Groups are crucial to the human experience, offering belonging, support, and shared understanding. When treating a substance use disorder, the group feedback and social bonds created by group therapy can be transformative. At Del Arroyo Recovery Center in Agoura Hills, CA, we’re committed to providing comprehensive professional treatment where people can safely heal together.
The Value of Group Therapy in Addiction Treatment
For many people in rehab, group therapy sessions add an important social element to recovery. By interacting with peers who face similar challenges, individuals can hear different perspectives and gain valuable insights they might not be able to see on their own. They also receive valuable peer feedback, support, and accountability from people who truly understand the situation.
Group therapy is more than just a chat with friends; it’s a structured, organized, evidence-based form of treatment that is effective for drug rehab, grief counseling, PTSD treatment, trauma processing, and more. It takes individuals through recovery together, showing them first-hand that they really aren’t alone on the journey.
How We Approach Group Therapy
The professional therapists at our Los Angeles area rehab strive to create a safe, supportive group setting. We take a well-rounded, empathetic approach to healing and recovery, combining evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with helpful wellness strategies and coping skills training. At Del Arroyo Recovery Center, every treatment plan is a personally tailored, long-term solution.
We also help clients improve their communication skills, which they can practice naturally in group therapy sessions. Effective communication is shown to increase recovering addicts’ chances of treatment success, help them make better decisions and choose healthier habits to cope with stress. It also helps them give better peer feedback to group members.
The Goals of Group Therapy at Del Arroyo Recovery Center
There are several goals we help clients achieve in group therapy:
- Healthy interaction with peers: Having a peer support system gives people a sense of belonging and fulfills their human social needs.
- Increased self confidence: By working through issues together, individuals build self-esteem and resilience.
- Better control of emotions: Being able to combat negative thoughts, receive group feedback, and withstand intense emotions helps minimize emotional triggers.
- Stress management: Learning to manage stress helps lower relapse risk and improve well-being during and beyond treatment.
Each of these recovery goals helps clients build a strong foundation for sobriety. Knowing how to properly combat negative thoughts and sources of stress can help them avoid slipping into isolation or depression.
Group Therapy Isn’t Always Necessary
Although group therapy is a very effective technique, it isn’t necessarily right for everyone’s treatment plan. Because it places the support group ahead of the individual, quiet or shy individuals may feel left out, despite the therapist’s best efforts to include them. In some cases, it may not be appropriate to discuss certain confidential details in a group environment.
Whatever the situation may be, we will never put anyone in a compromising position. Group interaction may not work for you, but things like art therapy, music therapy, or 12-step meetings could be a good fit. We’ll go over all of your therapeutic options with you before treatment and craft a drug rehabilitation plan that will be the most effective for you.
Group Therapy Helps People Improve Themselves, Their Social Skills, and More
Group feedback helps individuals build a support system, manage stress, improve communication skills, build self-esteem, and develop healthy coping skills. This can be especially powerful for those who feel like they lack a social network or support during treatment.
If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol use disorder and feel like you have nowhere to turn, we can help you find the support you need.
Contact us today to learn more about our Agoura Hills group therapy methods and discuss how to get started with treatment.