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The Elephant Blog

The Importance of Individual and Group Therapy in Recovery 

1/2/2017

24 Comments

 

By Jorge D. Reyes, LPC

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​When working with individuals who struggle with substance abuse or dependence there are many strategies that can be beneficial.  Both individual and group therapy can be utilized to help the patient have a greater chance in their recovery and overcoming addictions.
Individual therapy allows the patient to build a trusting relationship with a counselor that will not judge them and allow the individual a place to discuss their feelings and problems thus freeing themselves from their burdens.  In many cases this allows the individual to feel better about themselves and the recovery process.  However, individual counseling is not just about allowing the patient to talk, it allows the counselor to teach a variety of important life skills and coping skills that will help the individual manage the stress in their lives.
Some benefits to individual therapy include:
  • Discovering the motivation to use drugs and alcohol
  • Addressing various stages of recovery
  • Discussing sensitive topics such as relationships, sex, and self-esteem concerns
  • Developing new life skills and perspectives working through anxiety, depression, and much more.
  • Reclaiming a sense of power to move forward.
  • Building and strengthening relationships.
Group therapy allows individuals to be in a setting in which they can resolve problems in relating to other people in the group, problems from which they have attempted to "escape" by means of addictive substances.  As social beings, individuals are, whether they like it or not, part of groups; they are born into a group (family) and throughout life join groups that shape their behavior , self-esteem, and affect their physical and mental health.
Some benefits to group therapy include:
  • Positive peer support and pressure to abstain from substance use.
  • Limiting isolation which many substance users experience.
  • Enabling members to witness the recovery of others.
  • Helping members learn coping skills from other members when dealing with substance use and other problems.
  • Providing information to new members new to recovery.
  • Providing and receiving feedback from other members in the group.
  • Encouraging, supporting, and reinforcing members in their recovery.
  • Groups teach members social skills.
  • Allows members to effectively confront other members about their substance use and other harmful behavior.
  • Allows members to gain some sense of structure and discipline in their lives.
  • Instill hope
There are advantages to utilizing individual and group therapy, but by incorporating both individual and group therapy in the recovery process the individual is likely to become successful.   Each form can build on the other as one can work with internal struggles and the other helps relate to others and feel less isolated from the individual's problems.  Recovery is not about abstinence, although it helps, it is about changed behavior and a changed lifestyle in which making decisions are no longer harmful to oneself and to others, that is the ultimate goal in recovery.  
References
​Benefits of Individual Therapy in Recovery (2015) - The River Source. https://www.theriversource.org/blog/benefits-of-individual-therapy-in-recovery/
Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy (2005) - Treatment Improvement Protocol Series, No. 41. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64223
24 Comments
Taylor Hicken link
1/12/2021 07:53:20 pm

I liked it when you shared that having individual therapy can help one to build a relationship with the counselor so he or she can feel comfortable during the treatment. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is worried about her sister who is not doing so well mentally after her husband was caught cheating with his colleague when they were away for a work trip. I will suggest to her taking her sister to individual therapy so she can recover as soon as possible.

Reply
Chris Pederson link
2/17/2021 01:49:02 pm

My nephew hasn't talked to anyone since his parents got divorced. You said that individual therapy helps patients form a bond with a counselor. I think that is what he needs right now, an adult he can completely trust.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
3/8/2021 10:06:44 pm

Thank you for pointing out that one of the many benefits of group counselling is that it encourages us to build a reliable relationship with the counsellor and the peers. My son is looking to go for therapy as a means to have his anxiety under control. I will definitely recommend him to consider group therapy first since he is unsure of private counselling.

Reply
Black Therapist Online California link
3/12/2021 03:29:49 am

In individual therapy, a client works with a mental health services provider, a therapist, social worker, allied health professional, psychologist or psychiatrist, in private sessions to acquire self-knowledge, insight and a stronger sense of identity. Professionals are responsible for creating the frame of therapy: where and when therapy will be conducted, what the responsibilities of the client and professional are, which approach to therapy will be used and how progress will be measured. Group therapy gives people in recovery the opportunity to learn new coping techniques, practice their communication skills, and gain hope and strength from their peers. For many who have experienced the ravages of addiction, their primary interpersonal relations have been reduced to interactions with dealers and other people who use drugs. In group therapy, they can meet men and women like themselves who are facing the same struggles with substance use disorders.

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Adam Golightly link
3/17/2021 11:34:31 am

My cousin has been thinking about getting some better therapy because she is really anxious. She would really like to get some help from a professional to help her feel better. I liked what you said about how they can address different stages of recovery.

Reply
Charlotte Fleet link
3/23/2021 12:56:15 pm

I like how you stated that individual therapy for those recovering from substance abuse helps them to improve their relationships with others. My cousin struggles with substance abuse and he wants to get better. I will recommend that he find a great counseling center that he can visit to help him strengthen his relationships and overcome his addiction.

Reply
Braden Bills link
3/31/2021 07:49:05 am

I've been having a hard time with anxiety, and I want to get help with it. It makes sense that group therapy could be really beneficial for this kind of thing! I'll have to see if I can get a professional to help me out. They would be able to ensure that I get the right kind of therapy for me.

Reply
mental health therapist link
4/14/2021 02:39:10 am

Thanks for sharing this helpful article with us. The therapy for mental health illness/disorder is very good through this the person can come toward his life again and live his life happily. I think group therapy is best because in this the individual tells their disorder to the therapist but all other group members are also here so this builds the confidence of the patient. In group therapy, the individual will know about the other person's disorder and also know the techniques to overcome this type of problem. For therapy, you should choose a well-reputed mental health therapist who guides you best to overcome your disorder.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
5/21/2021 05:52:46 pm

It is wonderful that this post mentioned that one of the many benefits of mental health counseling is that they can help improve our mental health. My daughter has been feeling depressed as of late. I will look into having her see a counselor to help regulate her emotions healthily.

Reply
larry link
6/5/2021 08:53:15 am

Very Informative post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
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Beverly Minyard link
7/21/2021 08:29:27 am

I really like that you mentioned that individual therapy can help you develop new life skills. I feel like whenever you think about learning stuff during therapy you always think of group therapy but individual therapy can help with that too. I like to think that I am a well-adjusted adult but I owe that all to the individual therapy I received as a teenager.

Reply
Larry link
7/23/2021 08:44:17 am

Very Informative post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
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Reply
Braden Bills link
7/26/2021 07:21:54 am

I've been having a lot of issues with anxiety, and I'm not sure how to go about it. It makes sense that I would want to go to group therapy. That seems like a good way to work with other people who are a lot like me.

Reply
Ferdinard Orumgbe link
8/10/2021 09:58:31 am

I'm glad to have come across this article. There are a lot of people that suffer from <a href="https://www.techfiver.com/toxicwap-movie-download/">fragile sense of self</a>, crippling <a href="https://www.techfiver.com/toxicwap-series/">low self esteem</a>, no self worth and lack self respect. Yes , it’s a symptom of BPD , but some patient are not BPD . My Psychiatrist told me about <a href="https://www.techfiver.com/fzstudios/">mindfulness and self validation</a>. Thanks.

Reply
Braden Bills link
10/26/2021 06:02:19 am

I've been having a lot of issues with anxiety, and it's been making it hard for me to improve myself. It makes sense that I would want to get a counselor to help me out with this. They would be able to ensure that I put everything together properly.

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
1/11/2022 07:53:48 am

I can see how therapy could help a person recover by allowing them to release their emotional pressure and giving them hope. My colleague talked about his brother who lost his will to continue after what happened to his family from the pandemic. Maybe he should try finding a mental health counselor that could help him out during these trying times.

Reply
Laura M. Wilson & Associates Inc. link
1/20/2022 06:32:19 am

Very Informative post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
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Hailey Miller link
2/22/2022 12:29:31 am

It got me interested when you said that we can address our feelings by talking with a counselor. My husband and I have been fighting about petty things and we want to work it out. I guess we should look for a counselor tomorrow morning who can provide helpful sessions every week.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
2/27/2022 07:30:15 pm

It made sense when you wrote that counseling permits a person to feel acceptable about themselves and the process of recovery. My friend is needing help since she's having anxiety. I better advise her that getting counseling is the best help she can have.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
3/15/2022 02:46:20 pm

That makes sense that positive peer support is essential to recover. I need to get a counselor for my sister Sarah. She is currently addicted to crack and might overdose.

Reply
Afton Jackson link
7/4/2022 07:53:39 pm

Having people with similar experiences share their methods with you during group therapy sounds like an effective way to start building your confidence. This could be the key I need to approach my alcohol problems before they get worse and send me on a path to destructive behaviors. I'll start looking for any group therapy centers that I can start having sessions in right away.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
9/8/2022 02:52:13 pm

I love how you talk about how group therapy can help those in recovery feel less isolated and lessen their risk of relapse. My partner's dad struggles with addiction and he's been trying to get and stay clean. We think maybe he can benefit from group therapy so we've been looking into programs like that.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
1/9/2023 12:23:07 pm

Addiction can really be so damaging and I love that you've listed some of the things that people can accomplish in therapy and treatment. I have a friend who has been struggling with addiction and she really wants to get out of her rut. We've been looking into finding a place she can go to be able to talk and discover her path to recovery.

Reply
therapist smithfield link
2/25/2023 07:22:12 pm

We might not blame someone for having cancer if they have the disease. So why would we stigmatize and shame mental health issues? Mental illness may easily steal someone's life, just like other diseases, and it matters just as much as they do. For instance, unhappiness can lead to desperate thoughts and, if left untreated, suicidal attempts. If we merely pay attention to our bodily health, we won't be stable individuals.

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