Benefits of Group Treatment for Substance Abuse

This article was written and published by RCA

 

For this reason, most recovery programs offer a variety of treatment services to promote healing in all of these different areas. Group substance abuse treatment programs are one important process for comprehensive recovery.

What Does Group Substance Abuse Treatment Programs Have to Offer?

Individual therapy and counseling are important to work through each patient’s problems on a personal level.  Specifically, it usually focuses on the individual’s specific emotional, family, employment and physical problems and also includes focus on reduction/cessation of substance use, skill-building, adherence to a recovery plan, and social, family, and work or education outcomes. Additionally, group substance abuse treatment programs have the same focus but also offer something else–social support and reinforcement.

The social support offered by group services allows patients to know that they are not alone in their journeys. Patients are able to see others who have successfully dealt with the same struggles they are. They can encourage and support each other in their journey to recovery.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, group treatment for substance abuse is effective in helping to change behavior and is more successful than self-help and other low-intensity cessation programs. For example, some studies show that quitting smoking through group therapy has positive benefits. It may lead to better mental health and overall functioning in individuals.

Group Substance Abuse Treatment Programs at Lighthouse

Lighthouse supports the use of evidence-based treatments, including individual and group treatments and therapy, to aid patients in recovery. In addition to the individual services provided, group treatments for substance abuse play an important role in the full continuum of care offered by Lighthouse. Treatment plans that incorporate group treatment options include:

• inpatient or Residential Treatment: Group therapy and education seminars every day in intensive, structured residential care.

• Partial Care Services: Provides patients with extended daily treatment in an outpatient setting–group therapy and education seminars take place daily.

• Intensive outpatient Treatment: outpatient recovery program for patients undergoing recovery while still participating in normal daily activities–educational and group therapy sessions three times per week for three hours per day.

• Traditional outpatient Treatment: Patients usually attend sessions one to three times a week and can include group counseling.