Group Therapy

Our unique and purposeful groups serve as an integral part of the recovery model we practice at RECO.

With multiple group programs that evolve with the progression of treatment, we ensure that each client feels comfortable within the RECO community by allowing them to interact with their peers in a secure, collaborative environment. Curated by our staff of clinical psychology experts, our group programs guide clients in their recovery, with each individual therapy igniting its own form of inspiration and healing.

What Group Members Should Expect From Group Therapy Sessions

Group therapy can be provided to patients who suffer from any mental health condition, including personality and social anxiety disorders as well as substance use disorders. Presided over by one or more therapists with specialized training, group psychotherapy actually comes in several distinct types, meaning that understanding group therapy actually means understanding each of these distinct group therapy types.

As described in The Theory And Practice of Group Psychotherapy, a publication of Basic Books, there are psychoeducational groups, which help educate group members by imparting information about their mental disorders and ways that they may cope; skills development groups, which work on imparting social skills and other new skills to group members; and interpersonal or support groups, which focus on interpersonal relationships and the giving and receiving of support.

Then, there is cognitive behavioral group therapy. Group cognitive behavioral therapy is similar to individual cognitive behaviour therapy in that cognitive behavioral groups help patients identify destructive thought patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving.

Within these broad categories, group therapy techniques can vary based on the individual needs of group therapy participants, philosophies of group therapists working on the group sessions, and other therapeutic factors.

As described in an Indian J Psychiatry essays called Group Interventions, a small group may have as few as two members, though the ideal number for group therapy is more on the order of eight to twelve and the upper limit is around fifteen participants. Group therapy may be administered in an open group or a closed group, with closed groups not being open to new members but open groups remaining open to new participants.

Though larger groups offer the benefit of a wider variety of perspectives and a more diverse sounding board for patients, smaller group therapy alliances can allow for more intimate group work and allow more time for each group therapy participant to discuss their own problems and own situation.

Mental health professionals have also identified several distinct phases of group development that tend to take place during the formation of a group therapy therapeutic alliance: Forming in which ground rules are established and a group structure begins to emerge; storming, which can be defined by conflict and power struggles; norming, as cohesiveness develops and trust begins to build; performing, in which group therapy members are actively engaged in the treatment process and the group is a fully functional unit; and adjourning, in which the patients prepare for the end of the group therapy process.

Though conducting group therapy sessions can pose uniquely challenging for a healthcare team, the pay-offs can be substantial. First and foremost, group therapy provides a chance for group members to connect with other group members who are experiencing similar difficulties, paving the way for potential lifelong friendships. Accordingly, one meta-analysis suggests that group cohesiveness is the most important factor when it comes to group therapy’s effectiveness.

Another of the benefits of group therapy is that the group format allows for interpersonal learning to occur as part of the group therapy experience. For instance, the relationship “templates” created by problematic family and childhood experiences can be replaced during group therapy by those developed in relationships with other members, a process known as corrective recapitulation. Role-playing also allows group members to practice socialization techniques in real-time, allowing a trained professional to guide their efforts with increased specificity.

Group therapy can also enhance self-understanding by making patients more aware of existential factors, like their responsibility for their own fate and well-being. Group therapy also has an advantage over individual psychotherapy in that it can incorporate group members at different stages of their mental health journey, allowing group members in an earlier stage of their recovery to get a glimpse of how people cope as they move towards a more balanced mindset and for them to see examples of healthy new behaviors in action that they can strive to develop as well.

Explore The Power Of The Group Setting At Reco Intensive

Along with a diverse array of established and holistic individual therapy options, Reco Intensive offers a variety of group therapy options for patients recovering from substance use disorders. Feel free to peruse our site to learn more about these various group therapy options, or to call us anytime at 844.955.3042 or contact us online here to learn more about how our comprehensive addiction treatment program can pave the way to recovery for you or one of your loved ones. There’s no time like the present to get back on the road to a better life and a brighter future.