A coping skills group is a structured group environment designed to teach the core skills of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. As one of few treatment centers in Alaska that offers addiction treatment specially designed for veterans, we understand the importance of developing one’s communication skills in recovery. Because drugs and alcohol are often used to cope with issues like trauma and mental illness, it’s important for individuals seeking recovery from substance abuse to develop coping skills and behaviors that will contribute to sobriety. With this in mind, the main goal of our coping skills group ideas for adults is to help our clients develop new skills as they build a happier and healthier life for themselves. Below is more on our coping skills therapy and the benefits they offer.
Key Coping Skills for Addiction
Changing your habits and starting a new life after rehab isn’t easy, but developing these coping skills can make recovery and the healing process less challenging.
Here are some of the best coping skills for recovering addicts:
- Learn stress relief tactics: Stress is one of the main contributing factors to substance abuse, which is why learning stress relief tactics is crucial in recovery. If you learn to ease tension, you won’t have to turn to drugs or alcohol to feel relaxed. In addition to adopting techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), other coping skills recovering addicts can adopt include deep breathing exercises, walking, going outside, doing yoga, and listening to music.
- Pause before reacting: Impulsive behavior fosters addiction, which is why many individuals who struggle with drug or alcohol abuse tend to make rash decisions on the fly. This type of behavior can be difficult to discontinue in recovery, which is why we encourage you to stop and take a moment to process any situation before reacting.
- Always be honest: Addicts tend to lie – a lot – mainly because they don’t want anyone to know about their drug-taking habits. However, you can’t continue lying in recovery if you want to stay sober. To ensure you and your loved ones keep you accountable for your behavior, always be honest.
- Stay busy: Honestly, sobriety can be boring sometimes. This is especially the case for individuals who partied and used drugs or drank frequently before going to rehab. This doesn’t mean that sobriety isn’t worth it, but it may take some time for you to get used to your new lifestyle. To help you combat potentially triggering times of boredom, we encourage you to stay busy. This can mean developing a hobby, hanging out with loved ones, reading, writing, or any other activity that will positively contribute to your life.
- Exercise often: Exercise not only increases endorphins (which improves mood), but it also helps alleviate stress and improve your physical health. It’s a win-win.
- Learn your triggers and avoid them: If you suddenly get the urge to drink when you pass by a familiar bar, then take a different way home. Identifying the things that trigger your desire to drink or use drugs can help you avoid relapse.
These are just a few of the many important coping mechanisms that our coping skills group activities for adults teach veterans undergoing rehabilitation at our Banyan Alaska treatment center.
Our Coping Skills Group Activities for Veterans
As an Alaska drug rehab that helps veterans cope with addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we use our coping skills groups to teach clients how to deal with a variety of issues, including grief, trauma, addiction, anger management, and mental health disorders. Group therapy, in general, is a common form of care offered at our addiction treatment facilities, including some well-known groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Our coping skills group therapy is led by licensed and experienced counselors who are well-versed in how to run and guide sessions. Though they will lead these groups, the focus will be on creating a safe and secure space where group members feel comfortable interacting and opening up to others.
Our coping skills activities for group therapy focus on topics including:
- 12-steps of AA
- Anger management
- Aromatherapy
- Bad and good habits
- Cravings
- Fears
- Forgiveness and making amends
- Goal-setting
- Gratitude
- Loneliness and isolation
- Meditation
- Mental illness
- New routines
- Nutrition
- Positive affirmations
- Relapse
- Role-playing exercises
- Self-care
- The effects of substance abuse
- Triggers
Each coping skills group activity offered in our program has been chosen with a deliberate focus on evidence-based practices, clinical relevance, and their potential to facilitate skill acquisition and emotional regulation among participants. Our therapists carefully consider the unique needs and goals of each group member when implementing these activities. Moreover, ongoing assessment and adaptation of coping skill interventions should be integral to therapy, ensuring that clients receive tailored support to improve their psychological well-being and resilience.
Get Started Today
Our Alaska rehab invites veterans to take a proactive step toward reclaiming their lives. Our coping skills groups are tailored especially for this demographic, offering a structured and evidence-based approach to addressing addiction and its challenges. By joining our program, you or a loved one will gain access to a supportive community of fellow veterans who understand the struggles you face.
