6 Ways To Get The Most Out Group Therapy In Drug Rehab Treatment

If you’re like most people and are thinking about attending drug rehab, you’re probably worried about group therapy sessions. The fear of having to share your feelings and struggles in a room full of people is intimidating to everyone, not just those struggling with substance use disorders. While some people do well in social settings, other people tend to be standoffish or aloof. One of the main reasons why people in drug treatment tend to pull away from group therapy sessions is that they struggle with anxiety, trust issues, and are dealing with guilt and shame surrounding their past. Most people struggle with all of the previously mentioned things, but in those trying to recover from an addiction, these are magnified tenfold. Even if they don’t show it, everyone struggles with insecurities and their past. Learning to push past the uncomfortable feelings surrounding sharing in a group setting will help you to get used to sharing in meetings later on in your path to recovery. At the same time, your voice might be enough to reach someone else dealing with the same struggles that you are. With that being said, don’t let your past prevent you from taking the right steps into your future. Group therapy is extremely beneficial in drug treatment centers because it helps you to learn how to trust again while showing you that you’re not alone. Attending group therapy can be life-changing; it can open you up to different treatment modalities that will enhance your sobriety and experience at drug rehab. Here are 6 things everyone should do to make the most out of drug rehab group therapy.

6 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Drug Rehab Group Therapy

  1. Learn How To Listen To Others:

    Maximize your time in group therapy by opening up, even on a smaller scale. Listening in a group therapy setting can give you answers to things that you are too nervous about bringing up yourself. Remember, at GH Recovery Solutions we offer no judgment in group therapy sessions. In other words, we don’t believe in judging people because of their history, or on what was shared in group. With this in mind, we want everyone in group therapy to get involved in all aspects. If you’re not quite to the point of sharing in the group then listen, speak to someone after group if they’re comfortable and offer them your experience in dealing with something or empathize with them.
    All in all, our group therapy sessions are designed to help you grow. However, it’s impossible to develop if you never open up and get comfortable sharing in a group setting. Chances are, if you don’t open up, you will find it challenging to find new opportunities to improve on yourself. In essence, once you close yourself off from the world, you block out everything, including the good things.

  2. Speak up, Even When You’re Not Okay

    No one in drug rehab is okay at all points. Emotions and situations can still be very tumultuous. Don’t let that stop you from sharing where you’re at. When things are going well, it’s easy to share good news or to be the positive person, but when things aren’t going swimmingly, we tend to shut down. Don’t let the fear seeming vulnerable deter you from sharing in group therapy sessions. No one is perfect, including you. Sharing when you’re struggling gets you into the habit of reaching out when you’re struggling. It is difficult to deal with the flood of emotions that comes when you are newly sober, even if you’ve been in recovery before. The onslaught of an emotional rollercoaster is to be expected. Learning to reach out when you are struggling can be the thing that saves your life later down the road. Speak up; you will be heard and can often be given a solution. Even venting feels much better once you get over the initial fear of opening up in front of others.

  3. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions

    Many times in groups there is a topic or activity that is designed to help you learn more about yourself, teamwork or trusting others and yourself. If you are ever confused or curious about a topic or activity, ask questions! You are here to learn more about yourself and discuss the underlying issues that have fueled drug addiction and alcoholism. Don’t be fearful when it comes to not knowing. For so long we operated with one goal, to get more of what we needed to get through the day. You are bound to have questions on your journey to learning how to live life in recovery. Don’t be shy if you feel like you don’t understand something. If you aren’t comfortable asking in front of others, pull the group facilitator or therapist aside when you are done with the group and ask them your questions. If not, you can always ask your primary therapist the benefits of certain groups and how it will assist your recovery.

  4. Remember The Context Of Our Words Are Just As Important As Our Words

    As we all know, we can’t control what other people do, but we can control ourselves. It’s not always what we say, but how we say it. Be mindful that there’s a time and place for everything, and it is not always in a group therapy environment. Some conversations are more suitable for a gender-specific group, or a one-on-one therapy session. Even the tone of voice and your body language can speak volumes. Don’t interrupt if someone is in the middle of discussing a sensitive topic. The golden rule for any group setting is to treat others how you want them to treat you. Not to mention that no verbal behavior can also hurt your experience in drug rehab. For instance, if you choose to isolate yourself from the group with your arms folded, you may miss out on the opportunity to interact with the other people in your group therapy session. Open up yourself to others, and you’ll be able to delve into group therapy and get the most out of substance abuse treatment.

  5. Try Holding A Conversation With New People In Your Drug Rehab Group Therapy

    Whether you’re new to drug rehab group therapy, or you’re a returning member, building new relationships is always a great part of treatment. Everyone in treatment is there for the singular purpose of getting sober and staying sober. Developing relationships in drug treatment centers will make help you when you are out of treatment and attending meetings to establish a strong sober support network. In active addiction and alcoholism isolation was the only way that we operated, and we often didn’t have healthy relationships or even understand what a healthy relationship is. When you begin building bonds and relationships in treatment, you can learn how to be comfortable with others, and begin forming healthy relationships that will carry over in how you conduct all of your relationships. The invaluable experience of being a true friend is something that you can start in a group therapy setting.

  6. Build Support Relationships

    There is strength in numbers, and that stands true in achieving sobriety. Developing a strong support group gives you many points of accountability. We all need people to call us out when we go back into “stinking thinking” patterns, or act out of character. Creating support groups can help you to stay focused on your sobriety because that is the foundation of your friendship. Building a support network allows you to express yourself even outside of group therapy. Therapy can be intensive and may bring up lingering feelings after the group is over. Having a support network to discuss these feelings with helps you to solidify reaching out to others when you’re struggling. The relationships that you develop in addiction treatment can be lifelong, don’t sell yourself short. Reach out and building a network of sober supports, it doesn’t have to wait until you’re out of drug rehab.

Group therapy is a learning experience for everyone that participates in them. At GH Recovery Solutions we want you to be comfortable in every aspect. Open yourself to recovery, build a sober support group, and learn how to develop meaningful relationships again. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, reach out to us at 855-345-2025 today. You can heal, we can help.