Hope Rehab Group-Work Program

Welcome to Hope Rehab’s Group therapy program, we believe we have created a stimulating way to address addiction issues by helping each other as a group. On this page, you will find some useful information about our Group therapy program.

Together we are stronger.

At Hope, we understand that for many attending group therapy can cause anxiety however with our gentle approach it works for all our clients. You may take all the time you need before opening up and joining in. Most of our Groups are in a workshop style, that is to say, they last for two hours with a break in the middle, Monday to Friday. This allows for the time needed to cover a subject comprehensively, usually starting with a presentation by one of the counsellors or psychologists and then an exercise with client participation to process issues. Group therapy best prepares you for recovery and the challenges in life after treatment.

What is Group Therapy and why is it used in addiction treatment?

Group Therapy is a core element of most addiction treatment programs around the world, this is because it is backed by solid evidence for its effectiveness. We have also seen for ourselves how attending group can lead to amazing transformation and change. Read more about the benefits of having a natural mix of people from all walks of life in your group.

Group therapy is a powerful antidote for isolation. Helping others and being helped by others counteracts the selfish and self-absorbed characteristics of addiction. Low self-worth, another common characteristic of addiction, is gradually replaced by rising self-esteem as, over time, your maturing values system will help you to make decisions and changes that lead you toward your goals rather than instant gratification.

We feel that our approach to the disease of addiction is completely realistic, for the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel. We feel that our way is practical, for one addict can best understand and help another addict. We believe that the sooner we face our problems within our society, in everyday living, just that much faster do we become acceptable, responsible, and productive members of that society.

– NA

Hope’s Group-Work Program

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Group therapy and community activities are where the magic really happens. Nothing compares to the camaraderie you feel, the support you get, and the learning that is gained from the many different types of group activities and therapies you experience at Hope.

Our priority is to ensure all our clients are comfortable while moving at their own pace. We give our clients the time and space to settle into the group gradually. Addiction isolates us and wants us all alone so recovery activities and groupwork are the obvious antidote. At Hope, there are many different types of group therapy, both formal and informal. Traditional psychotherapy is at the heart of our group program. However, all group activities offer essential benefits.

As with one-to-one counselling sessions, the group therapy sessions are confidential. In order to safeguard your privacy and our integrity, Hope requires that all clients respect the privacy, confidentiality and dignity of their fellow clients. Aggression or intimidation will not be tolerated in group. All clients are expected to arrive punctually and to remain for the duration of the group – usually one hour.

The therapeutic value of these groups cannot be overstressed. Experience shows that the clients who fully commit find themselves more able to cope with the stresses and strains of ‘life after rehab’. We want you to have the best future possible. Give yourself wholeheartedly to your treatment program, trust the process and see how.

The most powerful insight I gained from group was understanding that my suffering was not unique. I developed a strong sense of comradeship with the other members of the group, and this allowed me to feel stronger and more capable. We convinced each other that change was possible, and this is what made the changes possible.

– Paul G

The psychologist Irvin Yalom is attributed with defining the following beneficial principles of group psychotherapy

Universality or identification with other members
Altruism or being of service by giving to other people
Installation of home by witnessing others changing
Imparting information or sharing your knowledge
Correcting experience by linking your past to your present

Imitating or modelling healthy behaviours
Cohesiveness: together we are stronger
Existential factors, such as finding purpose and meaning in life
Cathartic relief through honest self-expression
Learning to give and receive constructive feedback

The Reality of Group Therapy

You are only ever expected to reveal the information you feel comfortable within the group (it is usual for there to be some personal information you prefer to only discuss privately with the therapist) The other members of the group are not there to judge you, and they are likely to have similar issues. The therapist is always there to ensure a safe environment where members feel free to share without fear of ridicule or any type of bullying. Together we are stronger, we usually form a circle so everyone can be seen and are equal. No one need fear the group as the most important rule is “love and compassion”.

The power of the group, there is no doubt together we are stronger, this takes some courage. We find comfort among those who agree with us, but we find growth growth among those who don’t. Either way it is in the group where we learn about ourselves and change.