Group therapy can be intimidating for some individuals. After all, opening up to others about substance use disorder (SUD) can take a great deal of courage. Understanding the stages of group work and how group therapy works within our facility can help individuals to feel prepared for engagement. This can make it easier to open up and achieve the best results.
Stages of Group Work
There are four main stages of group work that are used in group therapy. Gaining knowledge of each stage can help prepare an individual for the therapeutic process. It does this in part by alleviating any incorrect preconceived notions they may have regarding the group work ahead.
Stage #1: Getting Started
The beginning stage of group work is in place to assess the needs of the individuals within the group. Once those are assessed, the group will determine a course of action for the following sessions. The group will also open space for introductions.
Introductions
Typically, the first day of group work with a new set of individuals will not get too in-depth. There might not be that much discussion of the recovery process or the experience of each person.
The beginning sessions in stage 1 allow people within the group to get to know each other better. This helps them establish a sense of comfort before diving deeper into the therapeutic process. There is also space to discuss the type of group that is beginning. The type of group will help determine what your focus may be moving forward.
Trust and Comfort
This stage is greatly beneficial for individuals who are nervous about engaging in group work. Discussing your weaknesses with others and sharing your hardships or trauma can be extremely intimidating.
Building a foundation of trust with one another and the therapist involved allows group members to feel comfortable attending the group. It may take time for people to fully open up, but the best way to start is with a simple introduction to one another.
Stage #2: Teaching and Learning
Different types of group work may be accomplished, depending on the type of group that is in place. Typically, there will be days when everyone will have an opportunity to discuss their current stressors and communicate with each other in a supervised setting.
Other days may be set out for learning. If one individual discusses a problem they are having, some of the other group members find themselves in a similar situation. The group therapist may choose to use the session as a teaching moment.
The group may be focused on learning a specific skill and putting it into practice. Other times, it may focus on the feelings each individual is experiencing and discuss how to address them. Group work involves more than ranting about your feelings and having strangers listen to you. It is a place where you can freely discuss your worries and seek advice, learning new skills to help overcome the obstacles you are currently encountering.
Stage #3: Monitoring Processing
When a group session occurs in a free-flowing format, the therapist running the group session may be there for purposes of monitoring. Once the necessary lessons are presented, and skills are learned, the group may have an opportunity to practice these skills with each other.
Professional Feedback
During this time, the therapist may choose to observe the individuals and give them feedback on the skills they are working on. This allows room for the therapist to assess risk levels for each individual.
Collaborative Insight
Groups also may have days where each individual is discussing their current feelings or situations with other group members. Each person may provide their insight on the situation or express similar issues that they are encountering. These sessions in stage 3 may be open to discussion between group members rather than focusing on guidance from the therapist.
Conflict Resolution
There may be moments when some of the group members experience conflict with one another. This has a higher potential of occurring during these free-flowing sessions in stage 3, as there is more opportunity for everyone to speak their mind.
Ensuring that these interactions are monitored is important. A therapist can step in and encourage the individuals involved to discuss their conflict healthily and respectfully. These interactions may feel negative at the moment. However, they open the opportunity for people to work on their communication skills.
Stage #4: Evaluating Progress
The evaluation stage is an important aspect of the group therapy process. During this stage, the therapist in charge of the group may choose to discuss some of the main talking points throughout the group.
The evaluation stage does not always occur in one session. It may take weeks of observation. The goal of this stage is to address the areas of improvement from each group member and address how their patterns in communication have been approved with one another.
This also can be a good time to set new goals with one another and address aspects you wish to further improve on in future group settings or on their journeys. While at the end of a group there may still be a lot left to learn and develop, it is important to recognize the progress that each person has made in your time together. This allows each individual to feel rewarded for their efforts within the group work and see that they have experienced some level of improvement through their experience with the group.
Group work is a great form of involvement in the recovery journey. However, many individuals fear opening up to others about their issues and working in a group setting. Because many of these sessions may be revolved around sensitive topics, it can be hard for people to allow themselves to open up and receive the full benefits from this form of therapy. Learning about the four stages of group work can help people to understand the journey of group work ahead of them. This can help them mentally prepare for the types of interactions that they may experience. To learn more about the stages of group work, reach out to Dream Recovery at (657) 216-7218.