Group Counseling for Drug Rehab Therapy

There are different treatment methods for drug addiction. These include individual therapy, group counseling, family therapy, and medications. The most common form of treatment is individual therapy.

The focus of this article is group counseling. Group counseling is a form of therapy in which the group members do not have a pre-existing relationship outside the counseling sessions. Some of the features of group counseling include;

– There will be a trained group leader.

– Members may range from two to ten.

– Members cut across all age grades.

Levels of Group Counseling

Group counseling occurs in three levels, they are:

1. Outpatient Treatment Programs: The outpatient treatment centers don’t offer intensive addiction treatment. They offer assistance to working-class individuals who need therapy for drug addiction. One of the methods they adopt is group counseling.
2. Residential Treatment Centres: These centers are given a residential and a non-hospital setting to help the addict acclimatize faster. One of the methods of treatment in the residential treatment center is group counseling.

III. Hospital-Based Inpatient Program: At the core of most rehab-based treatments is behavioral therapy. Individual and group counseling sessions are utilized in treatments.

 

Advantages of Group Counseling in Drug Rehab

1. Members receive support and motivation from each other to recover.
2. Members are taught how to cope with stress without relapsing into drug abuse.
3. People build relationships that are beyond the scope of therapy.
4. One therapist can treat many individuals simultaneously.
5. Group members can give feedback to and assist themselves get better.

Disadvantages of Group Counseling in Drug Rehab

1. People sometimes have peculiar needs that are not met in group therapy sessions.
2. The recovery rate of people differ. Some individuals may become discouraged if they don’t recover at the same pace as other individuals.
3. Some individuals are shy. They may lack the confidence to open up during sessions.
4. Certain individuals lack the quality of discreteness. They may lack the ability to keep the information confidential.
5. Some people are antisocial and can develop anxiety around new people.