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Group Therapy for Addiction Treatment: Counseling for Substance Misuse

What Is Group Therapy for Substance Abuse?

Along with individual therapy, family therapy, and medication management, group therapy can serve as an indispensable element of effective substance misuse and mental health treatment. Group therapy is a broad term for any type of therapy aimed at creating symptom reduction and recovery in two or more people.1,2

Group therapy for substance abuse will have a trained leader conducting the session.3 Unlike in family therapy, the members in group therapy will not usually have pre-existing relationships outside of sessions.

Group therapy sessions can be conducted in varied therapeutic settings at different levels of care, including hospital-based inpatient programs, residential programs, and outpatient recovery programs.1 For someone committed to ending their drug use and beginning a period of recovery, group therapy is an option that can be as effective as individual sessions.3

What Is Group Therapy Used For?

Group therapy may be an instrumental part of your addiction treatment plan. As you proceed through treatment and recovery, you may find it helpful and/or necessary to access behavioral therapy to deal with anger, sadness, stress, or other emotions. Group therapy helps aid in the long-term recovery process by providing patients with the skills they need to prevent relapse.

Addiction treatment plans can include any number of services, including various kinds of therapy. Patients may benefit from one type of therapy over another; others may thrive in recovery utilizing a combination of addiction treatment methods. While individual therapy offers a one-on-one counseling environment, some may benefit more from group counseling services, and many benefit from utilizing both therapy types.

Individuals may find comfort in group therapy sessions, since they offer a more social aspect to drug and alcohol addiction treatment, allowing individuals to experience the recovery processes of their peers and feel less alone in their journeys to sobriety.4

Advantages of Group Therapy

Group therapy has a number of elements that equal or surpass individual therapy, such as the ability to:3

  • Offer members education about the recovery process.
  • Provide support and motivation from peers to help maintain recovery goals.
  • Give members the opportunity to observe issues encountered by others in recovery and observe their methods of problem-solving.
  • Empower group members by encouraging them to offer assistance and feedback to other members.
  • Teach healthy coping skills to manage daily stressors without resorting to substance use.
  • Boost structure and routine in the lives of group members.
  • Build a sense of optimism, self-worth, and belief in group members.
  • Develop relationships between group members that can be used outside of sessions for support and encouragement.
  • Effectively treat many individuals simultaneously with one therapist, allowing these clients quicker access to therapy.
  • Offer therapeutic tools (such as challenging irrational beliefs and confronting poor decision-making) to modify behaviors.

Is Group Therapy Right for Me?

People interested in attending a therapy group will need to be matched up with a group that suits their individual needs. Before placing a recovering individual in a group, a provider will consider the individual’s:3

  • Treatment preferences.
  • Unique needs.
  • Emotional stability.
  • Stage in recovery.

Some people will not be a good fit for group therapy based on their current status. This therapeutic method may be inappropriate for those who:3

  • Refuse group therapy as a viable treatment option.
  • Cannot maintain confidentiality and are at risk for breaking group rules.
  • Are currently in crisis with severe, unmanageable symptoms.
  • Struggle to build suitable relationships.
  • Experience extreme stress around other people and new situations.

Other groups of people—like women and adolescents—require special considerations when it comes to placement in a therapy group. Some evidence shows that women who participate in women’s-only groups may have better outcomes than those in groups with men.3 Also, there is some risk that adolescents in group therapy may actually encourage/reinforce one another’s substance use.4 Leaders of adolescent groups must be aware of this risk and actively manage it.4

What Are the Different Types or Models of Group Therapy?

If group therapy is recommended for you, there are 5 separate models of group sessions that you may encounter:4

Various models of group therapy
  • Psychoeducational groups.
  • Skill development groups.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy groups.
  • Addiction support groups.
  • Interpersonal process groups.

With a knowledgeable and proficient treatment professional, any model can offer strong benefits. However, certain models may better fit your individual needs. Additionally, some therapy groups may take advantage of several models during the course of the meetings, meaning that they shift from one model to another.

Psychoeducational Groups

The primary focus of a psychoeducational group is to offer education and information regarding general themes of substance use, mental health, related behaviors, and the consequences of these behaviors. These groups might resemble a classroom setting, as the material will be presented through audio, video, or a lecture format.3

Psychoeducational groups can be helpful for many situations, as it teaches members:3

  • To recognize the impact of substance use.
  • About their condition, the barriers to recovery, and how to live a drug-free life.
  • Beneficial skills like relaxation, meditation, healthy eating, and anger management.

Skill Development Groups

In skill development groups, the group leader will have a similar position as a teacher, but here, the material provided will be more specific to the group members and their individual needs. Skill development groups will depend more on the group interacting with one other, rather than only the leader speaking to them.3

A group session will focus on a skill that contributes to the members’ ability to remain abstinent from drugs. Potential group topics include:3

  • Handling triggers to engage in substance use or related behaviors.
  • Positively interacting and communicating with others.
  • Identifying and modifying responses to anger.
  • Improving parenting skills.
  • Managing financial responsibilities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Groups

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used, evidence-based style of therapy that operates on the idea that negative behaviors are learned and reinforced over time. To change these behaviors, the individual must work to modify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to substance use.2 One example of a thought that may contribute to continued substance use is, “I’m a bad person; I don’t deserve to be sober.” By modifying damaging thoughts and beliefs, the individual can accomplish the changes needed to sustain recovery.

To accomplish these changes, a cognitive behavioral therapy group will:3

  • Identify members’ distorted beliefs and problematic behaviors.
  • Teach and encourage the use of new thinking and behavior patterns.
  • Offer relapse prevention training.

Addiction Support Groups

The principle focus of a support group for addiction is to offer care and understanding to all members of the group. This support will come from the group leader and from members helping one another. The leader will help members improve their interpersonal skills as they engage in group discussion, share experiences, and help each other resolve their challenges.3

The therapist will demonstrate the desired level of communication, model respectful interaction, and provide positive reinforcement for members.3

Interpersonal Process Groups

Interpersonal process groups attempt to promote healing in members through fostering an understanding of psychodynamics (the way individuals function psychologically). The group leader will note and process:3

  • How each member is feeling and functioning in the group.
  • How the members are interacting with each other.
  • How the group is performing as a whole.

There will be a focus on emotional development and childhood concerns that, when left unresolved, lead to poor decision-making, impulsivity, and unhealthy coping skills. By resolving these issues, a person can improve their judgment.

With interpersonal group therapy, the content covered in each group session is secondary. Rather, the leader looks to see how the group members are behaving and interacting in the present and how their present is being influenced by their past.

Group Therapy Categories

Based on the way the group is conducted and who participates in it, different subtypes exist for each of the aforementioned group therapy models.

Fixed and Revolving Groups

Groups can either be fixed or revolving. A fixed membership group is one that begins and ends with the same members throughout. Once the group is initiated, new members are not usually added. These groups generally have less than 15 members and are appropriate for people who are at similar points in their recovery.3

Revolving membership groups are named for their ability to change members at any time. When someone is appropriate for the group, they will join and then leave when the time is right. These groups will be run constantly with an ever-changing collection of members.3

Time-Limited and Ongoing Groups

Fixed and revolving groups can be divided further into time-limited or ongoing groups:3

  • Time-limited groups will ask members to attend for a specified length of time or number of sessions.
  • Ongoing groups will allow members to attend indefinitely based on their symptoms and overall progress.

Each type of recovery group has strengths and weaknesses, and which one will be best will depend on the unique needs of each individual. All versions can be effective.

Stages of Group Therapy

Regardless of the model or category of the therapy group, it will progress through three general stages. They are:3

The beginning phase

Getting started. In this phase, the members will become oriented to the process and learn the group rules and goals.

The middle phase

Where change is made. The middle phase should consume the majority of someone’s time in group therapy. Here, the therapist will use their skills to trigger changes in thought patterns and modify behaviors to move toward treatment goals. This is also where meaningful connections between members will be made.

The ending phase

Moving to closure. Ideally, relationships with leaders and members will not end abruptly. Any run of regular group therapy must come to an end at some point. However, this end point should be projected gradually to allow for the adequate recognition of the accomplishments made over the course of therapy and to address any anxiety and/or sadness a person may have over the group coming to a close.

Group Leader Roles and Responsibilities

The qualifications and experience of those who lead therapy groups will vary somewhat. Examples of people who can lead groups include:1

Some terms like facilitator, therapist, or clinician are used generally and do not denote specific training or experience.

Leaders should have the following qualities to ensure an effective group:3

  • The ability to maintain a consistent, safe, supportive environment to promote abstinence.
  • A strong sense of self to manage group members’ symptoms, as well as the impact group sessions have on them personally.
  • The ability to listen actively and make group members feel heard.
  • The use of empathy—the ability to understand what the client is experiencing.
  • The capacity for projecting the self-assurance and expertise that makes them a role model for members.
  • The creativity and flexibility to react to unexpected, unplanned situations as they present.
  • A strong sense of ethics that is maintained as challenging situations arise.
  • Trustworthiness that promotes openness between members and the therapist.
  • The ability to use humor and levity when appropriate to balance difficult moments.

Some groups will employ a team of therapists to better manage sessions. In substance abuse treatment, all leaders will work professionally to:3

  • Link the connections between substance use and thoughts/feelings.
  • Limit conflict.
  • Boost motivation.
  • Build coping skills.

Group Therapy for Addiction Treatment Near Me

If you’re considering detoxification services, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, aftercare, and/or behavioral therapy, American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches across different treatment settings.

Group therapy is a preferred option in many situations for people in various stages of recovery. You can verify your insurance coverage now and/or locate a rehab center near you. If you or someone you know could benefit from participating in group therapy, please call one of our admissions navigators free at to begin the process and find the right treatment for you.

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