Peer Group Therapy Research Paper

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While the positive effects of many varieties of addiction therapy are undeniable, it's often peer group therapy that provides the basis for a lasting recovery in addiction treatment. There is nothing more touching than to see addicts helping other addicts in a group setting. After all, who knows what addicts are experiencing better than those who have similar thoughts, feelings and experiences? What is the Role of Peer Group Therapy in Addiction Treatment? One of the unintended consequences of addiction is addicts are often left feeling alone and isolated. They tend to have great difficulty in social settings and prefer instead to be off by themselves to partake in their addictive behavior. In addiction treatment, a group setting is used to help addicts learn to identify with other addicts. Knowing they have so much in common tends to give them enough comfort to open up about their own situation, especially after hearing others open up before them. The greatest benefit derived from peer group therapy is the development of camaraderie that soon turns into a support group that could provide extra benefits in the future. Types of Peer Group Therapy…show more content…
Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, there are several types of peer group therapy settings that are used to provide different types of benefits. There are groups designed to educate addicts about their disease and the possible long-term effects. Some groups focus on identifying the behaviors that lead their fellow addicts to abuse substances. Still other group will look at ways to help each other change the way they think, which can ultimately help change the addictive behavior. Finally, open forums are provided to allow for free expression and open

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