Family Therapy

CALIFORNIA PALMS GROUP THERAPY SESSION

FAMILY THERAPY (500–599)

FAMILY THERAPY (500-599)
Group 500 - Family Therapy
Group 510 - Dealing with Divorce
Group 520 - Repairing Relationships
Group 530 - Parents
Group 540 - Family Matters
Group 550 - Making New Friends
Group 560 - Defining Spirituality
Group 570 - Serenity Prayer
Group 575 - Non-Denominational Mass
Group 580 - Bible Study
Group 590 - Faith and Reason
Group 595 - Christianity

CALIFORNIA PALMS GROUP THERAPY SESSION

Group 500 - Family Therapy: The Family Therapy group session works to teach clients to uncover, address and cope with any previous family issues, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Understanding whether a client’s past has contributed to their addiction or mental disorders is essential to providing effective treatment. This personal exploration teaches clients to understand their behavior more clearly and may provide much needed explanations for dysfunctional thoughts and feelings. Reliving and resolving family issues is a large step in the recovery process and is a crucial exercise for all clients. The insights gained during this process will help clients with future trauma manage their stress and continue to form healthier relationships.

Group 510 - Dealing with Divorce: The Dealing with Divorce group therapy session discusses divorce and addiction and a guide to staying sober while going through a divorce, and teaches the client to choose real friends, to take care of their body, to keep a routine and because a divorce takes a long time, to keep going in their self-care. The session is done in a group setting where clients share similar experiences. Group members motivate and encourage each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences.

Group 520 - Repairing Relationships: The Repairing Relationships group therapy session teaches clients to understand the need to repair relationships by making amends. The group session teaches clients to understand that making amends must go beyond stopping substance use. The group session teaches clients to prepare to address people who refuse to forgive. The session is done in a group setting where clients share similar experiences. Group members encourage each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences.

Group 530 - Parents: The Parents group therapy session provides information about styles of parenting, as well as more specific information about the roles mothers and fathers play in a child's life. The client will also consider how his mother's and father's behavior toward him as a child continues to influence him today. The session is divided into three parts: Parenting Styles, You and Your Mother, and You and Your Father. The client will be asked to take an honest look at how his parents raised him and how their actions may continue to affect him. The client will also be asked to write letters, which they do not have to send, to both his mother and father telling them how he felt about them while growing up and how he feel about them today. The session is done in a group setting where clients share similar experiences. Group members motivate and encourage each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences. Profound friendships are formed during group therapy because many members relate to each other during recovery.

Group 540 - Family Matters: The Family Matters group therapy session provides information about growing up in families in which family members have developed dysfunctional (unhealthy) ways of interacting with each other. The session focuses on issues that occur when people grow up and live in families in which there is addiction, mental illness, or abuse, and in which family members have developed unhealthy ways to deal with the problem. The session will examine the kinds of things people in such families learn to believe and the types of roles they often take on within the family. The session will also consider how these beliefs and roles continue to affect individuals as they become adults. The session will also review ways to overcome hurt, anger, and fear, and to engage in forgiveness and reconciliation. This session has three major parts: Dysfunctional Families, Dysfunctional Family Roles, and Overcoming Family Dysfunction. The client will be asked to consider what it was like growing up in his family, and review whether his family's behavior was healthy or dysfunctional. The client will be asked to look closely at his own beliefs and actions and see if they fit a pattern common to these families. The client will be asked to examine ways in which he can overcome hurt, anger, and fear, and to engage in forgiveness and reconciliation. The session may bring up painful memories; however, by examining the past, the client will be in a better position to understand his addiction and take steps to ensure that his past does not come back to endanger their sobriety.

Group 550 - Making New Friends: The Making New Friends group therapy session teaches clients to understand the need to surround themselves with supportive, abstinent friends. The session teaches clients to learn how to determine whether people they meet will be appropriate friends. The client also explores new places and ways to meet people and make friends. The session in a group setting allows clients to share similar experiences. Group members motivate each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences.

Group 560 - Defining Spirituality: The Defining Spirituality group therapy session teaches clients to understand the difference between religion and spirituality. The session helps clients explore their beliefs, so they can understand better what will bring them happiness. The session teaches clients to see that success in recovery can be bolstered by spiritual beliefs. The session in a group setting allows clients to share similar experiences. Group members motivate each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences.

Group 570 - Serenity Prayer: The Serenity Prayer group therapy session teaches clients to understand the importance of distinguishing between things that can be changed and those that cannot. The session teaches clients to understand that the Serenity Prayer is not strictly religious and is applicable in many situations. The session also teaches clients to identify things that they can change. The session is done in a group setting where clients share similar experiences. Group members motivate and encourage each other to communicate about their experiences and learn to process their reaction to these experiences. Profound friendships are formed during group therapy because many members relate to each other during recovery.

Group 575 – Christian Non-Denominational Service: The Non-Denominational service optional group session consists of going to non-denominational church, which rejects the idea of a formalized denominational structure and holds itself as being autonomous.

Group 580 - Bible Study: The Bible Study optional group session is the study of the Bible as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Christians do not merely study the Bible as an academic discipline, but with the desire to know God better. During these study times, groups will set their main topic to be biblical studies. The purpose of Bible study is to collectively grasp an understanding of God through His Word. The session is done in a group setting where clients share their thoughts about the passage that they read.

Group 590 - Faith and Reason: The Faith and Reason optional group session has a somewhat informal format where the clinician and other participants bring about topics for dialogue.  It can be especially helpful for those interested in the twelve steps and want to explore the reasonableness of a “higher power”. The key is active participation by members where they can share experiences and such in a safe environment. The goal is not religious indoctrination or heated polemics. Rather, it is a group and individual exploration of reality -- a dialogue instead of discussion. Also, possible misunderstandings about religion or when it is used as a means of abuse could be addressed thereby possibly bringing about healing and spiritual renewal. This exploration of barriers can be helpful the client’s faith journey

Group 595 - Christianity: The Christianity optional group session explores Jesus Christ (who and what he is), his followers or “Christians” and the Christian life.  First and foremost, Christianity is about a loving relationship with the Divine Reality—God.  Topics and dialogue on Christianity may include the Bible (Sacred Scripture) and/or Sacred Tradition (existent in whatever Christian community).  Anything in Christian theology (including doctrine, practices, liturgy, etc.) or history may be a topic of dialogue.  Any topic of interest relating to Christianity, the Christian life, and personal experience can be explored.