Increasing Motivation with Addicted Populations and Decreasing Barriers to Intimacy
My Mission of Group Psychotherapy with Addicted Populations
There is a process in Recovery from Addiction that cannot be "pushed" on someone in active addiction, or stages of change that cannot be "forced" upon that individual. However, there is natural human curiosity in the over analytical mind of many in active addiction that can be addressed in a form of Motivational Intervention and a perspective of Harm Reduction that may increase participation in Group Psychotherapy. Professional literature supports that Group Therapy for substance use disorders have a higher outcome than individual therapy alone; however, if a patient's (or client's) motivation is poor, so is the prognosis.
My approach demonstrates an attempt to motivate without judgment, or bias, with the benefits of participating in Group Psychotherapy and taking responsibility for themselves. My workshop with treatment centers opens with a demonstration of personalities as 'defense mechanisms' that are introduced to the group (audience) in order to engage 'exploratory' questions from the group. Most therapy groups are 'open groups' with members at various levels of phases in their treatment. This promotes social modeling for new members to learn from those who have participated longer in group. This concept is also a practice that is incorporated in twelve step programs and from the book of Alcoholics Anonymous called "sharing experience, strength, and hope".
The theory and practice of Group Psychotherapy developed by Irvin Yalom, stresses twelve therapeutic factors (Yalom and Lescs, 2005). Factors in the beginning of group to create motivation, are Universality and Cohesiveness. Universality is 'where group members recognize that other members share similar feelings, thoughts, and problems'. Cohesiveness relates to 'feelings of trust, belonging and togetherness experienced by group members'. This only occurs and allows the other remaining experiential factors when group members engage (invest) in the group process.
The main educational (didactic) component is comprised of Eric Erickson's Psychosocial Stages of Development, Systems theory and Social Modeling, and the 12-step program philosophies of Alcoholics Anonymous that collectively form various senses of "Identities" and defense mechanisms that form barriers to intimacy in personal relationship. According to Eric Erickson's model, over 50% of the population does not experience true intimacy due to many getting stuck in forming their perceived identity which is emotionally dependent on people, places, and things. Defense mechanisms suppress feelings of shame and guilt which propel the perceived sense of self of remaining distant, dishonest, and unwilling to engage in relationships, and life.
The benefits of Group Psychotherapy describe how one can identify their sense of self, or identity, and re-create, or re-define, their sense of self, or identity through participation. Shame and guilt can be addressed and processed in group therapy with the most important therapeutic factor, Hope. And, "hope" is what the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous offers to those suffering from "hopelessness" from alcohol and addiction.
My approach demonstrates an attempt to motivate without judgment, or bias, with the benefits of participating in Group Psychotherapy and taking responsibility for themselves. My workshop with treatment centers opens with a demonstration of personalities as 'defense mechanisms' that are introduced to the group (audience) in order to engage 'exploratory' questions from the group. Most therapy groups are 'open groups' with members at various levels of phases in their treatment. This promotes social modeling for new members to learn from those who have participated longer in group. This concept is also a practice that is incorporated in twelve step programs and from the book of Alcoholics Anonymous called "sharing experience, strength, and hope".
The theory and practice of Group Psychotherapy developed by Irvin Yalom, stresses twelve therapeutic factors (Yalom and Lescs, 2005). Factors in the beginning of group to create motivation, are Universality and Cohesiveness. Universality is 'where group members recognize that other members share similar feelings, thoughts, and problems'. Cohesiveness relates to 'feelings of trust, belonging and togetherness experienced by group members'. This only occurs and allows the other remaining experiential factors when group members engage (invest) in the group process.
The main educational (didactic) component is comprised of Eric Erickson's Psychosocial Stages of Development, Systems theory and Social Modeling, and the 12-step program philosophies of Alcoholics Anonymous that collectively form various senses of "Identities" and defense mechanisms that form barriers to intimacy in personal relationship. According to Eric Erickson's model, over 50% of the population does not experience true intimacy due to many getting stuck in forming their perceived identity which is emotionally dependent on people, places, and things. Defense mechanisms suppress feelings of shame and guilt which propel the perceived sense of self of remaining distant, dishonest, and unwilling to engage in relationships, and life.
The benefits of Group Psychotherapy describe how one can identify their sense of self, or identity, and re-create, or re-define, their sense of self, or identity through participation. Shame and guilt can be addressed and processed in group therapy with the most important therapeutic factor, Hope. And, "hope" is what the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous offers to those suffering from "hopelessness" from alcohol and addiction.