group therapy

We believe in the power of group therapy to bring about positive change in the lives of our guests. Facilitated by one or more of our addiction therapists, group therapy sessions at Royal Life Centers can be extremely effective in treating substance use disorder. A group setting can organically create a support network, and group members often help one another to come up with solutions for issues and hold one another accountable.

Sharing with others can help group members put their own circumstances into perspective and boost confidence and self-esteem. Group therapy is also conducive to learning avoidance behaviors. Perhaps most importantly, this sort of interaction can help those overcoming a substance use disorder to feel less alone and more connected to others in their recovery journey.

Group therapy in the context of substance abuse is typically based on a behavioral health model known as the transtheoretical model, or “stages of change” model. These stages consist of pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance and take group members from uncertainty about recovery and sobriety to substance abstinence.

A Typical Group Therapy Session

Typically, a combination of five different group structures— psychoeducational, cognitive behavioral, skills development, support, and interpersonal process— comprise a substance use disorder-focused group therapy regimen. Other groups might include 12 step-themed groups, relapse prevention, community/culture, and expressive groups. We encourage guests to be open and engage with others as much as they feel comfortable, to get the most out of the group setting.

In a typical hour-long group session at Royal Life Centers, our lead therapist(s) will decide how the meeting will be structured, followed by an open discussion or educational session. Group may focus on topics such as relapse prevention, self-worth, goal-setting, finding identity in recovery, and processing feelings and emotions. We take measures to ensure that our groups are welcoming, judgment-free zones where guests can express themselves and their emotions without reservations.

Group Therapy Sessions

During detox and residential treatment, guests attend group five hours a day, every day. After inpatient, guests who choose to continue their treatment with us will attend group six hours a day, six days per week during PHP and three hours a day, three days per week during IOP. At the OP level of care, guests will work with their therapist to determine optimal session frequency.