Proudly serving Portland, our methadone clinics provide adults struggling with addiction the ability to recover from heroin, oxycodone, Percocet, and other opiates.
What is Purpose of Group Therapy for Opioid Abuse?
Individuals who are addicted to opioids often struggle with psychological, physical, behavioral, and emotional issues. Treatment programs must be prepared to address each of these issues that have likely led to or developed in response to an individual’s addiction. Group therapy is one of the best ways to help bring these issues to the surface and work through them successfully.
Group therapy, a therapeutic experience that includes the participation of a number of different patients, is usually led by one of more counselors depending on the size of the group.
Addiction rarely develops out of thin air, therefore, similar to individual therapy, group therapy is designed to recognize and address the emotional and behavioral struggles that have lent themselves to substance abuse. In many cases, external factors like stress, abuse, trauma, or self-esteem issues can lead to the abuse of substances, of which can develop into an addiction. Group therapy offers an atmosphere wherein individuals afflicted with these issues can work through and talk about them in the company of others who can relate.
Group therapy is most effective partly because of the therapist and his or her skills, as well as the participants and their ability to share thoughts, emotions, experiences, and insights with the group. The primary objectives listed below are some of the benefits of group therapy:
- Universality – Decreasing feelings of alienation and isolation by expressing similar experiences amongst other group members
- Self-understanding – Obtaining insights into one’s own problems by listening to the other participants share their successes and their challenges
- Interpersonal learning – Learning from the thoughts and opinions of others, all while being able to share one’s own personal testimonies and feelings
- Altruism – Seeing the importance and value in contributing to the betterment of the group as a whole
- Hope – Realizing that others have overcome similar addiction-related battles and feeling that one can do so, too
- Information – Obtaining more insight and education about addiction as a disease and the process of recovery
- Imitative behavior – Creating new skills all from observing the behaviors of others in the group (including the counselor)
- Cohesiveness – Feeling a sense of belonging and validation by sharing in therapy with others
- Catharsis – Relieving oneself from powerful feelings such as shame and guilt by expressing one’s struggles
Objectives of Group Therapy for Opioid Abuse
At Portland Comprehensive Treatment Centers, we understand the value that group therapy can have when incorporated into a medication assisted treatment program. Through joining patients together within an environment that is welcoming and structured, men and women can work collaboratively so that all obstacles and achievements are put in perspective and talked through in ways that help all individuals involved. Group therapy is an excellent source of information, support, and insight, all of which can dramatically help an individual enhance his or her recovery.
There is no one medication that can cure all of the issues associated with the struggles of addiction. In a medication assisted treatment program, numerous elements are worked into a comprehensive plan that can provide individuals with success in ending their abuse patterns and starting a life that is happy and healthy.
If you or someone you care for could benefit from group therapy and the other services that a medication assisted treatment program can provide, please contact us today.