Whether you’re in residential treatment, partial hospitalization, an intensive outpatient program, or outpatient treatment, group therapy and individual therapy are likely to be part of your treatment plan. We also offer a selection of traditional, alternative, and trauma therapies so you are addressing addiction and mental health issues in different ways. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, reach out to us today to see how we can help. This model suitability problem is further complicated by the fact that clients with substance use disorders, and even staff members, often become confused about the different types of group treatment modalities.
Group-based marijuana use treatments for adults
With few exceptions, research-supported treatment lists categorize treatments by formal change theory (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal) and describe little about the context, format, or setting in which treatments were conducted and tested [16]. As a result, it is often difficult to ascertain from existing resources whether research supported treatments were conducted in group or individual format. A group format is often used in substance use treatment [17] and aftercare programs [18,19,20,21,22]. The discrepancy between the wide-spread use of group therapy in clinical practice and the relative paucity of research on the efficacy of group treatments has been noted by treatment researchers [23] and clinicians [24].
Group Leader Roles and Responsibilities
We excluded studies focused on alcohol use disorder alone as this literature is summarized elsewhere (see Orchowski & Johnson, 2012). Nineteen studies were identified that targeted cocaine use and utilized some form of group therapy, the most of any drug in this review (see Table 2). Overall, the studies showed that all of the group therapy modalities included in this review generally reduced cocaine use when compared to treatment as usual (TAU), including day hospital groups [54]. Two studies, Magura et al. (1994) and Magura et al. (2002) did not find group differences between 8 months CBT and 8 months of TAU that consisted of methadone maintenance therapy among 141 patients with cocaine disorder [60, 69].
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Further, the common characteristics and typical dynamics seen in this population have not always been evaluated adequately, and this lapse has inhibited the development of effective methods of treatment for these clients. When deciding on a model for a substance abuse treatment group, programs will need to consider their resources, the training and theoretical orientation is there a connection between narcissism and alcoholism of group leaders, and the needs and desires of clients in order to determine what approaches are feasible. The reader may also refer to appendix B of TIP 34, Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse (CSAT 1999a), for a list of resources that can provide further training and information about the theoretical orientations that influence these groups.
Skills Development Groups
Many of these suggestions and planning materials can be applied to both individual clients and therapy groups. The number of participants in a group therapy session also depends on the type of group but can range from only three or four review of answer house sober living people to twelve or more (although more than twelve participants may not be as effective). 17 sessions over 8 months (1 session per week during Month 1–2, 1 session every 2 weeks in Month 3–5, 1 session per month during Month 6–8.
Additionally, all participants attended a relapse prevention group conducted three times a week over a 14-week period. Findings provided support for the efficacy of CM for amphetamine use disorders. Group treatment (CM or drug + CM) was more effective for sustaining longer periods of abstinence relative to TAU or non-CM conditions. Roll et al. [72] found that effects of CM relative to TAU became larger as the duration of CM increased. Jaffe et al. [70] evaluated a culturally tailored intervention for 145 methamphetamine dependent gay and bisexual males.
The participant who is in a speaker role first can then pick a theme they’d like to talk about for a timed period of three minutes. This exercise can help participants bring presence to their interactions and step out of autopilot. To lead a group through this activity, instruct all group members to take a few minutes to think about interesting aspects of their life.
- It provides a supportive and empathetic environment where individuals can share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs with others on a similar path.
- This model of group does not require a client to have insight into a problem but does require awareness of behavior and its immediate causes and consequences.
- The individually focused group concentrates on individual members of the group and their distinctive internal cognitive and emotional processes.
- These groups can also help clients resolve trauma (like child abuse or domestic violence) that may have been a progenitor of their substance abuse.
This section includes over two dozen different ideas of icebreakers that are appropriate for both teens and adults in group therapy. Group therapist Amanda Fenton provides an excellent set of guidelines and suggestions for check-in questions. Get a premium reading experience on our blog and support our mission for $1.99 per month. You’ll find more on cooking as a group therapy intervention in Farmer et al.’s (2018) paper, Psychosocial Benefits of Cooking Interventions.
Schottenfeld et al. [88] compared GDC (weekly, 1-h group sessions) to a community reinforcement approach (CRA; twice weekly sessions for the first 12 weeks and then weekly the following 12 weeks) among 117 patients with an opioid and cocaine use disorder. Compared to individuals randomly assigned to the DTC condition, participants in the group RP and individual MI conditions evidenced a significantly greater reduction in marijuana use and related problems over 16-month follow-up. However, examination of participants’ reactions to DTC assignment indicated that participants who felt that changing their marijuana use was their own responsibility were more likely than those who did not to change their use patterns without treatment engagement.
These groups attempt to help people with dependencies sustain abstinence without necessarily understanding the determinants of their dependence (Cooper 1987). In cognitive-behavioral groups for people who abuse substances, the group leader focuses on providing a structured environment within which group members can examine the behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs that lead to their maladaptive alcoholics anonymous behavior. Treatment manuals—providing specific protocols for intervention techniques—may be helpful in some, though not all, cognitive—behavioral groups. In any case, most cognitive—behavioral groups emphasize structure, goal orientation, and a focus on immediate problems. Problem solving groups often have a specific protocol that systematically builds problemsolving skills and resources.
They might also choose, based on the needs of the group, to make more or fewer interpretations of individual and group dynamics to the group as a whole. Likewise they might choose to show more warmth and supportiveness toward group members or take a more aloof position. For instance, in contrast to leading a support group, where the leader is likely to be unconditionally affirming, the process leader might make a conscious decision to allow clients to struggle to affirm themselves, rather than essentially doing it for them. The widespread use of support groups in the substance abuse treatment field originated in the self-help tradition in the field. These groups also have roots in the realization that significant lifestyle change is the long-term goal in treatment and that support groups can play a major role in such life transitions. Self-help groups share many of the tenets of support groups—unconditional acceptance, inward reflection, open and honest interpersonal interaction, and commitment to change.
A specific behavior is a person’s best effort to adapt to a particular situation given individual makeup, environment, and personal history. In a sense, people come to therapy because of their solutions, not their problems. In a support group, members typically talk about their current situation and recent problems that have arisen. Discussion usually focuses on the practical matters of staying abstinent; for example, ways to deal with legal issues or avoid places that tempt people to use substances.
In fact, the reasons for that lack of familiarity can become a topic of discussion. Helping clients understand what they have lost by being separated from their cultural heritage, whether because of substance abuse or societal forces, can provide one more reason to continue in sobriety. It aims both to upgrade a client’s ability to manage risky situations and to stabilize a client’s lifestyle through changes in behavior (Dimeff and Marlatt 1995). Relapse prevention groups focus on helping a client maintain abstinence or recover from relapse.