PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP PLAN 
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
ThePsychotherapy Group Plan Assignment gives you an opportunity to take the topic from week one and complete a psychotherapy group plan around that topic.
INSTRUCTIONS
For this project, you will differentiate this group from your psychoeducational group and create a
plan to run the group as a psychotherapy group. Your group plan should be thoroughly supported
by research and should include the following. These should all serve as the headings of your
paper:
1. Topic overview
2. Differentiation of psychotherapy and psychoeducation
3. Group Composition
4. Setting and Structure
5. Goals of Group
6. Group Member Guidelines
7. Group Leader Role and Function
8. Conclusion
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Psychoeducational Group Plan
Student Name
University
Course
Professor Name
Date
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Background Information
Psychoeducation groups create a knowledge-sharing opportunity that enables participants to make
informed decisions. Specifically, the group-based interventions offer participants comprehensive information
about specific problems, issues, and concerns. The intervention groups are designed to accommodate 20-40
participants and facilitate knowledge sharing in 20 sessions (Gladding, 2020). Every session is allocated
approximately 1-2 hours to optimize member engagement in the information-sharing process. The strategy
supports individuals in developing values and skills that boost their capacity to overcome diverse psychological
problems (Brown, 2018). In this case, the psychoeducational group focuses on addressing substance use
disorder in young adults in the modern multicultural society. Substance use disorder (SUD) represents a drug
use pattern that creates dependence and distress in individuals. The brain disorder results from the usage of
substances like methamphetamine, alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, opiates, inhalants, cocaine, prescription drugs,
hallucinogen, and heroin (Kargin & Hicdurmaz, 2020). Basically, these substances alter the brain’s functionality
and structure in a manner that creates dependence, behavioral changes, intense cravings, and physiological
transformations in individuals (McLellan, 2017). Brain imaging techniques indicate that addictive drugs
transform different regions of the human brain related to learning, behavioral control, memory, and judgment.
The psychoeducational group considers that young adults are highly vulnerable to SUD in numerous
societies internationally. Specifically, SAMHS observes that the young adult group comprises individuals in the
18-25 years age bracket. A recent SAMHS report indicates that 24% of young adults abuse illicit drugs like
methamphetamine, hallucinogens, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin (SAMHSA, 2018). The report indicates that
the population has the highest substance and alcohol abuse rates in most societies. For example, approximately
35% of individuals aged between 18 and 25 years had a binge drinking problem in 2018 (SAMHSA, 2018). The
report also indicates that the e-cigarette usage rate among these individuals in the US rose from 13.6% to 23.5%
between 2014 and 2016 (SAMHSA, 2018). Generally, multiple factors that increase young adults’ vulnerability
to SUD are peer pressure, new choices, independence, self-focus, changes in education/employment, and
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identity exploration (Tiffany et al., 2012). Therefore, urgent intervention is required to protect this population
from devastating outcomes of substance use disorder.
Group Outline
Group Purpose
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The psychoeducational group focuses on providing social support and education to young adults with a
substance use disorder in the community.
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The group-based intervention program intends to enlighten the target population about causal and risk
factors for SUD in modern societies.
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The program focuses on educating young adults about causal factors and adverse consequences of
substance abuse in individuals.
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The psychoeducational group-based intervention aims at informing the target population about
psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for SUD.
•
The group-based intervention focuses on guiding participants on the delivery of evidence-based and
compassionate care to friends, family members, and community members with substance use disorders.
Target Audience
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The psychoeducational group intervention program targets young adults with SUD or susceptible to
developing SUD.
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The group focuses on engaging 30 individuals in the education program comprising 20 sessions with a
1.5-hour duration.
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Researchers observe that psychological, economic, and social factors make young adults highly
vulnerable to substance use disorder.
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Studies consistently indicate that SUD has adverse psychological, physiological, and behavioral impacts
on young adults.
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•
The treatment process for substance use disorder in young adults includes pharmacological and
psychotherapeutic processes.
•
Effective behavioral therapies for individuals with SUD include dialectical behavioral therapy,
therapeutic communities, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and assertive
community treatment.
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Pharmacotherapeutic interventions address SUD symptoms like slurred speech, weight gain/loss,
tremors, appetite variation, paranoia, social anxiety, fatigue, mood swings, and withdrawal problems.
Group Goals
1. First, the psychoeducational group-based intervention focuses in educating young adults about causal
factors, vulnerabilities, impacts of SUD in young adults.
2. Second, the group-based program aims at enlightening young adults about pharmacological and
psychotherapeutic interventions for SUD in this population.
Group Objectives
1. Objectives related to psychoeducation on causal factors, side effects, and impacts of the substance use
disorder.
•
The psychoeducational group addresses multiple causal factors for SUD in young adults, including
social pressures, psychiatric problems, environmental stressors, and genetic vulnerability.
•
The program addresses multiple risk factors for SUD in young adults are family history, family
rejection, peer pressure, parental substance use, genetic factors, and personal traits.
•
The program focuses on educating the target population about SUD impacts like physiological
problems, psychological problems, social problems, reduced workplace productivity, financial
management challenges, and poor educational performance.
2. Objectives related to psychoeducation on interventions for substance use disorder in individuals within
the 18-25 years age bracket.
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•
The program examines the medical intervention procedure utilized in managing various SUD
symptoms.
•
The psychoeducational group-based intervention explores the effectiveness of various
psychotherapeutic programs (DBT, CBT, CM, ACT) in managing different SUD symptoms.
•
The group-based intervention explored multiple coping skills for individuals with SUD like
establishing strong relationships, proper nutrition, engagement in productive activities, relaxation
and mindfulness, and physical exercise.
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The program describes preventive strategies for substance use disorder in the target population,
including prevention education, managing mental disorders, peer pressure management, and risk
factor identification.
Group Rules
The psychoeducation group depends on various regulations in promoting member cooperation and improving
care quality.
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Members are expected to uphold the confidentiality principle by ensuring that information shared in the
group does not reach unintended audiences.
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Group members are expected to respect their colleagues irrespective of their nationalities, ages, cultures,
religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, financial status, ethnicities, and races.
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Participants are expected to find conflict resolution strategies with mutually beneficial outcomes.
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Participants are expected to attend psychoeducation group sessions on time to minimize disruptions and
motivate colleagues.
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Participants are expected to minimize distractions when attending group sessions by muting phones,
maintaining attentiveness, and avoiding unnecessary movements.
•
Smoking during group sessions and on the premises is prohibited.
Conclusion
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•
The Psychoeducation group addresses the substance use disorder in young adults residing in the current
multicultural society.
•
The group addresses causes, risk factors, impacts, and effective interventions for SUD in young adults.
•
Group policies are expected to promote member collaboration and improve outcomes for all
participants.
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References
Brown, N. W. (2018). Psychoeducational groups: Process and practice. New York City: Routledge.
Gladding, S. T. (2020). Groups: A counseling specialty. New York City: Pearson.
Kargin, M., & Hicdurmaz, D. (2020). Psychoeducation program for substance use disorder: Effect on relapse
rate, social functioning, perceived wellness, and coping. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental
Health Services, 58(8), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20200624-03
McLellan, A. T. (2017). Substance misuse and substance use disorders: why do they matter in healthcare?
Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 128, 112.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525418/
SAMHSA. (2018). Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series: Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults. The
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Tiffany, S. T., Friedman, L., Greenfield, S. F., Hasin, D. S., & Jackson, R. (2012). Beyond drug use: a
systematic consideration of other outcomes in evaluations of treatments for substance use disorders.
Addiction, 107(4), 709-718. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03581.x