Addiction Group Therapy

Abstract

Once Aboriginal people internalize the colonization process they may start to feel confused and powerless because they are pressured to detach from who they really are and left with no mean to alleviate the pressure. This may cause Aboriginal people implode with overwhelming feelings of sadness or feeling of anger (Hart, 2002). Some people try to escape this stat through alcohol, drugs and/or other forms of abuse (Hart, 2002). 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 any Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal youth in the community who seeks supports with an addiction issue who is not mandated by Ministry of Children and Family Services (MCFD). We are not accepting mandated clients because there are other agencies within Kamloops like White Buffalo Aboriginal Health and Resource Centre and the Interior Indian Friendship Centre that have an expensive wait list because MCFD mandate clients come first policy (White Buffalo Aboriginal Health and Resource Centre, 2009, para.4). Having mandated clients limits services to people who are ready and willing to create change which leave this group therapy open to people who are seeking help.

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 individuals are ready to create the change, they can start planning for recovery and often have great success. Our goal is to improve an individual’s chances to achieve successful recovery and more importantly increase self-determination by acknowledging that each individual must decide what is best for themselves, their family and community as a whole. We can start to accomplished these goals by encompass both traditional and modern practices within programs, which support the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of children, individuals, families and communities as we are an Aboriginal agency with a holistic method of healing. As well as provide a variety of effective, empowering and self-determination approaches and skills to holistic health and healing. Other ways in which we can improve an individual’s chance to a successful recovery are to 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 and to promote improved health and well being for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples through group counseling. By being allies, we can also start to assume a health care leadership role by advocating for improved and needed health for policies and programs in Kamloops and surrounding areas. And furthermore, cooperate and collaborate, when possible, with other agencies to improve the health and well being of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals, families and communities. Even though we are stating a number of goals, each and everyone is essential to the facilitation of this group and together we may achieve self-determination to create change within individual’s lives.

Agency Sponsorship

This treatment based group therapy proposal will be independently run through this agency. However, due to our clientele connection with urban and rural Aboriginal agencies partnership will always be associated. Due to our cohesive nature of our group with the demand from our partnership agencies as well as our clients, will plan the group according to their needs and the needs of our community. Good planning is essential to fight the needs of our clients so the group members can create the change they want too. This group will be held in our agency’s board room and the group will be using agencies chairs, tables and blackboards therefore, will not be included within the budget sheet as they will be covered 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. Youth experiencing difficulties within their communities, who seek helping with teachings around the Medicine Wheel for drug or alcohol addicted, will range from 13-25 years of age. This group will be a closed group because the group it not extensive and thrives on cohesiveness I order to function effectively. The requirements for the group facilitator will be, his/her Bachelors of Social Work, experience working with groups, experience within the Aboriginal Holistic health approach as well as cultural understanding and sensitivity towards the colonization process, as it is still effecting people today.

Recruitment

All posters and other forms of recruitment will be sent to partner agencies and throughout the community. Agencies that will receive posters are: Ministry of Children and Family Development, Secwepemc Child and family Services, Interior Indian Friendship Society and ASK Wellness Centre. We are not limiting too these agencies, they are just examples of agencies that we will base our recruitment. The goal is to include all Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal youth wanting to attend or willing to create change. This means we will recruit youth who are referred for surrounding agencies as well as self-referrals. 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 or access 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. Homogeneity of group members’ purposes is important for this to be a functioning group. The principles of homogeneity are creating a group where people have some personal characteristics in common with each other. This will create open communication and bonding which helps members to identify and relate to each other’s concerns or experiences (Toseland & Rivas, 2009). In additional to these principals, our addictions group therapy team will consider the issues of diversity and what that means for the possible power and control issues within the group. For many members in their past may have had direct experience with oppression, discrimination and prejudice. Our group leader will understand and address these experiences and who they are likely to influence power and control with some members. We will also insure that pattern of discrimination are not repeated within this group. In additionally, the large of this group will include no more than ten youth. The reason for this small large of a group is to provide group members with more potential for support, feedback and friendship. This large group will also be a closed group as it will be more effective and helpful to begin and end with the same members to see actual grow and accomplishments.

Orientation

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

Contract

The treatment therapy group will meet twice a week for a period of sixteen weeks. This program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm until 6:00pm for a total of 2 hours a day (4 hours per week).Group members are required to be on time for all sessions, if members are later then 20 minutes they will not be able to attend the session as group has been already in progress. Youth are also not permitted to attend group if they are under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. 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 on attached budgeting sheets.

Clearly, there is a need for this Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth addictions group within our community. It is vital for our youth to get the education, tools and strategies which are needed to help them create personal change, as they are the next generation. Please consider our application and understand the important need for this holistic treatment as it will give meaning and understanding to the lives of many youth. Not only will we be practicing from a harm reduction model but also trying to give life back in to the lives of our youth, which sum may have forgotten or lost throughout their journey.

References

Hart, M. (2002). Seeking mino-pimatisiwin: An Aboriginal approach to helping. Halifax: Fernwood Publishing.

Toseland, R. & Rivas, R. (2009). An introduction to group work practice (6^th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

White Buffalo Aboriginal Health and Resource Centre. (2009). White Buffalo Aboriginal Health and Resource Centre. Retrieved September 29, 2009 from http://www.whitebuffalo.name/