Long-term success against this disease is only possible with adequate treatment options, access to resources, and group work therapies. Chemical and alcohol dependency is not just a physical addiction. Most of the time it is the mental and emotional dependence towards drugs and other substances that makes counseling and other therapy approaches incredibly significant for such individuals. Group therapy can become essential because of the benefits that individuals encounter in such sessions. This includes empowerment, peer support, empathy, and the sense of belonging to something …show more content…
Being part of a group can help addicts identify themselves with others and eventually feel part of a whole that can be extremely beneficial for their self-esteem and therefore, recovery- especially because substance abuse is considered “a disease without a cure” (Califano, 1998, p.10). Other benefits of group treatment are the challenges, such as courage and bravery that come with it. Being part of a group is not just easy. People will call on one another, listen to each other and absorb all the help, advice and information that they can get from their fellow group members (Furman, Bender & Rowan, 2014). Another benefit of being part of a self-help group is that, when people are committed to the group, members can observe others, listen to their fellow group members and their stories, make suggestions to their peers and offer empathy in an authentic way, rather than sorrow or sympathy (Furman, Bender & Rowan,