Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
When selecting a psychotherapeutic approach for a client, you must consider the unique needs and characteristics of that particular client. The same is true when selecting a psychotherapeutic approach for groups. Not every approach is appropriate for every group, and the group’s unique needs and characteristics must be considered. For this Assignment, you examine psychotherapeutic approaches to group therapy for addiction.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Evaluate psychotherapeutic approaches to group therapy for addiction
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on group therapy for addiction.
- View the media, Levy Family: Sessions 1-7, and consider the psychotherapeutic approaches being used.3-7 dialog included.
The Assignment
In a 2 -page paper, address the following:
- Identify the psychotherapeutic approach that the group facilitator is using, and explain why she might be using this approach.
- Determine whether or not you would use the same psychotherapeutic approach if you were the counselor facilitating this group, and justify your decision.
- Identify an alternative approach to group therapy for addiction, and explain why it is an appropriate option.
- Support your position with evidence-based literature.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Assignment 1: Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Introduction
For fear and substance abuse group therapies, practitioners use a variety of models to meet the clients’ needs. An understanding of the groups’ goals and technique is viewed to be a foundation of the approaches chosen for the sessions (Wheeler, 2014). The paper tries to establish the psychotherapeutic approach used in a group therapy case. In addition, it provides an alternative approach that may be suitable for the case. The scenario involves ex-soldiers who have a traumatized experience of their mission in Iraq.
The Psychotherapeutic Approach Used
From the scenario, the therapist used exposure therapy. This approach typically entails the client trying to confront their fear in a suitable manner. One of its essential aspects is the use of emotional processing to enhance control of the clients’ problems. Usually, the practitioner creates a safe environment that allows the client to decrease their avoidance to a problem or fear. Research reveals that the approach is helpful in treating clients with fear-related problems (Skule et al., 2017).
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The therapist may have chosen the approach because the clients show fear of an experience in their work as soldiers in Iraq. The incident tends to horrify the clients as they keep on seeing it. To limit recurrence of their fear, they tend to engage in addictive activities such as alcohol intake. The clients also tend to show symptoms for post traumatic stress disorder. The application of systematic desensitization, such as the use of relaxation, is used to help the clients construct better revelations of their past without anxiety (Berardelli et al., 2018).
Viability of the Approach in My Scenario
If I were a therapist in the case, I would have used the same method. This is because I view that the clients tend to be emotional when they recollect their ordeals in Iraq. In that regard, the use of this approach would improve their emotional processing. I view that by using the approach, the clients would have a better position of attaining new beliefs regarding their fear. Therefore, they would be more comfortable in dealing with their problem without engaging in poor health habits such as alcohol drinking. I would also choose the technique because I belief that it will increase the clients’ self-efficacy. This aspect means that the group will realize that they are capable of managing their anxiety (Sundquist et al., 2015).
Alternative Approach for Addiction
The use of psychoeducational approach is alternative for the group. The technique involves the use of structured content that meets the requirements of the group. It often involves use of videotapes or lectures to facilitate a better understanding by the clients. It provides an expansion of awareness regarding behavioral and psychological consequences of addiction. This approach is also aimed at helping clients to get into a recovery-ready stage to facilitate change. (Berardelli et al., 2018).
The approach is suitable for the group because the clients are in a contemplative level of change where they have developed a need to get help or seek ways of getting help. It may also help the group to recognize their fear and addiction problems and deepen their knowledge to facilitate a suitable way to recovery. In addition, the approach may help the group to realize alternative resources that may be helpful (Wilson et al., 2018).
Conclusion
The paper tries to show the importance of understanding clients’ needs in the choice of psychotherapeutic approaches. The case scenario reveals that the therapist engages in an exposure approach, which is part of cognitive–behavioral methods. In addition, it reveals that the use of psychoeducational approach may be suitable for the group as it also poses features that can enhance the clients’ recovery.
References
Berardelli, I., Bloise, M. C., Bologna, M., Conte, A., Pompili, M., Lamis, D. A., … & Fabbrini,
- (2018). Cognitive behavioral group therapy versus psychoeducational intervention in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 399.
Skule, C., Berge, T., Eilertsen, E., Ulleberg, P., Dallavara Lending, H., Egeland, J., & Landrø, N.
- (2017). Levels of alcohol use and depression severity as predictors of missed therapy sessions in cognitive behavioural psycho-educational group treatment for depression. Addiction Research & Theory, 25(1), 11-16.
Sundquist, J., Lilja, Å., Palmér, K., Memon, A. A., Wang, X., Johansson, L. M., & Sundquist, K.
(2015). Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders: randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 206(2), 128-135.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to
guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.
Wilson, L., Crowe, M., Scott, A., & Lacey, C. (2018). Psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: A
discourse analysis. International journal of mental health nursing, 27(1), 349-357.
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