You need to start slow in order to ease your clients into sharing their deeper thoughts with the group. Once your group feels comfortable with each other you can start digging deeper. This activity will help group members reflect on why they began using substances. And, it can allow them to offer a sense of support and understanding to their younger self. Many people with a substance use disorder might find that they have hurt those that are close to them in one way or another due to their struggles with addiction. This can create additional baggage or pressure that can weigh a person down when they are going through recovery.

• This group therapy exercise focuses on communication and mindfulness skills in participants and is a great general activity for all types of therapy.
• Groups are lead by a trained group leader who prompts discussion and encourages everyone to participate.
• For this activity, the therapist should lead the group through a discussion of NUTS and ANTS, terms which can be used interchangeably when talking about the self-sabotaging habits we have.
• Depending on your group, it also encourages conversation and appreciation for one another.
• Clients can learn to better manage themselves and their thought processes, and maintain a calm demeanor when faced with life stresses.
• This exercise demonstrates the importance of sharing your feelings so you don’t confuse your loved ones.

They might feel judged, disconnected, lonely, or even supported by those around them. Also, some may not have the financial means to cover the costs of a therapy program. Support groups offer people an opportunity to protect their mental health in a setting that is usually low or no cost. They can also help people get a better idea of where they are at in their healing process.

Top 30 Substance Abuse Group Activities

The implementation of new and challenging activities for group members helps to strengthen those bonds. Have the group share how they can improve their self-care or list them out as part of your substance abuse group activities. Equipping participants with robust coping mechanisms is a vital aspect of relapse prevention.

• Individuals who have practiced mediation alone may notice a different energy when meditating among others sharing their intentions.
• For example, you may have to apologize to loved ones you have hurt, establish clear boundaries in your relationships, and cut ties with people who still use drugs.
• By fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie, substance abuse group activities strengthen members’ bonds and encourage forming a cohesive, supportive community.

Clients can learn to better manage themselves and their thought processes, and maintain a calm demeanor when faced with life stresses. Many clients who suffer from substance abuse also experience tremendous negative thoughts. It is often these negative https://ecosoberhouse.com/ thoughts that push clients to drink and take drugs. Discussing ways to overcome these negative thoughts and feelings, and how to transform them into positive ones, is a great way to introduce stability and promote encouraging behaviors.

Co-occurring Disorders and EMDR

That way, the data from these evaluations can be used to improve the group and its outcomes. For a useful template on which to base your intake forms, check out the Coaching Client Agreement activity, available through Quenza’s Expansion Library. Carrying out these steps using Quenza has the added advantage of enabling the therapist to track which agreements are still outstanding using the platform’s dashboard. Using the tool, therapists also have the option to send push notification reminders to complete these materials.

Addiction recovery specialists at Into Action Recovery Centers are available 24/7 to answer questions about treatment, therapy and more. He and his therapist began looking at how he had always taken better care of his dog than he had himself. Despite feeling deep shame about some choices in his life, Mike, with the help of his therapist, was able to see he wasn’t a terrible person. Finding any potential cracks in recovery is much easier when a solid team of support surrounds the person healing.

Best Group Therapy Media

Our substance abuse treatment programs offer mental health counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and other evidence-based services to help you or your loved one stay sober. Process substance abuse group activities groups are focused on self-exploration and giving/receiving feedback. They provide a safe environment in which members can practice newfound interpersonal skills and behaviors.

In a substance abuse group, members can discuss their triggers along with coping skills they have found useful. The more you learn about triggers and how to manage them, the easier it is to maintain your recovery. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of effective support groups; however, maintaining privacy within a group setting can be complex.

Because psychology is still in its early stages there is much debate about why or how EMDR works. However, there is a lot of proof that although we don’t know exactly how EMDR works that it does work. The EMDR professional and patient go through the patient’s life experiences and decide which memories to target for treatment. During EMDR therapy patients recall emotionally and painful memories or thoughts while being exposed to external stimuli such as audio.

• Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, is a condition in which an addiction disorder occurs at the same time and in the same individual as another mental health disorder.
• In addiction treatment high-level attention means individual (and couples and family) sessions, conducted by high-level professionals, supplemented by groups if the client will accept them.
• Cultivating an awareness of mindful speaking can be an effective way to set the tone for couples group therapy, where emotions management is the focus, or even when working with families.
• EMDR is a useful addition to traditional mental health care therapy programs.

That’s why group therapy often plays an essential role in substance abuse treatment. I hope you have found this article as informative and useful as I found researching it. This activity will help group members learn how to set positive, achievable goals and, immerse them in the experience of working toward them. To continue the exercise, encourage the participants to swap roles and repeat the activity. To see the other questions or print this handout for use in your group sessions, you can access it in the Positive Psychology Toolkit©. The best discussion topics will depend on the focus of the group, the stage of treatment, and the type of session.