Your Ultimate Group Therapy Guide + Activities & Ideas

We find that many of our clients are unsure of what to expect, and need time to feel out the group dynamic before speaking up. If you or a family member are seeing addiction recovery, we can help. Contact Bedrock Recovery Center to learn more about our group therapy strategies. Mindfulness exercises https://ecosoberhouse.com/ may include journaling, affirmations, and self-care practices. Mindfulness exercises can be used to combat negative thoughts, aid in stress management, improve emotional balance and increase self-awareness. Drug abuse has a detrimental effect on the individual and those closest to him or her.

Guided meditation is an excellent ice breaker and provides an opportunity for lesson learning. You can read a passage and ask the members to take a silent moment to reflect on its insight. What’s more, you can encourage your members to take up meditation in their private time. Her positive approach focuses on providing appropriate and specific services, keeping the needs of each individual in mind. She is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and LCADC. With a heart for helping others, Leila comes to us with over 6 years of experience working in the treatment industry.

A Chronic Condition Demands Ongoing Care

If you want to capitalize on the atmosphere facilitated by group cooking, you can come up with discussion questions to guide the group afterward. You will set the timer so they can start talking—ask them to take it slow and be genuine, practicing the three steps outlined above. They should ideally be taking note all the while of the impact they are having on their listener partner. Next, invite the group to pair off—one will take on a speaker role and the other will listen. The participant who is in a speaker role first can then pick a theme they’d like to talk about for a timed period of three minutes. To lead a group through this activity, instruct all group members to take a few minutes to think about interesting aspects of their life.

People will shut down if you ask them to share their most intimate thoughts from the moment they walk in the door. You need to start slow in order to ease your clients into sharing their deeper thoughts with the group. Once your group feels comfortable with each other you can start digging deeper. Instead of viewing it as a failure, it should be seen as a signal that additional support or adjustments to the treatment approach are needed. Relapse does not indicate a lack of effort or dedication; rather, it underscores addiction’s chronic and challenging nature. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a program’s quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served.

Co-occurring Disorders and EMDR

It can boost your sense of well-being and help you cope with drug cravings and other recovery-related challenges. A 3-page narrative therapy worksheet for exploring a past substance use relapse. A 1-page checklist with quick tips, self-soothing, and indulgent ideas for self-care. A 3-page worksheet for substance use recovery for planning leisure activities and enhancing wellness/spirituality.

The facilitator can vary things up by letting group members pick someone else to answer their question once they’ve finished sharing. Alternatively, group members can take turns drawing cards, but all group members are encouraged to share their answers. Completing this worksheet in a group setting can help clients connect with each other and realize that they are not alone in their negative thoughts and beliefs. It can be far too easy to believe that we are the only ones struggling and suffering from mental health or emotional problems, but this is far from the truth.

Overview on Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT)

In a group therapy session, members investigate core problems that make their addiction worse and work on ways to overcome these. Group members support one another in exploring their substance abuse and work to improve each other’s self-confidence. Group therapy can play a vital role in recovery for those struggling with substance abuse.

Also, some may not have the financial means to cover the costs of a therapy program. Support groups offer people an opportunity to protect their mental health in a setting that is usually low or no cost. They can also help people get a better idea of where they are at in their healing process. We previously posted a list of 60 substance abuse group therapy activities to give readers an idea of what kinds of topics they might encounter during a theme/support group. It’s important for inpatient and outpatient rehab facilities to incorporate beneficial substance abuse group activities. Group therapy is a helpful and effective method of treatment if you conduct it properly.

Alina Lodge sent her to Eating Disorder Conferences at Renfrew ED Treatment Center. She was also given the opportunity to become a Certified Trauma Therapist through the Spirit to Spirit program with Judy Crane at The Refuge in Ocala, Florida. She worked as a Primary Counselor at Alina Lodge until 2021 when she decided to retire. Donna’s love of working with animals extends back many years to when she grew up training and showing horses in her local 4H Chapter and nationally.

• Group therapy sessions focusing on relapse prevention equip individuals with the skills and mindset needed to overcome setbacks.
• Participants support and nurture each other like a family by reinforcing good behaviors and helping each other cope during difficult tasks.
• To encourage helpful discussions, some recovery groups toss around question balls.

Discuss how treatments for physical illnesses – like broken bones or infections – are similar to treatments for psychological illnesses like addiction. Brainstorm ideas for the ideal hospital or retreat to provide you with mental and emotional healing. Think of emotional problems you face, such as depression or a bad temper. Then write about or discuss how these emotions might serve you, such as the way your depression forces you to slow down and rest when you’re overwhelmed. Then write about or discuss ways you can serve the same purpose in a more positive way, such as allowing yourself regular sessions of peaceful self-care to stave off overwhelm.

Ask your clients to share what their tombstone would say if they were to die today. Pass out pre-printed outlines of a tombstone and ask your clients to think about this exercise seriously.

• Gerry is an LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) and the Senior Clinical Advisor to the Clinical Director of Alina Lodge.
• Jackie received her Canine Good Citizen Certification from the AKA and is a Certified Therapy Dog.
• A 6-page worksheet for describing problem areas, identifying goals, and exploring what has (and has not) been helpful in the past.
• Recognizing addiction as a chronic condition akin to other enduring health issues is essential.
• Addiction and recovery can cause people to isolate themselves from family members and loved ones.

On this site, you’ll find numerous articles on goal-setting to help you get your first group session on track. You will also find different interventions, exercises, meditations, and more in our Positive Psychology Toolkit. Many of these suggestions and planning materials can be https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/top-10-substance-abuse-group-activities/ applied to both individual clients and therapy groups. Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. Below is a list of therapy topics and themes that may be used during group therapy for substance use disorders.