Group Therapy & Activities for Substance Use Recovery

substance abuse group activities

You can read a passage and ask the members to take a silent moment to reflect on its insight. What’s more, you can encourage your members to take up meditation in their private time. Sports and fitness relapse prevention group activities such as yoga and team sports promote physical health and emotional balance. Both AA and NA support groups are based on a 12-step program that emphasizes personal growth, accountability, and spiritual development. Meetings are typically held regularly and are accessible in various formats, including in-person, online, and hybrid sessions.

substance abuse group activities

Resources From PositivePsychology.com

  • TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health pros with clients in need.
  • It can boost your sense of well-being and help you cope with drug cravings and other recovery-related challenges.
  • They can help normalize the impact of grief, provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for the individual, and help participants discover resources and coping strategies.
  • Journaling is about getting in touch with your experiences through writing, while expressive writing is about processing emotions.

Learn all about how you can adapt the classic principles of client centered therapy to the modality of teletherapy. Write questions or statements related to the group topic on masking tape and place them randomly around the beach ball and pass it around to group members. When clients catch the ball, they have to talk about the statement or answer the question closest to their right thumb. Pass out pre-printed outlines of a tombstone and ask your clients to think about this exercise seriously. The “odd person out” gets to go into the middle of the group and provide the next set of commands.

Worksheets By Therapy Type: E-Z

Before your group, type up about 50 or more positive traits and affirmations, and be sure to double-space. Print out the sheet and cut out the positive sayings and affirmations into strips or for larger groups, print out three or more copies of the affirmations. Each group member will need at least twelve strips of paper to apply to posters. The purpose of this exercise is designed to help clients discover and celebrate their positive traits and affirmations, so providing clients with several strips to choose from is critical. Have group members collaborate and come up with a group motto based on the goals and outcome of the group sessions. This worksheet on radical acceptance can be completed individually inside or outside of a group session.

substance abuse group activities

Additional Ideas for Psychoeducation & Process Groups

It is a wonderfully unique experience in that every group and session is different and dynamic. The GROW With Your Team worksheet specifically helps with group development, team cohesion, and learning to set and achieve common goals. This can be a wonderful activity to use to start a group because it allows members’ active participation in accomplishing objectives and the healing process. Create a coping cheat sheet summary card that group members can keep with them between sessions.

Substance Use Group Therapy Topics & Themes

These can be discussed in session and continually practiced in subsequent meetings. This effective communication worksheet teaches clients about effective communication techniques. This activity forces interaction between members, which can help decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation. Members write down as many goals as they would like and pass the ideas around. Once the list is complete, the group can brainstorm practical ways to implement behaviors that will help achieve these goals. Clients are asked to identify five to 10 chapter titles for their life and briefly explain each.

“Because the hurt across our state is so great, we know there are even more organizations creating space for healing who can utilize this funding.” For clients who monopolize, are constantly joking, or who attempt to intentionally distract by changing the topic, objectively point out your observations. When appropriate, ask other group members to comment on your observations and provide feedback to their peer.

Mindful Group Activities for Adults in Recovery

Group sessions provide group members with an opportunity to practice life skills including communication and establishing boundaries. Effective group leaders can help create an environment where https://ecosoberhouse.com/ members can challenge each other in a productive manner while practicing these life skills. There are many benefits that can occur within a group setting which includes reducing isolation.

Unleashing Creativity: Expressive Arts in Recovery

And support groups are able to assist in the treatment of both mental health and substance use disorders. It is vital for any group activity for relapse prevention to offer a supportive environment where participants feel safe, respected, and supported. To this end, leaders of group activities in addiction treatment programs should establish clear ground rules for confidentiality and respectful communication from the start. They should also facilitate activities in a non-judgmental manner and encourage open dialogue.

substance abuse group activities

Relapse Prevention Group Activities: Engaging Ways to Stay on Track

The Empathy Bingo worksheet is an interactive way for group members to learn about empathy, develop healthy relationships, and practice self-compassion. Mindfulness group therapy allows individuals to come together in a group setting to develop and practice mindfulness skills and draw benefits from the shared experience with others. A sheet of paper is passed out to each member, and they will write their name on the sheet. The paper is passed around so that other members can write positive affirmations directed to the member.

Our caring admissions navigators are available 24/7 to answer your questions about what to expect at rehab, levels of addiction treatment, and how to start the rehab admissions process. All group therapy programs have to be aware of the ethical considerations as well as the special challenges that their groups will face, recovery groups are no different in this regard. This complex, substance abuse group activities intense interpersonal experience can be filled with powerful interaction and meaningful activities. Many of these group therapy activities are highlighted in this article. Group therapy has a nearly 100-year-old history and has branched into many aspects of the contemporary world. As social creatures, we learn from and depend on groups to survive, thrive, and grow as individuals.

Posted on March 22, 2024 in Sober living

Share the Story

About the Author

Back to Top