In our last entry, we discussed the ways in which group therapy can help you take advantage of—and contribute to—collective wisdom and experience related to your recovery journey.
Those who have gone through treatment for a substance use disorder and are now doing the hard work of day-to-day recovery are well-positioned to help one another successfully navigate challenges and to provide an ongoing system of support that can be extremely encouraging even when times are tough.
In this post, we want to consider how group therapy can help you hone your communication skills—skills that can be beneficial to most everyone, but perhaps especially for those in recovery who need to be able to clearly express their thoughts, feelings, and struggles so that others can help them keep their recovery intact.
So let us communicate some benefits group therapy can provide in the area of communication.
Honesty and Clarity Are Central Goals
Participants in group therapy are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings honestly and clearly. That is not easy for everyone—especially if you are one of the many, many people who find speaking in front of a group to be extremely nerve-racking.
But because group therapy is a mutually supportive environment, you can work toward more clarity in your communication each time you share your personal experiences. Listening to others share their experiences can serve as a model for you—so you can also develop skills related to active listening, an essential part of good communication. Over time, you will feel more comfortable and comfortable sharing your story, and you will become better at listening attentively with empathy and understanding, both of which underpin effective communication in every interaction you have in your day-to-day life.
Group therapy is a constructive place to learn to give and receive feedback with grace and kindness. Being able to receive feedback without getting defensive and being able to give feedback without being snarky or mean are excellent communication skills to develop.
Communication Skills Transfer to Other Situations
As you gain confidence and skill as a communicator in group therapy, you are laying the groundwork for success in communication in other areas of your life. You may soon find yourself more comfortable when you are communicating with friends, family members, and colleagues. Part of that comfort will come from the many times you have practiced communicating in therapy as well as from the new skills you have developed that allow you to tackle difficult conversations with confidence and kindness. You will be better prepared to navigate conflicts and to express your needs assertively rather than aggressively.
Better Communication Can Lead to a Stronger Sense of Well-Being
When you struggle to communicate with others, you are likely to feel an ongoing sense of frustration. After all, when you cannot make yourself clear to others or when you get defensive or upset in conversations, it is hard to find common ground and mutually beneficial ways forward. Similarly, a newly developed ability to listen with care and empathy means you are less likely to misunderstand others and their motivations. Being able to effectively participate in the give and take of conversation—even when those conversations are difficult—is a useful skill in all kinds of situations.
The negative feelings that might arise when you are frustrated by efforts to communicate can chip away at the foundations of your recovery. On the other hand, the positive feelings that come from effective communication can go a long way toward helping you maintain your recovery.
In sum, the communication skills developed in group therapy sessions can be of benefit in all kinds of ways—not the least of which is helping you express yourself when you are facing challenges that might upend your recovery efforts.
At The Aviary, We Are Here to Help
Consistently recognized as one of the top substance use disorder treatment facilities in the country, The Aviary Recovery Center is ready and able to help those who need to leave drugs or alcohol behind. Located near St. Louis, Missouri, The Aviary develops personalized treatment plans for each individual we serve because we understand that no two people have identical stories or needs.
We rely on evidence-based practices supported by our high levels of expertise, our years of experience, and our spirit of empathy. We will see you through medically supervised detoxification so that you can get substances out of your system in a safe and temptation-free environment. Our residential rehabilitation program includes individual and—as you might expect from this series of blog posts—group therapy sessions, and we are also able to address co-occurring mental health disorders during the rehab process. We also offer an intensive outpatient program—a program that can be accessed through telehealth if that serves you best.
And when your time in treatment comes to an end, you can rest assured that The Aviary Recovery Center will continue to provide resources and support as your recovery journey gets underway.
Ready to make a change? We are here to help you reach your recovery goals.
