When Talking Won't Work: Implementing Experiential Group Activities With Addicted Clients

• Published in: The Journal for specialists in group work Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 43 - 67
• Main Authors: Hagedorn, W. Bryce, Hirshhorn, Meredith A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.2009; Routledge; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: addicted clients; Addictive Behavior; Behavior Change; Behavior Modification; Client Characteristics; Cognition; Drug addicts; experiential activities; Experiential Learning; Group Activities; Group Dynamics; group process; Group therapy; group work; Literature Reviews; psychodrama; Psychotherapy; Substance abuse treatment; Therapeutic Environment; Therapy; Work Groups

Traditional talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral techniques, are often ineffective when working with addicted clients for many reasons. By tapping into the power of the group modality, experiential activities can serve as a powerful facilitator of insight and behavior change. The authors...