In swimming, relay races are a big part of competitions. Four swimmers from a relay team take turns swimming equal lengths of the race. There’s a peace of mind that comes with being on a relay. You know that if someone stumbles, the other members of the team can rally to support them.
But many swimmers are expected to swim in individual races, as well. It’s a mental transition that can be a pretty intimidating challenge. The safety net of your teammates is gone, and the stakes are placed square on your shoulders.
The same phenomenon can take place in therapy for substance abuse. Making the switch between group and individual therapy isn’t always easy. In most cases, it takes some adjustment and patience. In this post, we’re going to share some helpful tips for when you make the switch between group therapy and individual therapy during addiction treatment.
3 Tips for Transitioning from Group Therapy to Individual Therapy
1. Up Your Participation in Group Therapy
When you’re in group therapy sessions, you’re sharing the spotlight. You usually have less time to talk, but have the opportunity to gain insights from other people’s stories. Once you make the transition to individual therapy, though, you’re going to be doing a lot more talking. This can be a bit nerve-racking if you’ve gotten comfortable listening to others in group therapy.
An easy way to prepare yourself for individual therapy is to participate more in your group therapy sessions. When you’re in therapy on your own, you get out what you put in. That means, the more you engage with your therapist, the more beneficial your sessions can be. Try to volunteer to speak about the topic being discussed more often. Comment on stories that are shared with you. And speak to other people in-between sessions. While it might sound like a hassle now, you’re actually preparing yourself for individual therapy.
2. Have a Support Network in Place
One of the great things about group therapy in addiction treatment is that you have a built-in support network. For example, let’s say your group therapy session is about confronting destructive behaviors. The topic brings up a painful memory or feeling that you’ve struggled with. In group therapy, all the other patients are right there to help and know what you’re going through.
This community feeling can make it easier for you to be open and vulnerable. It’s almost like there is less pressure since you have the support of your peers to back you up. So, before you make the transition from group to individual therapy for addiction, make sure to have a support system in place.
Individual therapy gets very personal. Instead of more broad topics, the spotlight will be on your own experiences with addiction. This attention can help you heal. But there might be a time when stress or negative thoughts come to the surface. Having a support system to lean on after your individual therapy sessions will help your therapy more forward.
3. Carry Over Healthy Habits and Routines
When you’re in group therapy, you build an established routine. You’re probably meeting multiple times a week at the same time. You could start each session with a prayer or mantra, and you’re always learning new coping mechanisms.
With individual therapy, though, the times you meet with your therapist could vary, and oftentimes there aren’t set topics that you know will come up. The good news is there is something you can do about any uncertainty or stress that this shift causes. Build your own routine to follow when you start individual therapy.
Use the coping skills you learned in group therapy to add more structure to your week. For example, start each day with a brief meditation and exercise at the same time each day. Once your schedule starts to take shape, your individual therapy sessions for addiction will feel like a more natural part of your day, similar to your group therapy sessions.
Personalized Treatment at Silver Maple Recovery
At Silver Maple Recovery, we know that addiction affects everyone differently. That’s why we take an individualized approach to addiction treatment. Our personalized addiction treatment gets to know you on a personal level so our expert staff can help you face your unique challenges.
Each person who enters our addiction treatment center in Cleveland is treated as a whole person. The evidence-based practices we offer clients have been scientifically proven to help people suffering from substance abuse reach lasting recovery.
Start Your Recovery Journey at Silver Maple Recovery
No matter where your addiction has taken you, you have the potential to find your way back. At Silver Maple Recovery, we’re here to walk with you on that journey. When you call Silver Maple Recovery, you’ll speak with one of our professional caregivers who are available 24/7. We will listen to your story and answer any questions you might have. Lasting recovery is possible, and we can help you turn it into a reality. Contact our expert team today.
