Group Therapies for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Dr. Purushothaman
January 12, 2014

 

Alcohol addiction treatment helps thousands of people across the United States achieve lasting sobriety every year. Although many people still view alcoholism as an issue of willpower, clinical alcohol addiction treatment is necessary for long-term recovery. It is a neurological disease which requires holistic medical treatments and long-term care.
The most effective and widely-used method for alcohol addiction treatment is individual counseling. During these counseling sessions, clinicians work with their addicted patients to uncover the root causes of their addictions  the thoughts and behaviors which led them to abuse drugs. By making these personal breakthroughs, alcoholics become better-equipped to deal with cravings and develop strategies for staying sober.
However, there are also group-based therapies which are crucial to the success of many addicts recoveries. Among these are peer-group discussions, family therapies, and community support groups. Here are the details on each of these treatment methods.
Group Discussions
Most rehabilitation clinics use group discussions as part of their evidence-based therapy programs. Addiction specialists facilitate meetings in which alcoholics from all walks of life come together to talk about their struggles and share coping strategies.
These discussions often involve patients from inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient programs. Such diversity can be invaluable for people seeking help for the first time. More experienced alcoholics who have experienced relapse can instruct others regarding the best coping strategies and the most dangerous or tempting situations.
Although patients are not typically required to share their own stories during these discussions, active participation can be crucial to the effectiveness of their overall treatment plans. Approaching uncomfortable situations and painful memories with an open, positive mind allows alcoholics to make the lifestyle changes and attitude adjustments necessary for clean living.
Family Therapy
Many people who become addicted to drugs or alcohol alienate their relatives and destroy their family lives. For rehab patients who maintain contact with their relatives, however, positive family dynamics can make or break entire recoveries. Rehab clinicians thus often involve their patients parents and siblings in their therapies.
One purpose of family therapy is to help addicts understand how their addictive behaviors hurt the people they love. Relatives often take turns relating specific stories of how patients  addictions have negatively affected their own lives. Lying, stealing, and physical and verbal abuse are unfortunately common in families with one or more alcoholics.
Family therapies also give addicts and their relatives a chance to move forward and create home lives which are more conducive to clean living. Simply removing drugs and alcohol from the household is typically not enough. Family members must work together to create happy, low-stress homes  safe havens from the rigors and temptations of the rest of the world.
Community Support
Many alcoholics require additional therapy or support after completing alcohol addiction treatment programs. Most communities have support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous to help these people stay sober. These groups allow addicts to form accountability partnerships and lifelong friendships with like-minded people.
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism, click the links below to find a treatment program that's right for you. Alcoholism is a crippling neurological disease, but you can get your life back on track with a proven alcohol addiction treatment program.

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