Group therapy is the backbone of addiction treatment offering a sense of community and providing support and accountability. While participating in group therapy, you’ll be able to develop good interpersonal skills, learn new coping strategies, and gain new perspectives from fellow members.
Those who participate in group therapy are more likely to stay involved in their treatment plan, reduce psychological symptoms, and find continued support after they leave their treatment plan thanks to the encouragement and support offered by other members.
Group Therapy Ideas for Addiction
So, what are some good group therapy ideas for addiction treatment?
Gratitude Practices
Some of the best group therapy ideas for addiction treatment involve gratitude practices. Gratitude practices can center on making lists as an individual for things like opportunities, people, or experiences for which you are grateful.
This can start with small things like being able to participate in group therapy, having someone give you a compliment, or being able to walk around when the sun is shining.
Too often in recovery there are so many difficulties and unfamiliar emotions or experiences that people begin to think that the potential for joy or happiness has to do with their circumstances when in reality it has to do with your focus and where that focus is directed.
Gratitude practices are small actions that help group members magnify their joy and remember to focus entirely on the things within their control.
Identifying Unhelpful Thoughts
Some positive group activities for addiction have to do with helping everyone in the group reframe their unhelpful thoughts.
Many times, people who are going through difficult times or in recovery are not aware of how their thoughts are unhelpful and how those automatic negative thoughts cause negative emotions and, subsequently, negative actions.
As a group, members can practice identifying what to look for and pointing out when they see it in themselves or an example shared in the group like:
- Always expecting the worst
- Ignoring good things and only seeing bad things
- Seeing things as black and white with no flexibility
- Thinking you are the cause of your negative situations and nothing else
When groups work together to catch these thoughts, it helps individuals recognize when they are engaging in unhelpful thinking and to change automatic negative thoughts to automatic positive ones.
Reframing Thoughts
Other group therapy ideas for addiction include reframing those thoughts. This can involve everyone in the group going around the room and offering suggestions for reframing unhelpful, automatic thoughts like:
- How likely is the negative outcome you are thinking about?
- Do you have good evidence to support negative outcomes?
- Are there any other possible explanations for what is happening?
- Can you think of an alternative way of looking at this situation?
- Is there something you can learn from this situation?
- What advice would you give a friend if they were in the same situation?
Just like identifying unhelpful thoughts, being able to positively reframe your thoughts can become automatic with enough practice in group therapy.
Meditation
Meditation is one of the most important holistic tools that you can cultivate for good long-term mental health. During group therapy, you can participate in these basic skills together like:
- Breathing from your diaphragm instead of your clavicle when you are stressed
- Meditation
- Progressive relaxation
- Visualization
These can be facilitated by a therapist and practiced in a group setting, after which you have the chance to discuss your experiences with one another.
Discussing Triggers and Beliefs
When you are in recovery, staying sober requires a deep understanding of your personal beliefs and identification of your triggers. When you are particularly stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, being able to return to the values that matter most to you personally can often give you the strength to persevere.
During group therapy sessions you might have an opportunity to discuss your beliefs, to hear from other people what their recovery beliefs are, and to discuss how to identify triggers.
Finding Group Therapy with Sequoia Recovery
At Sequoia Recovery, our goal is to ensure that you have access to a wide range of group therapy sessions, no matter the level of care you receive. Group therapy is an essential part of all recovery plans, not only encouraging better socialization and interactions with others but also providing the opportunity to participate in group therapy ideas for addiction counseling and learning new coping skills.
At our facility you have a chance to participate in evidence-based holistic group therapy programs that involve interactive group therapy opportunities from traditional therapy settings as well as outdoor activity settings.