A wonderful tool that we've used for the last 25 years here at TLC is peer group counseling. These groups are a way for our clients to confront one another in a safe setting. One client can accuse another of most anything, as long as it's not done in a threatening manner.
For example, one client might like to go to sleep early. But his roommate enjoys late-night conversations with his girlfriend, or perhaps is watching YouTube videos on his cell phone. While this might seem to be a small deal, it can create resentments and anger that can erupt into something bigger.
Or one client might be eating another's food from the community refrigerator, or leaving his dirty clothes on the floor, or not doing his part in keeping the restroom clean.
In a group setting these things can be brought out and dealt with before they grow into larger problems.
Groups are also used to deal with a person's recovery behavior. If a client notices that his or her roommate is not attending meetings, it might become the topic of a group. And it's a valid topic. Because the purpose of our program is to help people rebuild their lives and part of that process is working a recovery program. And attending meetings is an integral part of that process.
The good thing about groups is that they can serve as a tool to help clients bond with one another. When clients confront each other in a safe setting it means they care enough to observe each other's behavior. And once clients become used to groups, they find it easier to confront each other outside of groups in a positive way that will help with their growth.
Something I once read that I found quite interesting is that it's never been established that group counseling run by professional therapists is any more effective than peer group counseling run by addicts helping one another. I believe that to be true.
