Here at West Coast Recovery Centers, we offer several innovative, traditional, and non-traditional treatment approaches to help clients overcome their struggles with substance use disorder (SUD). These approaches range from holistic practices, such as yoga and creative expression, to more evidence-based therapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Another clinical approach we implement at West Coast Recovery is group therapy. However, many are continually weary about the efficacy of group support meetings post-treatment.
Today, we’re going to dive into support group meetings. What are they? How can they help you? Why should you attend them? These are some of the questions we’ll focus on today. However, before you can focus on recovery post-treatment, you must first achieve sobriety in treatment. If you or someone you are actively struggling with addiction, consider seeking treatment with West Coast Recovery Centers today.
What Are Group Support Meetings?
There are several types of situations that warrant support groups. Many individuals can better navigate chronic health conditions, the loss of a loved one, and other challenging life circumstances with the help of a support group. Support groups bring people together who have gone through or are going through similar experiences.
Meanwhile, some may wonder, how these meetings are used in addiction treatment. Can they really help?
How Do Group Support Meetings Help Clients During Treatment?
At West Coast Recovery Centers, we offer a number of traditional and holistic modalities to meet the specific rehabilitation needs of each and every client. This includes group therapy. Group therapy is an excellent way to give and receive feedback and learn to communicate thoughts and feelings with others. We utilize both topic and process groups.
Topic groups help clients consider new thoughts and ideas, helping to educate them further on that specific topic. Process groups, on the other hand, provide clients with the opportunity to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Sharing these with peers and facilitators in a safe, structured environment provides many benefits. Let’s consider some of the other benefits of utilizing group therapy during addiction treatment.
#1. Community Support
The first benefit of group support meetings during treatment is the sense of community support they often build for others. People create strong bonds and grow closer together by sharing experiences with one another. Further, peer support is invaluable overall to recovery and can make all the difference in someone’s treatment journey.
#2. Encourage Vulnerability
Another benefit of group support during treatment is that it encourages people to be vulnerable with themselves and others. Clients must learn how to open up to sustain long-lasting recovery. Sharing experiences can help others and offer the chance to learn from others as well.
#3. Provide New Perspective
Speaking of learning from others, group support meetings’ third benefit is that they provide new perspectives. Individuals in recovery are connected through experience, but each experience is still unique. Sharing similar experiences unique to the individual offers varying perspectives to learn and grow from.
Additional benefits of group support meetings include:
- Healthy outlets for stress management
- Can help ease feelings of depression or anxiety
- Opportunities to teach and improve coping skills
- Can strengthen motivation to manage recovery
- Opportunities to gain practical feedback from others
- Challenges feelings of isolation and loneliness
- Furthering education on addiction or other mental health conditions
Benefits like these make support meetings well worth it, but finding a good group for you can be tough. Doing so is critical, especially in early recovery. Yet, what about long-term recovery? Are group support meetings critical for those in early or long-term recovery?
Are Group Support Meetings Critical for Those in Early or Long-Term Recovery?
Recovery and recovery support can include many things, like support meetings. They’re a critical component for individuals during and after treatment. For those in early recovery, support groups offer the opportunity to learn from people who are more seasoned in their recovery journey. It can also be the perfect place for finding a sponsor and peers who can keep you accountable.
Support groups are also necessary for those in long-term recovery. Recovery comes with many challenges. These challenges often turn the corner when you least expect them. Continuing to attend group support meetings throughout recovery can help you manage these challenges. Recovery sometimes takes a village.
Having the support of your friends, family, and loved ones is always meaningful. The support of peers, though, can be monumental during early and long-term recovery.
Why You Should Consider Attending Group Support Meetings Today
Group therapy during treatment and support groups afterward can be all the difference in one’s sobriety journey. However, group therapy and support groups are only as effective as individuals allow them to be. Being vulnerable during these meetings will be tough, but the more vulnerable one is the more they can get out of the support of others.
Group support meetings can help you share your feelings, learn from the experiences of others, and connect with people who understand what you’re going through. To start experiencing the benefits of support groups today, contact West Coast Recovery today.
Group therapy is one of many treatment approaches we utilize here at West Coast Recovery Centers. These group meetings provide clients with an opportunity to give and receive feedback, learn to communicate thoughts, and participate in topic and process groups. After treatment, group support meetings are also critical to staying sober. Life post-treatment comes with many challenges. Handling these challenges alone can be distressing, but with the support of peers you meet in a support group, you can handle them more effectively. Individuals interested in learning more about the benefits of group therapy and support groups should speak with an addiction recovery specialist or contact West Coast Recovery at (760) 492-6509 today.