Addiction is a hard disease to treat, with no known cure to exist treatment is a lifelong process. Treatment requires the person to not only be honest with themselves but to also be honest with others. Part of the treatment process is speaking openly about their problems and their struggles. The number one fear in the United States is public speaking.
Over time, that treatment will become much easier and less demanding. With proper treatment, people who once suffered from addiction will find a new way of life. Group therapy plays a huge part in the recovery process and is vital to long term sobriety and success. It is very difficult for some people to seek out help from a single person let alone a whole group of people. Don’t question the benefits of group therapy, it has been proven time and time again to be beneficial in the recovery process.
1.Sober Support Group
Building a sober support group is easily one of the most vital parts of long-term recovery. A sober support group is the group of fellow recovering addicts/alcoholics that you can consider your friends or close acquaintances. These people will help you throughout your recovery in a variety of ways. These people can play a variety of roles in your life, from just a friend to a voice of reason when things get difficult. These people understand the struggles you went through because they went through them themselves.
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Being Able to Help Others
There’s more to successful long-term recovery than better yourself. If you’ve been part of a group and have seen an improvement in your life that is amazing. Put yourself into a newcomer’s shoes, you’re probably doing better than someone who just entered your group. Positive affirmations, sharing your story and hope with them and encouraging them to grow and be honest will help them succeed.
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Group Motivation
Days can get difficult. Finding motivation to push and continue to work on yourself and your recovery can become tedious. Being involved in group therapy will help you stay motivated. The people in that group will help pick you up when you are down and keep you moving forward in your recovery.
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Versatility
The possible topics in group therapy are much more varied than in individual therapy. There are support groups that provide mental encouragement and feedback. There are educational sessions where clients will learn about the disease of addiction. There are CBT (cognitive behavioral groups) that work on changing negative thoughts using the power of a group. There are also skills groups and various experimental groups.
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Common Goals
The people in your group will have similar goals to yourself. Being able to achieve these goals together will help build relationships and will also improve the morale of the group. You can be there to help someone when they are having a tough time and they can do the same for you.
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Sharing Stories/Expertise
One of the best parts of group therapy is the mix of stories you will hear. While we all have something in common when it comes to our story of recovery there are many differences. We may have used the same substances but our experience strength and hope will vary person to person.
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Cost Effective
Medical insurance will help cover the cost of individual therapy and group therapy sessions, but for those without medical insurance, that bill can become unmanageable. Paying out of pocket to participate in a private individual session can run someone $100’s of dollars for a single meeting. Group therapy as compared to individual therapy is much cheaper. The average group therapy session will be around $30, some are more expensive some are cheaper.
Are You or a Loved One Struggling?
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction now is the time to get help. At First Steps Recovery, we never give up on residents, we offer up individualized care plans designed around the specific needs of each individual. Addiction and alcoholism cause too much pain and heartbreak in our country, help stop the pain today. Please call us today if you or a loved one are struggling, 1-844-BIG-STEP (1-844-489-0836).
