Bad Qualities of a Substance Abuse Group Counselor
Substance abuse recovery groups come in many styles, from hospital-based therapy to anonymous, community-driven groups. Whatever the style, each group has a leader. A good leader creates an atmosphere for healing, but a bad leader makes healing nearly impossible. You need to recognize a bad group leader, so you can get the help you need rather than blaming yourself for lack of progress.
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Identification
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A substance abuse group is a place where people who are trying to break their addictions come together to discuss their struggles and receive support and encouragement in staying abstinent. A substance abuse group leader provides structure for the discussions and a focus for the group. She may or may not be a licensed therapist, but she should have some training in leading people out of addictive behaviors. Some groups have co-leaders who can balance each other's shortcomings.
Duties
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A leader understands the issues group members face and knows how to facilitate discussions that address those issues. He keeps meetings focused on the intended purpose and knows how to bring a discussion back on task if group members digress. He asks leading questions to help group members recognize their issues and then helps them process the discoveries they make. He addresses conflicts between members and helps facilitate group cohesion. He confronts members who aren't adhering to group policies. He encourages reluctant members to participate.
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Leadership Qualities
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A bad group leader doesn't have the skills to facilitate discussions effectively. She may not know how to ask appropriate questions to start conversation. She talks too much instead of listening. She lets the discussion wander off course. She doesn't know how to make the group a safe place for honesty and allows members to belittle each other. She sees herself as a teacher rather than a facilitator and doesn't give space for working through issues.
Other problems arise when a group leader doesn't match the group style to her ability and the group's temperament. A leader shouldn't run a group in a style she's never studied. At the same time, she should be familiar with several styles rather than trying to force each group into one style. Different groups require different approaches.
Personal Qualities
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Some personal qualities are a bad fit for leadership of a substance abuse recovery group. An unstable or inconsistent person has no place in group leadership. A leader must be trustworthy. Recovering addicts need group to be safe. Someone who is cold, withdrawn or unsympathetic is a bad leader. A leader should listen well, express empathy and use humor when it will help. Members need to know their leader cares for them.
A leader must have a clear sense of personal identity. Someone who is struggling with his own issues can't lead others. If a leader steers a group away from discussions he finds personally painful, he is stunting members' recovery.
Warning
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If you're in a substance abuse group with a bad leader, either tell someone in authority who can address the problem or find a different group. A bad leader keeps you from getting the help you need and sabotages your recovery process. This isn't the time to worry about hurting your leader's feelings. Recovering from addiction takes all your focus and energy. You need to do everything you can to make the process easier on yourself.
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