Common Group Therapy Exercises At Drug Rehab Centers
Group therapy participation is one of the most powerful ways in which a person can overcome drug addiction. There are multiple different types of group therapy and these activity groups are designed to utilize unique methods. Once you’ve decided if group therapy is right for you, choosing a specific therapy type will dictate the kind of activities you are likely to expect in therapy.
Skills Development Groups
Skills development groups are designed to help people develop coping skills regarding drugs use. Typically, you are going to learn different ways to avoid offers of drugs, methods to identify your addiction triggers, coping techniques for withdrawal, and relaxation skills for anxiety and anger.
Activities of these groups include:
- Discussing ways to refuse drugs when the temptation is high
- Identifying personal triggers for addiction and finding out why they are so powerful
- Opening up to other people and offering them helpful constructive criticism
- Practicing coping techniques in an open and welcoming group setting
These groups will be directed by a facilitator, one who will help keep things focused and moving in a productive manner. These same activities will also be practiced in a cognitive behavioral therapy group, but the latter group will feature more psychoanalytic activities, such as group discussions.
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Interpersonal Process Group Psychotherapy
Interpersonal process group psychotherapy is one of the most intense of all group therapy options. It features a heavy analysis of Freudian concepts of sex and aggression and how these concepts drive addiction. As a result, you can expect a lot of activities centered around personal confession and soul searching. A facilitator will be on hand to ensure things don’t get out of hand.
Activities you’re likely to see in this type of therapy include:
- Group psychoanalytical analysis
- Discussions on personal rivalries that may have fueled addiction
- Analyzing events that may have influenced a psychological need for addiction
- Practicing new behaviors that are designed to help a person adapt to these problems
- Interacting with people who have similar problems and concerns that influence addiction
This particular practice varies from skill development because it is focused more on learning about a person by their interactions with others in the group. The dynamic of the group will be examined to create a unique profile for each person involved. This will be used to find methods of coping with addiction that is appropriate for individual needs.
Support Groups
Think of support groups as an extended and efficient self-help group. In these groups, you won’t run into harsh judgments or people looking down at you for your addiction. Support groups are designed to help a person feel unconditional love and personal acceptance. They also encourage self-reflection, personal honesty, and openness with the people around you.
These activities are designed to help ease the guilt and anguish that many people feel when they are recovering from an addiction. Often, they tear themselves down in nonconstructive ways that further contribute to addiction. Support groups help a person distance themselves from that pain and start building their self-esteem again. Some support groups can be meetings for spouses of loved ones struggling with addiction, while others can include the whole family.
Support group activities include:
- Group-sharing positive feelings you may be experiencing
- Telling everyone in the group something that you like about them (and yourself)
- Identifying negative feelings and countering them with positive affirmations
- Learning relaxation techniques and re-directions that eliminate anxiety and negative emotions
- Group discussions on personal events, the practical matters of staying abstinent, and how to avoid using
Similar activities are also performed in psycho-educational groups. These groups focus more strongly on personal self-awareness and developing ways to grow past addiction. Activities are often a bit more personally difficult with this type of therapy, including discussing negative events in your history.
Choosing The Right Group Therapy Activities For Your Needs
Before you choose one of these group therapy types, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Are you comfortable sharing a high volume of personal details? And are you ready to make life-changing alterations to your lifestyle? If the answer to both those questions is “yes,” please contact us at RehabCenter.net now. We can help connect you with a center that offers the type of group therapy activities for you.
