Substance use disorders can cause a lot of harm in the life of a person struggling with addiction. But what we most often don’t talk about is the damage that substance abuse can cause to a person’s ability to foster healthy relationships with others.
That is what group therapy in addiction treatment works to address. From the moment you first call Skypoint Recovery in Akron, Ohio, you are committing to the journey toward a better life – and better connection with others in the future.
Group therapy is just one of the mental health services we offer as part of our substance abuse treatment programs at Skypoint Recovery. We believe with the right combination of medical detox and mental health services, any person is capable of reclaiming their lives from the harm of substance use.
Read on to learn about how we use group therapy as part of our addiction treatment – and how Skypoint Recovery Ohio can help you break free from your drug use today.
What is Group Therapy?
Group therapy is designed to help people practice healthy interpersonal relationship skills during treatment, so they can then apply these practices to their community outside of group therapy sessions.
These tools are developed mostly through sessions that are supervised by a mental health professional. During guided conversations in a group setting, individuals can better understand how they relate to others and work on how they respond to conflict and intimacy.
One of the ways group therapy conversations are fostered is by bringing individuals together around a common problem. With this in mind, individuals who benefit most from group therapy include people who mutually struggle with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, loss, and substance abuse. In the safe space of a supervised group setting, group members are able to practice everyday social skills that can help them better manage their emotions when facing triggers in the real world.
Group therapy offers a space where individuals can find support and get feedback about their lived experiences. And one of the important elements that group therapy offers is accountability between its members. It is no longer just your therapist holding you responsible for your actions; in group therapy, it is also your peers.
Benefits of Group Therapy for Addiction
Group therapy is just one of many mental health services included in our treatment programs at Skypoint Recovery. In fact, by participating in group therapy, many people struggling with substance abuse feel they are more open and ready to commit to the work of individual therapy.
But the greatest benefit of group therapy as part of an addiction treatment program is that you get to talk about your recovery process with people who are committed to the same treatment plan as you. In these group discussions, you can discuss relapse prevention, depression and anxiety that are connected to your substance abuse, and even past traumatic events that might have led to your substance use in the past.
In group therapy, you are given the opportunity to learn from the successes and failings of fellow people who are struggling with addiction. This can aid you in developing greater self-awareness of your own experience with substance abuse and help you learn to bond with and develop healthy relationships with other individuals around you again.
Substance Abuse Group Therapy Options
There are a wide variety of group therapy options that can be incorporated into substance abuse treatment. All of them share the ultimate goal of practicing better relationship development and growth. You are more likely to experience a wide variety of group therapy options when participating in outpatient treatment, as the main goal of part-time addiction treatment is to help you develop skills to avoid drug and alcohol abuse in the future.
Here are some of the group therapy options you will encounter during addiction treatment:
Cognitive Behavior Groups
This type of group therapy uses the practices of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a group setting. In short, you are encouraged to better understand the relationships between your negative thoughts and emotions – and how they can turn into self-destructive actions like substance abuse.
Interpersonal Groups
In this form of group therapy, you will focus on the skills needed to form new relationships and grow in them. This includes working on skills like conflict management and empathy.
Skills Development Groups
As substance abuse treatment programs focus on helping you in developing skills and tools you can use to manage future addiction cravings, this can also be folded into group therapy sessions. Skills development group therapy could include opportunities for meditation, and yoga, along with nutritional education and other life skills practice.
Support groups – The most common example of this group therapy is Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. They are recovery communities that are grounded in helping individuals who have completed addiction treatment stay sober and manage sobriety when facing unexpected triggers in their daily lives.
Skypoint Recovery Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
Skypoint Recovery’s treatment center offers some of the best drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Akron, Ohio. With a focus on caring for the whole person while also equipping you to better interact in the world outside of treatment, we can promise you will not regret your time spent in our care.
If you feel overwhelmed or lost while researching substance abuse treatment options, we are here to help. You can always give us a call – or check out these frequently asked questions from our previous clients:
What is the difference between substance abuse group therapy and individual therapy?
Individual therapy occurs during addiction treatment when a guided conversation occurs between one therapist and one patient. In contrast, group therapy is defined as more than one patient participating in treatment in a formal treatment setting.
While you might automatically feel more comfortable in group therapy or individual therapy on its own, recent research has proven there are actually more disadvantages to participating in just individual therapy or just group therapy alone. In fact, patients benefit most when these therapy models are used together. This means you can share the discoveries you’ve made in individual therapy with your peers and learn from their personal growth in group therapy as well.
How long do group therapy sessions last?
The length of any therapy sessions in your treatment plan is based on what type of substance abuse treatment program you are participating in. For example, if you have chosen to be part of an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP), you may be engaged in several types of individual and group therapy for up to six hours a day, most days of the week. But when you are done with all therapy sessions for the day, you are allowed to go home and sleep in the comfort of your own bed.
In contrast, group therapy sessions will only take up part of your time in a residential treatment program. The rest of your time in this type of addiction treatment will be focused on individual therapy, relapse prevention, medication management, and other skills development that will help you progress toward addiction recovery.
How can I pay for substance abuse group therapy?
The passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2014 now means that all healthcare coverage needs to include some form of substance abuse treatment. And outside of traditional addiction treatment programs, most insurance also offers options to help pay for mental health services.
However, it can feel exhausting and overwhelming to navigate all the information surrounding in-network coverage for substance use disorders and other mental health issues. If you need help figuring out how you can pay for addiction treatment, you can always reach out to us. Our team of intake professionals at Skypoint Recovery Ohio will walk you through what options you have through your insurance plan, or we can help you set up a payment plan that you can commit to over time.
With the support of our addiction treatment knowledge, we will help guarantee that money is never the problem that stands in the way of the substance abuse treatment services you need.
The Skypoint Recovery Difference
As one of the largest cities in the state of Ohio, Akron is known for its diverse art scene and beautiful historic buildings. But when you choose the road to a sober life at Skypoint Recovery, you will get to enjoy the quiet and peaceful side of Akron culture.
At Skypoint Recovery, we will help you get away from the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. Our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you take control of your life again!
Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.