressing your addiction and reach out to a treatment center that prioritizes your well-being. Our goal is to get you where you want to be, with the right programs and services.
Serenity Treatment Center of Louisiana is focused on helping people just like you find the resources that they need to overcome addiction and lead healthier life. We serve clients across Lousiana and are open to taking patients from out-of-state. Contact the Serenity Treatment Center of Louisiana by calling us at (225) 361-0899 or sending us a message using our online form..
