Upon beginning addiction treatment at Crestview Recovery, you’re going to feel the support from the staff as well as your peers. One of the keys to recovery is seeking strong recovery support groups, which begins in treatment. When you’re in active addiction, you may feel lost and alone. Many people feel like nobody in their circle understands, but addiction rehab changes that. When you begin treatment for your addiction, you’ll see that you’re not alone at all.
At Crestview Recovery, we understand that no one is perfect, and we accept everyone for who they are. Our team is here to help you get on the right track to recovery. A group therapy program is an excellent way to do that. To learn more, call us today at 866.262.0531.
The Origin of Addiction Support Groups
Back in the 1930s, it was nearly impossible for people with addictions to stay sober because nobody understood addiction. Many people lost all hope. As much as many wanted to, doctors, friends and family members couldn’t help the people struggling with addiction. Bill Wilson is the founder of the first 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. Through the creation of this program, he found something amazing. One person recovering from an addiction has the incredible ability to help someone else.
You might have heard about 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, but you may not understand them. In the meetings, members share their experiences, strength and hope to help one another. Hearing from others that have gone through what you have and now have an incredible life is amazing. This is why, here at Crestview Recovery, we place a strong emphasis on the following forms of treatment:
- 12-Step programs
- Group sessions
- Group activities
- In-Treatment Support Groups
Understanding the Dynamic of Group Therapy
Group therapy for addiction is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists work with multiple individuals affected by one issue. In the case of addiction, these sessions provide an opportunity to learn and practice healthy coping mechanisms and develop communication skills that can assist in avoiding triggers and managing cravings. Group members can also gain support, understanding, and encouragement from others in similar situations.
In group therapy, a clinician runs a therapy session that encourages peer support. In these groups, different topics come up that can help you see you’re not alone in your struggles. You’ll likely be amazed as you begin to hear people share about their lives and how they parallel your own. This will begin to show you that you aren’t alone and that there are people who actually understand how you feel.
Group therapy can provide a safe and confidential space to openly discuss the struggles associated with addiction. Group therapy is typically held in an outpatient setting and typically meets one or more times each week for 45–90 minutes. By joining a supportive environment of peers, individuals can better understand their own issues while benefiting from the experiences of others.
In these groups, you’ll begin to see that your peers are able to offer you great suggestions for staying clean. One of the other major benefits of these groups is that you can give back by helping others. Many people come into addiction treatment programs without a sense of purpose in their lives. As you begin helping others, you’ll see that you have a new purpose and the ability to provide hope to people.
Having Fun with Support Groups
One of the biggest lies your brain tells you while you’re in active addiction is that you can’t have fun in sobriety. As part of the program here at Crestview Recovery, you and others will begin to see that life can be fun sober. Through different events and activities, you’ll begin to laugh and smile sober, which is a great experience. This helps your brain begin to retrain itself and see that it’s possible to get natural pleasure without drugs or alcohol.
Support groups come together to help each other stay sober and live happy, healthy lives. There are all sorts of different support groups out there, so it’s important to find the right one for you. There are groups for people who struggle with any type of addiction, as well as groups for family members of addicts. There are also groups for people who want to focus on spiritual growth or who want to learn more about addiction and recovery.
As you continue to spend time with your support groups in treatment, you’ll gain unbreakable bonds. You’ll quickly find that you’re able to have better connections with people you just met than with many others. This is very important because you’re going to need additional support when you leave treatment. The bond you make with people in treatment will help you stay clean because you’ll have people to contact when the going gets rough.
Support for Addiction Recovery
Addiction can often feel like a lonely disease, but that’s not the case at Crestview Recovery. Our addiction rehab center provides you with the support you need to get through your addiction. With our staff and peers by your side, you’ll be able to get the support you need to recover from your addiction.
Crestview Recovery provides addiction therapy services that can help you start fresh. No matter how low you are in life, you have the ability to recover. Find out more about our facility by calling us today at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
