Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
To prepare: Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide on group therapy for addiction. View the media, Levy Family: Sessions 1-7, and consider the psychotherapeutic approaches being used. The Assignment In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following: Identify the psychotherapeutic approach that the group facilitator is using, and explain why she might be using this approach. Determine whether or not you would use the same psychotherapeutic approach if you were the counselor facilitating this group, and justify your decision. Identify an alternative approach to group therapy for addiction, and explain why it is an appropriate option. Support your position with evidence-based literature. I’ll put a link to video Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction. ORDER HERE A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Introduction
This paper focuses on group therapy for addiction, and specifically on a client named Levy. Levy suffers from alcohol addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper will, therefore, identify the therapeutic approach the facilitator is using, and justify the reason. In addition, the paper will discuss an alternative approach to group therapy. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Approach the Group Facilitator is Using
The psychotherapeutic approach that was used was prolonged exposure therapy. According to Hendriks (2018), prolonged exposure therapy involves exposing the person to trauma reminders and allowing the client to process the imaginal exposure. Prolonged exposure therapy also involves educating the client about the trauma, fears and expected responses, and how to overcome the fears. In addition, clients are educated about different relaxation techniques aimed to reduce stress (McLean & Foa, 2014). In this video, the facilitator is seen using prolonged exposure therapy where Levy, the client is informed to memorize the traumatic event in Iraq, a process known as imaginal exposure. This allows Levy to experience the trauma once again imaginably which in turn gives him the courage to overcome his fears of the traumatic event. The group facilitator also taught Levy regarding relaxation exercises that involved breathing techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
The rationale for using prolonged exposure therapy in Levy is to address the root cause of the client’s addiction problem. The root cause of the client’s addiction is the PTSD the client was due to the traumatic event within Iraq. According to Hendriks (2018), alcohol addiction is often a comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Use of the same Psychotherapeutic Approach
I can use the same approach for a client with addiction and PTSD. This is because prolonged exposure therapy can help the client to overcome the fears, anxiety and other symptoms associated with PTSD. The client is taking alcohol to mask and avoid the symptoms of PTSD and thus exposure therapy can treat the PTSD symptoms and as a result, treat alcohol addiction as well. According to Hendriks (2018), prolonged exposure therapy has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms of PTSD. A study by McLean & Foa (2014) showed that exposure therapy assists the client to reduce avoidance associated with the trauma memories. Therefore, the approach will help Levy to stop taking alcohol in order to avoid the trauma memories because the PTSD will be treated. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Alternative Approach to Group Therapy for Addiction
An alternative approach that I would use is motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is a short-term counseling intervention and patient-centered style that aims to improve and increase the motivation of the client to change substance or alcohol use (Korcha et al, 2015). Motivational interviewing involves empathic listening to the client and evoking individual reasons to change their behavior. The therapist should approach the client non-judgmentally in order to help the client to move to a higher level of readiness to change. According to Korcha et al (2015) motivational interviewing assists individuals to become motivated to change behaviors that prevent them from making healthy choices. It also prepares people for more specific therapies. This is supported by Satre et al (2016) who provides that motivational interviewing is effective in reducing alcohol use and can be very effective in addressing adverse effects of substance use in patients with comorbidities such as PTSD and depression. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction Therefore, motivational interviewing will motivate Levy to change and stop alcohol intake. Evidence shows that motivational interviewing works well with people who begin off without motivation and not being ready to change (Satre et al, 2016). Accordingly, Levy is unmotivated and unwilling to change the behavior of alcohol use. Therefore, motivational interviewing will help Levy to admit that he has a problem of alcohol intake and be willing to change. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
Conclusion
The facilitator of the group used prolonged exposure therapy where Levy was exposed to the traumatic event by being instructed to relieve and describe the traumatic event in Iraq. This technique has been shown to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder to face the traumatic event and stop avoiding it. Levy uses alcohol as a coping mechanism in order to avoid and mask the traumatic memories. Therefore, treatment of PTSD will concurrently treat alcohol use. The alternative therapy I would use to address the client’s alcohol use is motivational interviewing in order to motivate Levy to change the behavior of alcohol use. Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Group Therapy for Addiction
