Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction

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Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction Group therapy is gaining more popularity in the treatment of psychiatric conditions. It involves providing therapy to a group of people at the same time. A group has an assigned therapist or therapists who facilitate group functions and oversee each group member's progress. Whereas group therapy is beneficial in improving social skills and addressing mental health issues, a therapist has to be keen to notice if each member is benefitting or comfortable. This paper discusses the psychotherapeutic approaches used in group therapy in regards to the Levy family case study.

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Psychotherapeutic Approach used by the Group facilitator Different kinds of therapies were used in Mr. Levy's case. They included individual therapy, exposure therapy and group therapy. At first, the individual therapy approach was used. This was applicable at the beginning of the therapy as the therapist sought to understand Mr. Levy and the background of his problem. The therapist was able to assess the patient and point out his major problems that included excessive alcohol use, PTSD from previous war experiences and poor family relationships.

Next, exposure therapy was used for his PTSD. Exposure therapy involves exposing a patient to the context of their traumatic event, fear or anxiety with the aim of making them comfortable and helping them to overcome their fears (Beidel et al., 2019). The therapist guided Mr. Levy into reexperiencing the events he went through while at war, using the opportunity to educate him about his experiences and how they contribute to his PTSD. Re-exposing patients to their traumatic events also helps them learn how to deal with the stress and anxiety that they associate them with. In Mr. Levy’s case, he was thought breathing techniques to help him relax. The rationale of employing exposure therapy in the treatment of PTSD is to address the root cause of the patient’s trauma and anxiety (Beidel et al., 2019). The use of exposure therapy has been evidenced to be effective in managing PTSD. Group therapy is also evident in the psychotherapeutic approaches used on Levy. The therapist introduced Levy to two groups, one for war veterans and the other for recovering alcoholics. The use of group approach is effective in both PTSD and behavioral problems such as alcohol use.

Cognitive behavioral group therapy is apparent in Mr. Levy’s groups. This involves the use of group functions and activities to influence behavioral, cognitive and relational change among group members. Such kind of group therapy is beneficial in enhancing coping skills of group

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members and their adaptation to stressful situations (D’Arienzo, 2016). This justifies the use of the approach in Mr. Levy’s case for both PTSD and his drinking problem.

Whether I Would Use the Same Approach All the approaches used in Mr. Levy's case are justifiable. Personally, I would have utilized all these strategies as they are helpful in addressing the patient's problems. The major problems in this case had been identified as PTSD, excessive drinking and poor family relationships. The use of exposure therapy was essential as it addresses PTSD, which contributed to the other subsequent problems. Addressing the root cause makes it easier to impart behavioral change, thus addressing the drinking and relational problems. In addition to exposure therapy, I would have also used group therapy. This enhances the coping mechanisms of the patient. It also makes the patient aware of other people's struggles and how they cope hence learning from them (D’Arienzo, 2016). Ensuring that the patient relates with the group and that the group is functional in addressing every member’s needs is essential in the effectiveness of group therapy.

Alternative Approaches to Group Therapy and Their Appropriateness Other than the approaches used above, Mr. Levy could have benefitted from other similar approaches. This includes motivational interviewing and family therapy. Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that focuses on the client, to elicit positive behavioral change. It involves talking to the patient, listening and evoking individual need for change (Frost et al., 2018). In patients with PTSD, it is easier for them to develop relational problems as well as go into drug and substance abuse to mask their fear and anxiety. In such a case, motivational interviewing can be effective in influencing the patient to seek help and handle their problematic behaviors (Frost et al., 2018).

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Family therapy is also applicable in in Mr. Levy's case. His PTSD and alcohol abuse affected his relationship with his family members, making it essential to employ family therapy. This kind of therapy is employed among family members to solve conflicts and improve communication among family members. Family therapy has been evidenced to be effective in mending dysfunctional family relationships in various psychiatric conditions and substance abuse.

Conclusion Several psychotherapeutic approaches can be used in patients with PTSD and substance abuse disorders. Mr. Levy's therapist employed the use of cognitive behavioral group therapy and exposure therapy. In addition to these, family therapy and motivational interviewing could also be applicable in his case. Having a good understanding of various therapeutic approaches as well as competencies to employ them is essential when deciding on a therapy to use.

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References Beidel, D. C., Frueh, B. C., Neer, S. M., Bowers, C. A., Trachik, B., Uhde, T. W., & Grubaugh, A. (2019). Trauma management therapy with virtual-reality augmented exposure therapy for combat-related PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of anxiety disorders, 61, 64-74.

D’Arienzo, J. A. (2016). 24 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Combat Veterans Using Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy. In 101 Interventions in Group Therapy (pp. 100102). Routledge.

Frost, H., Campbell, P., Maxwell, M., O’Carroll, R. E., Dombrowski, S. U., Williams, B., ... & Pollock, A. (2018). Effectiveness of motivational interviewing on adult behaviour change in health and social care settings: a systematic review of reviews. PloS one, 13(10), e0204890.

Schwartze, D., Barkowski, S., Strauss, B., Knaevelsrud, C., & Rosendahl, J. (2019). Efficacy of group psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychotherapy Research, 29(4), 415-431.