Group therapy is used often during substance abuse treatment. It is similar to individual therapy, except for involving a single therapist treating multiple clients simultaneously. Groups are typically kept to eight or fewer clients and are sometimes even more intimate with just three or four participants. This approach can be just as effective as individual therapy and offers distinct benefits due to the social atmosphere and communal nature of therapy in a group. The number of group activities for drug and alcohol therapy is endless. Chances are, wherever you attend, recovery will have its own go-to fun activities for drug and alcohol abuse group therapy.

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Group Activities for Drug and Alcohol Therapy

Group therapy is one tool used by treatment providers in supporting people on their journey to recovery. With sobriety as the end goal, drug and alcohol interventions for use in group therapy activities play an essential role in getting there. Explore a few common group activities for drug and alcohol therapy below.

1. Best and Worst Moments

One thing therapists tend to work on with people in recovery is the idea that value judgments are subjective and that individual perspectives are limited. The group environment is a great place to explore these topics. A best and worst moments activity asks participants to think about their best moment and their worst moment. Then, the group will discuss what made these moments good or bad. Participants are pushed to recognize that nothing is necessarily all bad and nothing is necessarily all good.

2. Trolley Thought Experiment

The trolley thought experiment is a classic philosophical topic of debate. Essentially, it poses a morally gray scenario wherein a runaway trolley is barreling down upon a group of five helpless people. You have access to a lever that you can pull to divert the trolley away from hitting those five people, but it will instead hit and kill one person. Participants are asked to discuss their approach to this thorny moral issue. It may seem disconnected from treating addiction, but it is vital for people in recovery to develop their ability to construct an argument, defend it, and receive tough criticism about their position.

3. Back in Time Activity

Another fun activity for drug and alcohol abuse group therapy is a back-in-time activity. This activity asks group members to mentally go back in time and meet their childhood selves before any substance abuse issues. Groups are prompted to explore the question, “What advice would you give your younger self?” This exercise can provide insight into what participants can currently take action in a situation.

4. Gratitude and Goal Discussions

People in recovery must find things for which to be grateful. Dealing with addiction and trying to recover often makes people focus less on the positive things in their life as they deal with so much of the negative. But finding moments of gratitude is vital to maintain a positive outlook. In addition, creating and refining goals is another essential element of successfully navigating recovery. Goals give people the ability to work for and strive for something.

Common Themes for Drug and Alcohol Group Therapy Activities

The point of group activities for drug and alcohol therapy differs per activity. Nonetheless, fun activities for drug and alcohol abuse group therapy often lean on a few common themes throughout the recovery journey. These include things like: