Quick Guide for Clinicians - SAMHSA Store - Substance Abuse and ...

24 Substance Abuse Treatment: Group TherapyConsiderations include the following:• Women. Recent studies have shown that somewomen do better in same-sex groups than inmixed gender groups.• Adolescents. The complexities related to adolescentsand group therapy lie outside thescope of TIP 41. Suggested reading includesMotivational Enhancement Therapy andCognitive Behavioral Therapy for AdolescentCannabis Users: 5 Sessions (CSAT 2001),Group Therapy with Children and Adolescents(American Psychiatric Press 1996), andAdolescent Substance Abuse: Etiology,Treatment, and Prevention (Aspen Publishers1992).• Clients’ level of interpersonal functioning,including impulse control. Does the client posea threat to others? Is the client prepared toengage in the give-and-take of group dynamics?• Motivation to abstain. Clients with low levels ofmotivation to abstain generally should beplaced in psychoeducational groups.• Stability. In placement, both the client’s andgroup’s best interests need to be considered.• Expectation of success. Every effort should bemade to place the client in a group in which theclient (and, therefore, the group) can succeed.• Stage of recovery. For a summary of the typesof group treatment that are most appropriatefor clients at different stages of recovery, seethe Figures on the following page.