For many people dealing with addiction, group therapy can be one of the most daunting parts of rehabilitation. Addiction is an isolating disease that makes you withdraw from your friends, family and any group activities you used to enjoy, all so you can spend more time with your drug of choice.
In Recovery, though, meeting and opening up to other people with addictions can help you move forward. These people understand what you’re going through and can help you feel less alone.
Many members are used to doing activities revolving around alcohol or their drug of choice. However, there are excellent group activities for recovering users.
5 Group Therapy Activities for Adults in Recovery
Running and participating in group therapy can be challenging. The environment should be positive so that everyone can feel comfortable while getting the support they need.
You don’t need every moment of group therapy to be full of serious internal reflection. Sometimes having fun activities can be just as helpful in showing patients how to reintegrate into their daily lives.
Here are a few activities that can help your group open up to one another and build a foundational relationship for the rest of the sessions:
- Discuss what you’re grateful for today: Gratitude journaling is a popular activity for people in and out of therapy. Encouraging your group to reflect on how much they have to be thankful for can help them shift into a more positive mindset. It’s a great place to start your meeting.
- Practice meditation: Meditation can be especially helpful for people dealing with addiction and mental illness. Breathwork and mindfulness can help patients be in the moment and control their thoughts.
- Learn the science behind addiction: Explain what happens to the body when experiencing and treating addiction. Understanding how addiction changes the body can help motivate people to continue their Recovery.
- Make a self-care list: Dealing with addiction can leave you little time for taking care of yourself. Have your group come up with a list of easy self-care activities for them when they need a distraction or want to feel better about themselves.
- Freewriting: Allow group members to write about anything they’re thinking or feeling. This can help them express what’s on their mind, even if they’re unsure of the answer. Your group can choose whether or not they want to share what they’ve written.
Experience Group Recovery Activities Firsthand at 7 Summit Pathways
At 7 Summit Pathways, we aim to help people with addictions find their road to Recovery using evidence-based treatments. We utilize tools like medication and therapies to treat the worst symptoms of addiction and its various co-occurring disorders. We approach healing through The 7 Dimensions of Wellness — physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational, intellectual and environmental — to create individualized treatment plans for every patient.
Connect with us today if you’re ready to experience these and other group activities for adults in Recovery. Our team is here to help you find your way to sobriety.