"Drinking alcohol is like borrowing happiness from tomorrow." — Unknown

"You’re not you when you’re drunk." — Unknown

"Sobriety is a journey, not a destination." — Unknown

"The best way to avoid a hangover is to stay sober."

1. Self-Empowerment
   Participants will gain a strong sense of personal control, understanding that they have the power to make their own choices, regardless of peer pressure or social expectations.

2. Resilience to Peer Pressure
   They will develop the confidence to say “no” to drinking in social situations without feeling guilty or out of place.

3. Healthy Stress Management
   Instead of turning to alcohol to cope with stress or unwind, participants will learn and embrace healthier coping strategies, such as exercise, mindfulness, or creative outlets.

4. Mindfulness and Self-Awareness
   Participants will cultivate a heightened sense of awareness about how their actions affect their well-being.

5. Balanced Social Life
   Participants will shift their perspective on fun and connection, realizing that they can enjoy themselves and foster meaningful friendships without relying on alcohol. They will understand that meaningful experiences come from connection, not consumption.

6. Long-Term Thinking
   Binge drinking often provides short-term satisfaction but can result in long-term consequences.  

7. Personal Accountability
   They will internalize a mindset of responsibility, owning their actions, and understanding that they are in control of their health and future.  

8. Self-Worth Beyond Alcohol
   Participants will learn to value themselves and their time without needing to use alcohol as a crutch. They will embrace the idea that their worth isn’t tied to drinking or keeping up with party culture, but to their talents, ambitions, and personal growth.

9. Community and Support Seeking
   They will understand the importance of seeking help and relying on others for support when needed. This mindset allows them to be more open to seeking guidance or advice from trusted friends, counselors, or mentors when facing challenges.

10. Commitment to Healthy Living
    They will develop a lasting commitment to physical and mental health, seeing the avoidance of binge drinking as one piece of a larger lifestyle aimed at wellness, productivity, and happiness.

The first contact will be via a quick phone conversation to schedule an in-person visit.

Each person will be evaluated individually on their specific needs, preferences, and stages of recovery. In some cases, the individual may need more intensive therapy and would be referred to a specialized clinician or an inpatient facility.

Each participant will be given a small survey which will determine if they are binge drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed on a daily/weekly basis.

All group members must respect these ground rules to create a supportive and productive environment. These guidelines are in place to ensure everyone feels safe, valued, and heard throughout our sessions. Ultimately, the counselor will have the final say; every participant should understand this policy and remember that these rules are designed to facilitate a constructive counseling experience.

1. Confidentiality: What is shared here stays here. This rule is the foundation of our trust and security in this group. 

2. Respect for others is a must. Your respect for others' opinions, even when you disagree, is crucial. This is not the time to argue about who is right, but to listen and understand.

3. No Interruptions; please allow everyone to speak their mind without interruption. 

4. Share only what you are comfortable sharing.  

5. No Judgment; this is a safe place to speak openly. 

6. Be Mindful of Time and refrain from dominating the conversation. 

7. No cross-talking; please avoid side conversations while someone else is speaking. 

8. Honesty: Be truthful with yourself and the group. 

9. Be open to growth.

10. Cell phones on silent and stay present in the conversation.

11. Support your group participants do not give advice.

12. Take responsibility for your journey.

•       Stage 2- To create a cohesive process towards informing and empowering group members the counselor will need to set the expectations for the group with the learning objectives. The counselor will explain the safe zone for the group and encourage open and honest communication. Throughout the sessions, participants will self-report on any progress or milestones they have reached. Additionally, members will report any relapses and will be met with support not criticism.

•       Stage 3- The end of a group can be a stressful time for some and a relief to others. Counselors must prepare and evaluate if all the participants are ready to end the therapy.  Each member should be allowed to express their feelings at the end of the group. For those who are willing to continue with a less structured format, these participants will be given the option to meet once a month as a follow-up plan to ensure they are meeting their goals. 

For example, in a situation where the group is getting out of control, they will have to be authoritarian. If the group members are having trouble expressing themselves, the counselor may change to being more supportive. Ultimately, the counselor will have the necessary skills and background to adapt their leadership style for the benefit of the group.

1. Altruism

2. Cohesion

3. Universality

4. Interpersonal learning input and output

5. Guidance

6. Catharsis

7. Identification

8. Family re-enactment

9. Self-understanding

10. Instillation of Hope

11. Existential factors

American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). (n.d.). Ethics in group therapy. AGPA. https://www.agpa.org/home/practice-resources/ethics-in-group-therapy

American Psychological Association. (2019). Group therapy. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/group-therapy

Capuzzi, D., & Gross, D. (2002). Group counseling: Elements of effective leadership. In D. Capuzzi & D. R. Gross (Eds.), Introduction to group counseling (3rd ed., pp. 57–88). Love Publishing Company.

Deblinger, E., Pollio, E., Dorsey, S.  (2016). Applying trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in group format. Child Maltreat, 21(1):59-73.

Hauber, K., Boon, A., Vermeiren, R. (2019). Therapeutic factors that promote recovery in high-risk adolescents intensive group psychotherapeutic MBT program. Child Adolescent Psychiatry Mental Health, 10;13:2. doi: 10.1186/s13034-019-0263-6. 

Guidelines of Group Psychotherapy Practice

The following guidelines of group psychotherapy practice shall serve as models for group therapists' ethical behavior.

Responsibility to Patient/Client

1. The group psychotherapist provides services with respect for the dignity and uniqueness of each patient/client as well as the rights and autonomy of the individual patient/client.

1.1 The group psychotherapist shall provide the potential group patient/client with information about the nature of group psychotherapy and apprise him or her of the risks, rights and obligations as a member of a therapy group.

1.2 The group psychotherapist shall encourage the patient/client's participation in group psychotherapy only so long as it is appropriate to the patient/client's needs.

1.3 The group psychotherapist shall not practice or condone any form of discrimination that includes, but is not limited to nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, size, disability, age, religion, socioeconomic status or cultural background, except that this guideline shall not prohibit group therapy practice with population specific or problem specific groups.

2. The group psychotherapist safeguards the patient/client's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.

2.1 The group shall agree that the patient/client as well as the psychotherapist shall protect the identity of its members.

2.2 The group therapist is knowledgeable about the limits of privileged communication as they apply to group therapy and informs group members of those limits.

2.3 The group psychotherapist shall not use identifiable information about the group or its members for teaching purposes, publication or professional presentations unless permission has been obtained and all measures have been taken to preserve patient/client anonymity.

2.4 Except where required by law, the group psychotherapist shall share information about the group members with others only after obtaining appropriate patient/client consent. Specific permission must be requested to permit conferring with the referring therapist or with the individual therapist where the patient/client is in conjoint therapy.

2.5 When clinical examination suggests that a patient/client may be dangerous to himself/herself or others, it is the group psychotherapist's ethical and legal obligation to take appropriate steps in order to be responsible to society in general, as well as the patient/client.

3. The group psychotherapist acts to safeguard the patient/client and the public from the incompetent, unethical, illegal practice of any group psychotherapist.

3.1 The group psychotherapist must be aware of her/his own individual competencies, and when the needs of the patient/client are beyond the competencies of the psychotherapist, consultation must be sought from other qualified professionals or other appropriate sources.

3.2 The group psychotherapist shall not use her/his professional relationship to advance personal or business interests.

3.3 Sexual intimacy with patients/clients is unethical.

3.4 The group psychotherapist shall protect the patient/client and the public from misinformation and misrepresentation. She/he shall not use false or misleading advertising regarding her/his qualifications or skills as a group psychotherapist.

Professional Standards

The group psychotherapist shall maintain the integrity of the practice of group psychotherapy. 

1. It is the personal responsibility of the group psychotherapist to maintain competence in the practice of group psychotherapy through formal educational activities and informal learning experiences.

2. The group psychotherapist has a responsibility to contribute to the ongoing development of the body of knowledge pertaining to group psychotherapy whether involved as an investigator, participant or user of research results.

3. The group psychotherapist shall accept the obligation to attempt to inform and alert other group psychotherapists who are violating ethical principles or to bring those violations to the attention of appropriate professional authorities.