Addiction Group Therapy Proposal

Abstract

This proposal is for the start of a therapy group around the teachings of the Medicine Wheel for drug or alcohol addicted youth experiencing difficulties within their communities. A goal of this agency will be to provide therapy group members with that chance to change their behavior, cope with personal issues, or rehabilitate themselves towards holistic healing which includes physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health (Toseland & Rivas, 2009). This therapy group will serve anyone in the community who seeks supports with an addiction issue.

Purpose

A successful intervention in the life of those addicted only happens when the individual involved has a high degree of motivation to change. If and when individual are ready to create the change we can start planning for recovery and often have great success. Our goal is to improve individual’s chances to achieve successful recovery and more importantly increase self-determination that by acknowledging that each individual must decide what is best for themselves, their family and community as a whole.

Within this group:

Ø Encompass both traditional and modern practices within programs, which support the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of children, individuals, families and communities.

Ø Provides a variety of effective, empowering and self-determination approaches and skills to holistic health and healing.

Ø Promote improved health and well being for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples through group counseling.

Ø We will also cover the desire to maintain a sense of integrity and honesty within oneself and the communication shared with others as this interest will increase self-confidence and develop an improved self-image.

Ø Assume a health care leadership role by advocating for improved and needed health for policies and programs in Kamloops and surrounding areas.

Ø Cooperate and collaborate, when possible, with other agencies to improve the health and well being of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.

Agency Sponsorship

This task based group therapy proposal will be independently run through this agency. However, due to our exceeding clientele connection with urban and rural Aboriginal agencies partnership will always be associated. This group will be held in our agencies board room and financial costs will be a determined by budget and paid by this agency alone.

Membership

As individuals start to develop a sense of self identity each youth attending this addictions group therapy will represent themselves or how they envision what “self” means to them.

Recruitment

All posters and other forms of recruitment will be sent to partner agencies and throughout the community. The goal is to include all youth wanting to attend or willing to create change. We will have a current and up to date phone list of all group members and/or phone numbers of where group members are staying. In addition, we will provide meeting times and dates by email and phone as some have not have connections to internet. Information and worksheets will be provided on days of group meetings.

Composition

The history of aboriginal people shows various systemic oppressions such as colonization, assimilation, the Indian Act and subsequent residential school system which all destroyed cultural and traditional teaching resulting in a loss of Aboriginal identity (Hart, 2002). More support is needed to overcome past and current oppressive policies and practices. Programs that are Aboriginal specific are one way in which we can start to break down the barriers that have been enabling us to move forward collectively. This agency incorporates a holistic, health and educational approach. The objectives of this task group will be to provide up-to-date and relevant health information which includes: treatment, life skills and self-care. In additionally, we will be addressing specific issues such as lack of anger management, healthy approaches to crisis and cultural identity. Furthermore, we will also like to work with the agencies and support services that individuals interact with to ensure that supports systems are being met.

Orientation

Group members are expected to come to groups with an open mind, empowering spirits and suggestions for future groups’ facilitation.

Contract

The task therapy group will meet twice a week for a period of sixteen weeks. This program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am until 1pm for a total of 4 hours a day (8 hours per week). The group members will be required to bring binder with all resources which will be proved throughout group as well as read handouts and attempt assignments.

Environment

This agency will provide the use of the board room, which is equipped with tables, chairs and blackboards for the group’s work. Paper work, readings and copying will be provided within agency as well as coffee and snacks will be given out during breaks. All expenses will be looked into further while budgeting is still in process.