Didactic Group Therapy: What Happens and Why It’s Important

There are many types of approaches that can be taken to addiction recovery – and it all depends on what works best for the client. Holistic, comprehensive treatment is about assessing an individual’s needs and getting an understanding of who they are, including their medical history, their family history, major life stressors, mental health report and more. Put simply, recovery should consider a person’s mental, physical and spiritual wellness – and in some cases, didactic group therapy could be an excellent addition to a person’s program.

What is Didactic Group Therapy?

Upon entering recovery, it’s important for clients to gain a stronger understanding of what addiction means and the various aspects of recovery and healing. Didactic group therapy is facilitated by a therapist or doctor who directs conversations on a number of topics, such as:

•    Adverse effects associated with addiction
•    Relapse prevention
•    Common beliefs about addiction
•    And more

The premises of didactic group therapy is that by indulging in discussions meant to help educate individuals, they will become more committed to their program – because they’ll understand the ins and outs of addiction and how it all works. In addition to this, those in recovery will gain valuable tools to apply directly to their lives.

Substance Abuse Education: Why It’s Important

Addiction is defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as, “A brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences”. This working definition makes it easier to grasp the unrelenting pull that addiction can have on a person – and by thoroughly understanding how addiction develops, the many causes of addiction and why it’s simply not feasible to “just quit” – individuals are more capable of taking strategic steps towards healing and restoration. Fix for Addiction, an organization working towards educating the community about addiction and its effects, explained that there are many misconceptions surrounding substance abuse – and even those in recovery may have preconceived notions about what recovery is like.

Common misbeliefs about addiction and recovery include:

•    Beliefs that a person is weak for seeking help
•    Ideas that recovery is a “quick fix”
•    Perceiving that addiction is all that matters – and that past trauma, mental illness and family history don’t play a role in it
•    Believing that addiction is all that’s treated in recovery
•    Having the idea that nobody can truly understand a person’s experience; believing that a person is all alone in their struggles with addiction and recovery

Education is power, and those who learn more about the biological processes of addiction as well as the psychology behind that and relapse have better chances of succeeding in recovery.

Problem Solving with Others in Therapy

Social support is a major component of healing, and didactic group therapy can foster this support by providing an environment in which individuals can share their ideas and grow together. This type of therapy is focused on education, which may be structured similarly to a classroom setting where those in recovery work together to identify problems in life that could lead to addictive behaviors later on – as an example. Problem-solving skills are crucial in recovery because there are always going to be circumstances in life that require critical thinking. The following is a complete, step-by-step explanation of how those in recovery can apply problem solving to their daily lives:

1.     Identify the problem at hand. Get a clear picture of what’s happening – perhaps even write it down. A person may even benefit from speaking with others in order to gain perspective on the problem.
2.     Once a problem has been identified, those in recovery must decide whether or not they truly want to do something about the problem. This could be an argument with a friend or family member, a situation with past individuals whom a person used to abuse substances with, or something else.
3.     If a clear decision has been made to move forward and take action, it’s time to consider the timing of everything. Is it appropriate to take action now? Is the person ready to do something about it? For instance, an individual in recovery may consider having a serious discussion with a loved one about an argument they’d previously had.
4.     Brainstorm solutions by exploring every possible action that could be taken without judging which ones are best/worst.
5.     Once a decision has been made to implement a particular plan, it’s time to act on it.

Skills like this may seem ordinary, but they require skills that take organization, time, critical thinking, patience and more. Those in recovery can greatly benefit from adapting tools such as this in didactic group therapy; if you or a loved one are ready to seek help for addiction, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. It’s never too late to turn your life around.

Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-958-7511 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you.