Two… or three or four or five heads are better than one! Guidance for Growing is now running a group program for alcohol and other drug treatment.  Of course, individual therapy is great, but group therapy offers a whole new way to approach your treatment and comes with its own unique benefits*:

• Being in a group therapy setting means having several other people cheer you on and help you set and achieve goals toward your recovery.
• Another member in your group might bring up a challenge with which he or she is dealing. You might have an identical problem, only you see the problem from your own perspective. When looking at someone else’s situation, you might see your own issue in a new light. Suddenly something that was very challenging has an easy solution.
• Working in group therapy is a great way to experiment with new behaviors. You can “try out” new ways of thinking and relating in a safe environment before going out into the real world.
• You will quickly abandon the idea that you’re alone in your feelings and thoughts. It’s likely that several people share your experience.
• Working with an group of people is one of the most natural ways to overcome a problem, including an alcohol or other drug problem. We work together with others at our jobs and in our families. Humans are built to learn and grow in the presence of others — why should therapy be any different?

Group has been a core aspect of alcohol and other drug treatment for decades, because it’s proven to be extremely effective. Guidance for Growing is currently running a Tuesday night group at 6:45pm [2/26/13 edit: new day and time TBA) in our Souderton office. Contact us for more information and to sign up: mikaela@guidanceforgrowing.com or (215) 421-1634.  Please note, if you need to complete alcohol and other drug treatment to meet a legal obligation, this group can be used to fulfill that requirement, as we are a state-licensed facility.

* Adapted from Clearview.

>>> Do you have questions about your alcohol or other drug use? We provide completely confidential assessments and free consultations. For more information contact Mikaela or Jason at info@guidanceforgrowing.com or (215) 421-1634.

The American Cancer Society is celebrating the 37th Great American Smokeout tomorrow, and we encourage all smokers to participate. If you use tobacco, consider doing one of the following:

> Make a plan in advance and quit on November 15.
> Put together your plan for quitting on a future date on November 15.
> Quit using tobacco for the day.

We understand how hard quitting can be. The single most important thing you can do to increase your chance of success is to have support.  Identify the folks in your life who can bolster and encourage you and let them know your plan; friends, family, online communities, coworkers, and a counselor or therapist are all great people to turn to!  On the other hand, make sure you identify the people in your life who may not be supportive, and then set boundaries.  Here are some more tools to help you quit:

• Worried about gaining weight when you quit?  Click here to read a blog post about quitting and weight gain.
• Quitnet offers a wonderful, supportive online space for quitters, and is a great 24-hour resource.  Join discussion groups, receive emails, and log on to connect with other quitters when you’re dealing with a craving. Click here to visit their site.
• This American Cancer Society guide to quitting smoking has tons of resources, from reasons to quit to nicotine replacement options. Click here to view the guide.
• Calculate how much your cigarette or smokeless tobacco habit is costing you — you’ll probably be surprised!  Click here to use the tobacco use calculator.
• Interested in participating in research on quitting smoking? Click here to get more information about Georgetown University’s E-Quit Study.

Remember, regardless of what steps you choose to take today toward making a change in your tobacco use, you’ll be taking an important step towards a healthier life!

>>> Do you need more support in your efforts to kick the habit? We can build a personalized strategy so you can take control and recover for good! Contact us for more information by emailing info@guidanceforgrowing.com or calling (215) 421-1634.