Depending on your mental health, you may also undergo a mental health exam. Many people who abuse drugs have an underlying mental health condition that they need to address. Once you begin treatment for drug abuse and any mental health issues, you should feel better mentally. Addiction treatment should be addressing both of these issues as they are directly related. 3. Group Therapy Once you have finished the drug rehabs New Jersey intake procedures, you will begin your intensive outpatient treatment program. Usually, you will receive a group therapy assignment. This should have a small number of people in it. This number is usually less than 10. Small therapy groups make it easier to work on issues common to all individuals. For example, there are group therapy groups that consist of people with mothers or fathers who have addiction issues as well. Or, the entire group may consist of survivors or veterans. Other institutions choose to mix up their therapy groups and have a combination of people with addictions. In addition, you expect to receive an assignment to work with a therapist in individual therapy. Drug rehab group therapy work on issues, such as stressors and stress prevention. However, individual therapy means you are working on the process of ending your addiction. This should get to the core of the addiction. It should address behavioral health issues and co-occurring disorders. These are related to almost all addictions and must be addressed for long-term recovery. It can be very difficult to work. Like any addiction treatment program, before you can begin you must be off your drug of choice. If you’re concerned you may need help detoxing from a drug, you may want to think about a detox program. Depending on your drug of choice, a detox program could take from a few days to a couple of weeks.
WHAT KINDS OF ISSUES COME UP IN GROUP THERAPY? While group therapy topics differ depending on the treatment center, there are general topics covered. At our drug rehabs Van Nuys center one topic discussed involves the cycle of addiction. You might talk about withdrawing from drugs and how you are feeling physically. You might also discuss how to manage urges and cravings. Your group will talk about how addiction is a disease, as well as what the consequences of addiction are. Your group therapist might talk about the brain chemistry of addiction, and how your brain changes with drug use. Therapy groups also talk about 12-step programs, and how to work a 12step program effectively. Many groups talk about spirituality and its importance in recovery. Patients also discuss change and how people you know, and love might respond to your changes.
LIFE SKILLS THERAPIES