Group therapy gives people a safe space to talk about their emotions in a group setting. It can help people address personal issues that may worsen their substance use disorder (SUD).
Read to learn about the different types of group therapy in addiction treatment, its benefits, how much it costs, and more. You’ll also learn how Otter House Wellness’ treatment options can help people struggling with addiction rebuild their lives.
About Group Therapy for Addiction
Group therapy is a type of evidence-based substance abuse treatment. It is effective for various problems, including SUD and co-occurring mental health issues.
Group therapy treatment often involves talk therapy to help people learn to manage substance abuse and mental health conditions in a group of peers facing similar issues. Support groups can use a range of therapies and methods, such as CBT and other types of talk therapy.
If you or a loved one have SUD or a co-occurring mental illness, specialists at Otter House Wellness can provide group therapy for recovery.
Our addiction recovery center in Asheville, North Carolina, provides a range of dual diagnosis and addiction outpatient treatment services to help you work toward a successful recovery path.
How Does Group Therapy Work in Addiction Treatment?
In addiction treatment, group therapy connects you to 5 to 15 supportive peers with similar experiences. It can also teach valuable interpersonal skills to help you work toward and sustain recovery.
What happens during a group therapy session depends on the number of people, who is involved, and the needs of the people involved.
Before starting an SUD group therapy group, therapists should prepare an agenda for each session to create a safe and therapeutic environment.
Generally speaking, you can expect the following from SUD group therapy sessions:
- A supportive environment
- Group discussions
- Educational presentations
- Discussion of content addressing individual and group-specific needs and concerns
Group Therapy in Otter House Wellness Recovery Programs
Several Otter House Wellness addiction recovery outpatient programs offer group therapy. Unlike inpatient programs, which require you to stay overnight and offer round-the-clock care, outpatient programs allow you to go home, so you can keep your existing schedule.
Here’s how group therapy works in each of these recovery programs.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are the most high-intensity outpatient programs. They provide intensive addiction treatment during the day, allowing you to return home in the evenings.
Group therapy is a core component of PHP. While participating in group therapy sessions, you can expect a high level of support and accountability.
Other treatment services offered by PHPs include:
- Individual therapy
- Medication-assisted management (MAT)
- Counseling
- Discharge planning
- Aftercare
You should consider joining a PHP if you don’t need inpatient treatment but need more support than offered by intensive outpatient and outpatient programs.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Group therapy can also exist as a component of intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). IOPs provide a higher level of care than outpatient programs but lower than PHPs.
As in PHP, group therapy is a core component of IOP. It can help you understand your symptoms, develop coping skills, and bond with others facing similar challenges.
Outpatient Programs
Traditional outpatient programs are the least intensive outpatient program type. They provide group therapy, counseling, medical management, and other treatments for people with milder symptoms or in the later recovery stages of SUD or mental health disorders.
Otter House Wellness only provides outpatient services, not inpatient treatment programs. However, inpatient and telehealth options also include group therapy.
Types of Group Therapy for Addiction & Mental Health
There are several types of group therapy for addiction and mental health. Here’s how each type helps people in addiction treatment.
Support Groups
Support groups are gatherings of people who share common experiences and meet to help each other. Examples include Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Cognitive Behavioral Groups
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups help people learn to manage their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. These groups are led by psychiatrists or doctors and use a range of techniques to help people deal with problems.
Psychoeducation Groups
Psychoeducation groups teach people about mental health conditions, substance abuse, and coping skills. They also help people locate community resources that can help them recover and motivate people to improve their lives.
Skills Development Groups
Skills development groups help people develop skills for improving their daily lives. They can help you avoid triggers, cope with urges, and build your confidence to sustain a sober lifestyle.
Other Group Therapies
Depending on your treatment program and the specifics of your addiction, you may be recommended other types of group therapy. These include:
- Family groups focus on improving behaviors and relationships within a family unit.
- Interpersonal process groups promote healing and change by identifying conflicting forces in the mind and how people function psychologically.
- Self-help groups are led by people who learned how to overcome their addiction and mental illnesses.
- Relapse prevention groups are aftercare programs that help people struggling with addiction to stay on track once their group therapy or treatment program ends.
Benefits of Group Therapy in Addiction Recovery
Group therapy provides many benefits for people in addiction recovery. These include:
- Support: People in addiction recovery often feel isolated. Group therapy can help provide emotional support and give immediate feedback.
- Self-awareness: Group therapy can help people learn about their motivations, values, attitudes, and perceptions by listening to others’ experiences.
- Social skills: Group therapy can help people develop active listening, verbal communication, and nonverbal communication skills.
- Accountability: Accountability is a vital part of addiction recovery because it helps people avoid relapse and build trust. Group therapy can create a sense of accountability by building trust among members.
- Emotional expression: Group therapy can provide a safe space for people to express their emotions without judgment.
- Learning from others: Besides helping with emotional expression, group therapy can encourage people to learn from others’ successful behaviors and strategies.
Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Substance use disorder treatment centers provide group and individual therapy options. While these two therapy options are both helpful to recovery, they have some key differences.
Individual therapy is when a therapist talks to a person individually to help them address their emotions and experiences.
Advantages of individual therapy in addiction treatment include:
- Confidentiality
- One-on-one attention, which is often more thorough and individualized
- More flexible scheduling
- Quicker appointments
Disadvantages of individual therapy include:
- Higher cost
- No peer interaction
- May require more motivation to apply the principles learned since there is no peer interaction and as a result, less accountability
Group therapy takes place in a group, and provides participants with a group of peers as well as a therapist.
Advantages of group therapy in addiction treatment include:
- Peer support
- Support from at least one experienced and trained group leader
- The chance to receive and give support
- Lower cost
Disadvantages of group therapy include:
- Less confidentiality
- Less flexibility, since groups usually meet at specific times
- May not be the right fit for people who are private, impulsive, shy, or passive-aggressive
Both group and individual therapy are often used in successful recovery. Learn more about group and individual therapy by talking to an empathetic treatment specialist at Otter House Wellness.
Cost of Group Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Group therapy fees for addiction treatment can vary widely, generally ranging from $120 to $160 per session.
These costs may be covered by healthcare insurance, but people may still need to pay for copays and other out-of-pocket costs.
Factors affecting the cost of group therapy include:
- The patient’s insurance plan or policy
- Types of insurance plans accepted by the addiction treatment program
- The length of group therapy sessions
- Location of the treatment center
- Whether family therapy is part of a larger outpatient or inpatient program
Fortunately, many addiction treatment facilities provide flexible payment plans or options because they want to make treatment accessible to everyone who needs it.
Otter House Wellness, for example, works with people and their insurance plans to cover treatment. Fill in our insurance verification form to learn more.
Find Welcoming Support at Group Therapy in North Carolina
If you are looking for group psychotherapy and SUD treatment in North Carolina, look no further than Otter House Wellness.
Besides providing three levels of outpatient addiction treatment, we also provide multiple types of group therapy and behavioral therapies.
Contact Otter House Wellness patient advocates to learn more about how our group counseling programs can help you throughout the recovery process. We will listen to your story and help you get started right away.
