Group Therapy Discussion Ideas
Ideas to Engage Your Recovery Group for More Effective Meetings
A major component of substance abuse treatment is group counseling. While some facilitators may have their own topics to choose from, here is a list of ideas you can consider discussing to help with your recovery:
Relationships: Members can discuss and learn what healthy relationships look like and how to avoid pitfalls in relationships.
Codependency: Many addicts have been involved in codependent relationships. Identifying codependency and learning how to have healthy relationships is key in recovery.
Accountability: People suffering from addictions often tend to be unreliable and don’t show up for people. Group discussions on why accountability is important are essential to rebuilding relationships.
Honesty: Honesty is key in any recovery discussion. Being honest at the group level is the beginning of the recovery journey.
Impulse control: Most people with addictions suffer from lack of impulse control. If you suffer from managing your impulsively, group discussions can give you tips on how to pause and reflect.
Boundaries: People with dysfunctional lives tend to have blurred or lacking boundaries. Group discussions can help you gain perspective on how to create healthy boundaries and apply them in relationships.
Forgiveness: Espoused by most religions, learning to practice forgiveness is a major part of living a more spiritual and sober life.
Values: In addiction, behavior rarely matches values. Group discussions on how to behave in accordance with values can help you rebuild your character.
Triggers: Those in early recovery are especially sensitive to triggers for relapse. Groups can discuss triggers and ways to cope with common ones.
Gratitude: Grateful people are a lot less likely to relapse. Groups can discuss gratitude and explore ways of staying grateful on a daily basis, such as with positive affirmations.
Surrendering: In recovery you may have been told to “surrender to win.” Group talks can explain how admitting defeat is the beginning of recovery.
Resentments: Harboring resentments can be a major impedance in recovery. Group discussions about resentments and how to deal with them in a healthy way can be a positive addition to your recovery mindset.
Loss: Most have experienced loss, in and out of addiction. Group sessions about using coping skills to handle the emotions associated with loss will help you navigate difficult emotions and trauma.
Depression: A large percentage of addicts have a dual diagnosis of addiction and depression. If experiencing depression, you may need medication to alleviate it. Group discussions can explore depression and ways to treat it.
Anxiety: Many people in recovery experience even more anxiety without their drug of choice. Groups can benefit from members discussing mental illness, such as anxiety and discussion, and how to best deal with it.
Anger: Whether expressed or suppressed, anger is an issue for many people in recovery. Groups can discuss how to express anger in healthy ways.