As you share experiences with others facing the same substance abuse and addiction struggles, group therapy has the power to transform your recovery and guide you forward into a thriving life. Karen Hanks, MD, and the compassionate team at Priority Health in Union City, Tennessee, include individual and group therapy as an essential part of your treatment. To learn more or join a group, call the office or connect online and request an appointment today.
request an appointmentWho needs group therapy?
Group therapy involves three or more people who share similar challenges. They get together on a regular schedule to talk about their experiences and learn from others facing the same problems.
As specialists in addiction medicine, the team includes group therapy as part of each person’s treatment, whether for alcohol dependence, opioid addictions, or the abuse of other drugs.
What are the benefits of group therapy?
At first it may be hard to discuss your addiction challenges with a group of strangers. But most people quickly build connections because everyone in the group shares similar experiences.
In group therapy, you can safely express your feelings and opinions, confident in knowing that others in the group understand what you’re going through.
Participants gain insight from each other. As group members talk, you get ideas for how to improve a difficult situation, overcome a challenge, and fight the urge to return to using drugs or alcohol.
There’s another benefit of group therapy. Many people with dependencies and addictions are isolated from their family and friends. When you participate in group therapy, you quickly learn that you’re not alone.
What happens during group therapy?
What happens during group therapy depends on who is in the group, the goals they want to reach, and the professional leading them. Group therapy usually involves free-flowing conversations, but it’s not a free-for-all.
Each meeting is planned and guided by a Priority Health team member in charge of the group. They may plan a topic to discuss, or they may open with a topic and pose questions along the way to guide the group’s discussion.
Most importantly, your group leader is fully trained and qualified in addiction medicine. During group therapy, they provide expert guidance. You can depend on learning skills and strategies for successfully managing your substance use and life challenges.
Will I have individual therapy and group therapy?
Most patients getting help for substance abuse have one-on-one therapy, especially at the beginning of their treatment. Individual therapy gives you a caring and trustworthy environment where you can confidently talk about your unique addiction and mental health needs.
As your recovery progresses, you may continue individual and group therapy, or you may only need the support of a group.
To learn more about group therapy at Priority Health, call the office or book an appointment online today.