Therapy and addiction recovery are very difficult and personal journeys. Since each person has their own experiences with addiction, the thought of going to a group setting to overcome addiction can seem like a daunting prospect. While some people may greatly prefer the individual therapy approach, there is a reason that group therapy is so widely employed as a therapeutic model for people.
Expressing Vulnerability
Addiction recovery is an extraordinarily vulnerable time for each person. Their unique stories and experiences regarding their addiction can be difficult to articulate, especially in a group setting, and it can be very difficult to discuss the feelings of shame and guilt that come with this vulnerable time. However, it is these feelings of vulnerability that make the need for a group setting more apparent.
There can be something empowering about raising one’s voice in vulnerable times and being met with a group of people who don’t just understand but can completely empathize and relate to the complex and difficult emotions that are surrounding someone’s vulnerability and uncertainty.
A Community Amid Isolation
Addiction and addiction recovery can both be very isolating events. For those who haven’t experienced all of the different trials associated with addiction, it can be a very difficult topic to understand. If someone feels as if they cannot be understood, people will oftentimes not speak up at all in a situation, instead choosing to save their energy rather than explain all of the different physical and emotional factors.
This isolation can be disheartening and can sap the motivation from someone and leave them with a bleak outlook on their own recovery. Having people around who can relate and understand can give someone a needed sense of belonging in recovery. Not only are there people who have experienced similar issues, but there are also people working together in order to combat all of these different facets of addiction recovery.
It is a place where someone can belong, without feeling judged based on past actions or decisions. It is a community of hope and change, and being a part of a group can instill this needed social support.
Raising Your Voice
Voice is a tricky topic, as it isn’t the same as simply talking. Rather, it is a skill that needs to be practiced in order to assert one’s self in a social setting and project their identity. In recovery, voice is something that allows each person to not just better understand the recovery process, but take hold of their own journey. Being able to raise one’s voice is to tell everyone who a person is beyond their addiction and what goals they have in a life of sobriety.
As someone begins to define themselves outside of their addiction, using their voice is necessary for letting one’s self and others all understand the person just as much as the recovery path. However, practicing an assertive voice and agency in one’s life is not something that is easy. In a group setting, each person will be allowed to experiment with this newfound kind of voice in a safe environment and begin coupling it with the social skills needed to not just set goals but to be able to pursue them.
There Is a Wealth of Therapeutic Options
While confronting others in a vulnerable state may be difficult, each person provides their own individuality in the group. Group therapy isn’t about giving the same treatment to every person, but rather pooling therapeutic resources together in unison for each person to work towards a common goal. As a result, each person can employ and share any number of different therapeutic elements that are being practiced by other members in sobriety.
With each person constantly trying new grounding strategies, social skills, or engaging in new hobbies, there is always a new option for someone to try, ensuring that recovery never feels stifled or stagnant. There will always be a new strategy to look forward to, keeping one motivated and on track to their own, personal goals.
Creating an Air of Tangible Success
Success is something that means different things to different people. Each person will set their own goals in recovery, but that doesn’t mean that going to a group session can’t help someone accomplish their individual goals. In fact, seeing others who are in a similar position constantly striving for their own success can be a huge motivational tool.
There is something powerful about seeing success in motion and experiencing others’ success. It can make someone’s own goals feel tangible, with the next step constantly in reach. The overall daunting nature of addiction recovery can make addressing every aspect of one’s life a difficult hill to climb, but experiencing success on both a small and large scale can keep someone motivated to continue their own sobriety, as well as pursue their goals beyond.
Group therapy serves a purpose, but that doesn’t mean that every group operates the same way. Each person brings their own experiences to the table and the group can adapt and accommodate these new perspectives for each individual. At Alta Centers, you will be encouraged to express yourself both for your own benefit as well as the group’s. During this time, Alta Centers provides a comfortable, luxurious place where someone can feel safe, even while going through difficult or vulnerable times. For more information on how Alta Centers can help you take the first step in your recovery, contact them today to set up an appointment at (888) 202-2583.
