5 Benefits of Group Therapy
1. Not All Peer Pressure Is Harmful
In a support group of other people at different stages in their recovery process, a person who might otherwise be prone to a relapse can rely on their peers to help keep them accountable. In a group of others who know firsthand what the struggles and challenges of recovery are, it will be easier to talk honestly and openly about feelings related to substance use. It will also be easier to receive and accept criticisms and challenges about negative or unproductive thought patterns since the others in the group are not outsiders but peers.
2. Reducing Feelings of Isolation
It can be lonely when a person decides to stop using and seek treatment. Group therapy can help reduce that feeling of isolation because the person will meet peers who are also trying to maintain sobriety. Support group members can give and receive support and advice from one another, helping to ease the sense of loneliness. Newer members can look to more experienced members and see examples of how recovery is possible and how life can be lived in a healthier way and still be enjoyable.
3. Healing Relationships and Building Skills
Many people who enter treatment for substance use disorders have experienced difficulty in their relationships and families of origin. Interacting with other members of the group can provide a sense of familial belonging and also encourage the members to strengthen their communication skills. In order to heal relationships outside of the treatment environment, effective communication skills are essential. Also, learning to trust the other group members can be immensely beneficial to those who have struggled with trust issues in their families of origin.
4. Learning to Cope
In a support group, members have the opportunity to teach and learn from one another. This is especially important when learning new coping strategies for a life without substance use. The members can share ideas, develop strategies, and encourage one another to keep trying new things. The group environment offers the members a safe place to practice these new skills so that, when they leave the therapeutic environment, they are armed with new ways to help them maintain recovery.
5. Teaching Is Learning
One of the most effective ways to develop a new skill or strengthen an existing skill is to teach the skill to someone else. In the context of support groups, members reinforce the crucial lessons they have learned in their recovery journeys by imparting that wisdom to newer members. Often, through the process of explaining to others, ideas about recovery and sobriety can be better internalized. The members of the group see themselves not only as people in recovery but also as mentors for those who are just starting out in recovery.
Experience the Benefits of Group Therapy at Pines Recovery Life Detox
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, the best time to reach out for help is now. In South Florida, Pines Recovery Life Detox provides comprehensive and compassionate treatment programs for substance use disorders, including:
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Detox services
- Medication-assisted treatment program
Contact our caring professional staff today by completing our online form or calling 800.263.3869 and learn more about the benefits of group therapy.
