Upon entering addiction recovery treatment, group therapy may be a new experience for many of us. We’re more used to traditional therapy, where we work one-on-one with a psychologist. Group therapy allows us to explore topics in a group setting that we all have experience with. When it comes to addiction recovery, there are some issues we tend to have in common. Therefore, investigating these subjects as a group allows us to benefit from all the experience and wisdom we share with one another. Our progress can be reinforced and amplified by everything we learn from the other people in our therapy group. When we’re not used to sharing our stories publicly, we can experience heightened fear and anxiety. These nerves are totally normal, and when we push through them, we feel a renewed sense of confidence. We feel proud of ourselves. We feel a sense of accomplishment. Sharing our stories is indeed something to be proud of. We muster a tremendous amount of courage when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable in this way. Group therapy provides the safe space we need to feel comfortable exposing deeper parts of ourselves than we might have previously been able to share. Listening to other people’s stories reminds us we’re not alone. We see firsthand how universal our pain is. For many of us, addiction brings along with it some common issues – dissolution of our relationships, career troubles, financial stresses, and mental health issues being a few many of us experience. Knowing we’re not the only person experiencing these difficulties can help us to open up and come out of our shell. We tend to isolate ourselves out of fear of being judged or criticized, but in group therapy settings, we find the camaraderie we need to come out of our self-imposed isolation. We feel understood. We get the support and empathy we’ve been looking for. Many of us make lifelong friends with whom we can share our recovery journey. With group therapy, we’re able to offer and receive counsel and advice from people sharing similar experiences. In other settings, we often don’t feel misunderstood or validated because we’re with people who don’t necessarily understand what we’re going through. We might seek out help and resources but feel our needs simply can’t be met. In successful group therapy situations, we’re able to be each other’s inspiration and motivation. We uplift and encourage each other and help each other move forward with strength, courage and resilience. Group therapy can be a powerfully helpful tool in our recovery.
Riverside Recovery offers both individual and group therapy to help you address the deeply rooted issues contributing to your addiction. Call us today: (800) 871-5440.
