Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions bring small groups of clients together to learn practical coping skills, share their experiences, and build a sense of community. Therapists manage these sessions, and they teach strategies for overcoming substance abuse while creating a space of connection. Pride Detox’s group therapy sessions will reduce isolation, strengthen your interpersonal relationship skills, and offer the kind of mutual support that makes a real difference in recovery.

How Does Group Therapy Work for Substance Addiction?

Group therapy supports addiction treatment because it helps people grow, stay accountable, and feel connected. It might seem a little intimidating at first, but many are surprised by how meaningful it becomes. In most groups, people talk openly about their experiences with addiction and recovery, support each other, and learn real-life tools for dealing with cravings, triggers, and emotional stress. Being part of a group like this can ease feelings of shame and remind you that you are not alone in what you are going through.

Group therapy encourages people to reflect on each other's stories, give and receive feedback, and grow together. Everyone brings a different perspective that is informed by their unique life experiences. Through this diversity, members are exposed to a range of coping strategies and recovery approaches. For many, group therapy becomes a space of hope, where vulnerability is met with empathy and setbacks are met with support.

What is a Group Therapy Session Like?

Licensed mental health professionals typically lead group therapy within a structured treatment setting. Pride Detox’s group sessions are conducted in person during our residential rehabilitation programs. The format, e.g., group size, meeting frequency, session length, and specific content, will vary based on your needs and our current census.

Group therapy sessions will never have more than 6 participants. You may attend several group sessions each day, which typically last approximately 60 minutes. Group therapy can take many forms that include:

Psychoeducational Groups

These sessions help people learn more about substance use, its effects, and the behaviors that come with it. They also focus on building life skills and improving self-awareness, which makes it easier to understand your mental health and how to take care of it.

Skills Development Groups

During these sessions, participants learn practical tools for long-term sobriety, including arts, crafts, mindfulness practices and relapse prevention skills. These sessions equip people to handle triggers and make choices that align with their recovery journey.

Cognitive Behavioral Groups

These group therapy sessions apply the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change thought patterns and behaviors that fuel addiction.

What Topics Do We Cover in Group Therapy?

You may discuss these topics with the therapist and your peers:

• Education about addiction and underlying factors
• Stress management
• Building and maintaining robust support systems
• Moving through guilt and shame
• Establishing routines
• Relapse prevention and triggers
• Communication skills
• Boundary setting
• Self-awareness
• Relationship building

What Substance Use Disorders can Group Therapy Help?

Group therapy is an effective form of treatment for basically all substance use disorders (SUD). Clinical evidence shows that group formats consistently lead to improvements in abstinence rates, mental health symptoms, and overall recovery outcomes.

Research shows that addiction treatment groups can help people recover from:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Stimulant use disorder
• Benzodiazepine use disorder
• Opioid use disorder (including heroin and prescription painkillers)
• Mixed or polysubstance use disorders
• SUDs with co-occurring mental health conditions

For example, group-based cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management have been found to be more effective at reducing cocaine use than standard one-on-one treatment. Group-based contingency management also shows strong results in helping people reduce methamphetamine use, while relapse prevention and social support groups have been beneficial for marijuana use, particularly for men.

What sets group therapy apart is its ability to combine psychoeducation, skills-building, emotional processing, and peer connection within a single setting. You will not only learn about addiction, but will also listen to how others dealt with struggles you face while practicing new ways of coping together.

Find Community and Support with Pride Detox's Group Therapy

Addiction can feel isolating, especially as an LGBTQ+ person already dealing with societal stigma and discrimination. Group therapy offers a path out of that by connecting you with LGBTQ+ peers who truly understand. To learn more about how our group therapy sessions are structured and if they are right for your recovery journey, reach out to us today at 562-525-5501.