Substance Abuse Group Therapy Activities

For male and female adolescents, staying clean and sober following substance abuse treatment requires focus. Individual or group therapy, family therapy, and the creation of a strong recovery support network is crucial for a teenager recovering from substance abuse. In order to avoid substance abuse relapse, sort through the confusion of early recovery, and build a strong foundation for long term recovery, the recovering teenage addict should strive to participate in one or more substance abuse support groups.

The purpose of substance abuse group therapy is to empower male and female adolescent addicts to resist drugs or alcohol abuse by learning from one another and acquiring a new lifestyle. Substance abuse group therapy provides these troubled teens with the development of new life skills. New habits, and the motivation to remain sober are short-term goals for every substance abuse group therapy session.

There is just about every type of substance support group available for male and female adolescents. Narcotics anonymous is the second most popular 12 step based support program. Along with Narcotics anonymous there are support groups for every type of substance addiction such as marijuana anonymous and cocaine anonymous. Whether a teen is addicted to drugs or alcohol there is a support group out there to help them recover from their addiction. Spiritual support are also available for male and female adolescents who are recovering from their substance abuse.

Mental Health Group Therapy Activities

There are many mental health group therapy activities that take place when one participates in substance abuse recovery groups. Inhibitions in group therapy can be reduced through allowing group members to express their feelings through sharing music. "Throwing it away" is an activity that most substance abuse recovery groups use at some point. "Throwing it away" consists of having each teenage group member write a list of behaviors related to their substance abuse, along with a list of negative consequences caused by the behaviors. After each behavior and consequence have been shared aloud with the group, a waste basket is placed in the center of the circle, and each recovering teenage addict wads their list up and physically throws them into the waste paper basket in front of the group. Each group member will then verbalize that he/she is throwing the destructive behavior and consequences away. There are a variety of activities that take place in substance abuse recovery groups. The activities differ, depending on the type of group therapy that is necessary for the male or female adolescent.

Our professionals at Therapy Insider specialize in finding treatment programs and groups for these recovering adolescents. Contact one of our professionals at Therapy Insider and share your story. We will assist you in finding the treatment or group therapy that will best suit the needs of your teenage addict.

To read more about the causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment for addiction (whether a substance addiction or a behavioral addiction); see our about addiction page.