Group therapy at Delamere

What is group therapy?

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy which involves trained counsellors leading discussions with a small group of people. Typically, it begins with members of the group introducing themselves and sharing why they are attending. The therapist will then work with the group exploring different themes with the aim of achieving a shared goal together over a period of weeks.

Pioneered by renowned psychoanalyst and psychiatrist S.H. Foulkes and Wilfred Bion, group therapy was originally used as a method of combatting trauma and fatigue following the Second World war. Today, group therapy is used to treat a variety of different psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic behaviours, as well as alcohol addiction, drug addiction and other addictive behaviours.

What are the benefits of group therapy?

At first, the idea of participating in group therapy might feel overwhelming, but many people who are struggling with substance abuse find that group therapy helps them feel less alone and offers another branch of support alongside their one-to-one therapy sessions. Talking with peers who share similar experienced provides an invaluable support network which will help you during your stay at Delamere and beyond.

Group therapy for substance abuse helps our guests to:

• Learn more about the recovery process
• Support and motivate others to reach their goals
• Develop healthy coping techniques
• Find out how others are tackling the same problem
• Maintain a sense of structure and routine
• Develop a long-term support network
• Feel reassured and optimistic about the future

All our group therapy sessions take place alongside one-to-one counselling and a range of effective complimentary treatments, such as Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, art psychotherapy, fire ceremonies, nature walks, breath work and yoga, which are an integral part of our unique treatment model here at Delamere.

Types of group therapy at Delamere

Our group therapy work and one-to-one sessions support our guests to explore a wide range of theories and models, including psychodynamic approach, underlying trauma in addiction, social learning, socio-cultural perspective and attachment theory. Many of our qualified holistic therapists have personal experience of dealing with addiction and can help to put you at ease in a supportive and welcoming setting. Our group therapy for substance abuse ranges from psychoeducational sessions to learning new skills in creative workshops.

Psychoeducational therapy groups

Psychoeducational therapy groups are designed to educate guests on substance abuse, its related behaviours and consequences. This type of group therapy can help participants become more self-aware, understand the process of recovery and learn techniques for growth and change.

Interactive group discussions

Group discussions can help people to improve their interpersonal skills and share their coping strategies with others. We may work on topics such as Stress & Anxiety, Anger, Mindfulness and Self Esteem to help people adopt new ways of coping with challenging situations and channel the positives.

Skills Development Groups

Some groups focus on the particular set of skills a person needs to overcome their alcohol addiction or drug addiction. This might mean learning how to identify triggers and develop coping mechanisms or pinpointing and modifying emotional responses to certain situations. Skills Development workshops can help people to make positive choices and avoid hampering their recovery.

Interpersonal Process groups

As part of our group therapy provision at Delamere, our trained counsellors also run interpersonal process groups. These are based on psychodynamics – looking back on a person’s early life experiences and subconscious behaviours that drive their personality. This includes exploring themes such as Acute Childhood Experiences (ACE), Shame and Guilt and past traumatic experiences.

Everyone responds differently to group therapy and some approaches will resonate with you more than others. Our holistic therapists always put the person at the centre of the treatment and will tailor sessions to suit your individual needs. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but we will do all we can to make sure you find our group therapy work valuable and empower you to overcome your addiction for life.

If you or a loved one would like to find out more about group therapy sessions for any addiction in the supportive environment of Delamere, please give us a call. Contact Delamere