Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
Group therapy is a cornerstone of evidence-based addiction treatment. Addiction is not just a personal struggle but a relational one, and learning to trust others, communicate honestly and draw strength from shared experience are skills group therapy teaches in ways individual sessions alone cannot.
At iRely Recovery (DHCS License #191516AP) in Los Angeles, licensed therapists lead structured groups that address the psychological, emotional and social sides of substance use disorder.
Key Points
- A primary treatment modalitySAMHSA TIP 41 identifies group therapy as a primary, not supplemental, modality.
- Five types of groupsPsychoeducational, skills, CBT, support and interpersonal process groups.
- Clinical, not just peer supportGroups are led by licensed clinicians using evidence-based techniques.
- Insurance verificationWe verify benefits at no cost. Call 818-869-2112.
In Short
Group therapy at iRely Recovery is clinical treatment led by licensed therapists, using psychoeducational, skills, CBT, support and interpersonal process groups for addiction and co-occurring conditions. It is offered across our levels of care, and most insurance is accepted. Call 818-869-2112 to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Group Therapy for Addiction?
Group therapy is a structured clinical treatment in which a licensed therapist or counselor leads sessions for a small group of clients with a shared goal: recovery from substance use disorder. It works because addiction is not only a personal struggle but a relational one. Learning to trust others, communicate honestly and draw strength from shared experience are skills group therapy teaches in ways individual sessions alone cannot.
Unlike peer support groups such as AA or NA, which are community-led, clinical group therapy is guided by a credentialed professional using evidence-based techniques. The group also becomes a microcosm of social life, giving you a safe place to practice communication, conflict resolution and boundary-setting.
SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol 41 (TIP 41), Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy, identifies group work as a primary, not supplemental, treatment modality for substance use disorders. Our group programming draws on the frameworks it describes. iRely Recovery is DHCS licensed (License #191516AP).
5 Types of Group Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment
TIP 41 describes five distinct types of therapeutic groups, each serving a different clinical purpose. We use multiple formats to address the full range of recovery needs.
1. Psychoeducational Groups
Structured education on substance use disorders, the science of addiction and the recovery process: how drugs and alcohol affect the brain, what withdrawal involves, how cravings work and how trauma and substance use relate. Especially valuable early in treatment.
2. Skills Development Groups
Practical coping and life skills to replace substance use, such as stress management, emotional regulation, sleep hygiene, communication and relapse prevention planning. Homework between sessions builds behavior change, not just insight.
3. CBT Groups
CBT groups target the automatic thoughts and core beliefs that drive use, such as I cannot cope without alcohol. You learn to spot cognitive distortions, challenge them with evidence and replace them with healthier thinking.
4. Support Groups
Therapist-facilitated support groups emphasize shared experience, mutual accountability and emotional validation, with a clinician keeping the discussion productive. They often complement the peer-led 12-step or alternative recovery meetings you attend outside treatment hours.
5. Interpersonal Process Groups
These use the group’s own here-and-now interactions as material, so you can examine patterns like avoidance, people-pleasing or dominating as they happen. They are especially effective when substance use is entangled with relational trauma, attachment issues or difficulty with trust.
Group Therapy vs. Support Groups: Key Differences
Both play important roles in recovery. The main differences:
| Feature | Clinical Group Therapy | Support Groups (AA/NA) |
|---|---|---|
| Facilitation | Licensed therapist or counselor | Peer volunteer, no clinical credential |
| Approach | Structured evidence-based techniques such as CBT, DBT and TIP 41 frameworks | The 12-step model, which is spirituality-based |
| Clinical goals | Targeted milestones tied to an individualized treatment plan | Ongoing peer support and sobriety maintenance |
| Session structure | Agenda set by the therapist, with clinical interventions | Open sharing format, led by members |
| Confidentiality | HIPAA-protected clinical setting | Group confidentiality norm, not legally enforceable |
| Availability | Scheduled as part of a formal treatment program | Available in the community year-round at no cost |
| Best for | The active treatment phase and clinical issues | Long-term maintenance and peer community |
We integrate both. You take part in clinical group therapy during treatment and are connected to community resources, including AA, NA and SMART Recovery, for long-term support.
How Effective Is Group Therapy for Addiction?
The evidence base is strong. SAMHSA’s TIP 41 identifies group therapy as a primary treatment modality and notes that it addresses social dimensions of addiction that individual therapy cannot, including isolation, shame and impaired trust. Clinical guidance also finds that group and individual therapy produce comparable outcomes for substance use disorders, with added benefits from peer accountability, normalization of experience and improved social skills.
Real-Time Social Support
Peers offer encouragement and feedback in the moment, which one-on-one sessions cannot replicate.
Accountability
Peer relationships create accountability that often outlasts the formal treatment period.
More Treatment Hours
Group work is more cost-effective than individual therapy, allowing more hours of care.
What to Expect in Group Therapy at iRely Recovery
Many people are nervous before their first group. That is completely normal. A typical session looks like this:
1. Check-In
Each member briefly shares how they are feeling. The check-in is structured, grounding everyone in the present and marking the start of the session.
2. Topic Introduction
The therapist introduces the focus, such as a skill, a concept or a shared challenge, connected to the group’s phase of treatment.
3. Discussion and Skill Practice
Members work through the topic by discussion, role-play, written exercises or experiential activities. The therapist facilitates rather than lectures.
4. Personal Application
Members share how the topic applies to their own recovery. Peers offer support and perspective, and the therapist monitors emotional safety.
5. Closing and Assignment
The session ends with key insights and any weekly assignments such as journaling prompts or skill practice, and members check out with a word or sentence.
Groups are kept small so every client has meaningful time to participate, and they are organized by treatment phase, such as early recovery, stabilization and relapse prevention, so members are at similar points in their journey. You do not have to speak at length in your first session. Many people find it helpful to listen first.
Co-Occurring Disorders and Group Therapy
Most people in addiction treatment have at least one co-occurring mental health condition, most commonly depression, anxiety, PTSD or bipolar disorder. Our dual diagnosis groups are designed for clients managing both.
Integrated Content
Sessions combine mental health content, such as understanding depression, managing anxiety and trauma-informed coping, with addiction recovery content instead of treating them as separate problems.
Dual-Trained Therapists
Facilitators are trained in both addiction counseling and mental health treatment, not just one.
Normalization
Clients who often feel different even within addiction treatment discover they are not alone in managing multiple diagnoses.
Coordinated Medication Management
Medication for co-occurring conditions is coordinated with prescribers and built into your treatment plan.
Group Therapy for Addiction at iRely Recovery
iRely Recovery is a DHCS-licensed (License #191516AP) and Joint Commission accredited treatment facility at 17524 Napa St in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood of Los Angeles. Groups are led by licensed therapists and counselors with specialized training in substance use disorder treatment and co-occurring conditions.
Psychoeducational Groups
Addiction neuroscience, recovery stages and relapse prevention.
CBT-Based Skills Groups
Thought patterns and behavioral triggers.
Interpersonal Process Groups
For clients with relational contributors to addiction.
Dual Diagnosis Groups
For co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
Aftercare Groups
For clients transitioning out of structured programming.
Multi-Modal Care
Group therapy works alongside individual and family therapy and DBT skills training.
Group therapy is available across our levels of care:
Residential Treatment
Daily group therapy, five days a week.
Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
Group therapy as the primary modality, typically 5 to 6 hours a day.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Group therapy three days a week, three hours a session.
Outpatient (OP)
Weekly group therapy as part of step-down care.
Our intake includes a clinical assessment to determine which level of care and which group formats fit you best. Call 818-869-2112 to schedule your assessment.
Insurance Accepted for Group Therapy in California
Group therapy for addiction is a covered benefit under most commercial health plans in California. Under California SB 855, effective January 1, 2021, commercial plans must cover substance use disorder treatment, including group therapy, at the same level as medical and surgical care. Deductibles, copays and covered sessions vary by plan.
Our intake team verifies your benefits at no cost and explains your out-of-pocket responsibility before treatment begins. Call 818-869-2112 to start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy for Addiction
What types of group therapy are used in addiction treatment?
Addiction programs use five main types of group therapy: psychoeducational groups teach clients about substance use disorders and recovery; skills development groups build coping and relapse-prevention skills; cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) groups address thought patterns that drive use; support groups provide peer encouragement and shared experience; and interpersonal process groups explore relationship dynamics that contribute to addiction. Your plan at iRely may include several of these, depending on your clinical assessment.
How effective is group therapy for substance abuse?
Group therapy is widely regarded as an effective treatment for substance use disorders. SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol 41 identifies it as a primary modality in addiction treatment, and clinical guidance finds group and individual therapy produce comparable outcomes, with group adding peer support and accountability that individual sessions cannot replicate.
What happens in group therapy for addiction?
A typical session begins with a brief check-in where each member shares how they are doing. The therapist introduces a topic, such as identifying triggers, managing cravings or rebuilding relationships, and facilitates structured discussion or skill practice. Sessions close with reflections and any assignments for the coming week. Groups are led by a licensed therapist, and everything shared is confidential.
How long does group therapy for addiction last?
It depends on your level of care. In residential treatment, clients typically attend group therapy five days a week, and intensive outpatient groups generally meet three days a week. Most clients take part for 30 to 90 days in a structured program, then continue with aftercare groups during ongoing recovery.
What is the difference between group therapy and support groups like AA?
Group therapy is clinically structured treatment led by a licensed therapist who guides evidence-based interventions and monitors progress. Support groups such as AA or NA are peer-led mutual aid communities with no clinical facilitation. Both are valuable: group therapy delivers targeted treatment, while support groups provide long-term peer community. We integrate both.
Is group therapy better than individual therapy for addiction?
Research shows group and individual therapy produce comparable outcomes for substance use disorders, and combining them is more effective than either alone. Group therapy offers peer accountability, shared experience and practice with interpersonal skills, while individual therapy allows deeper work on personal history and co-occurring issues. We use both together.
Does insurance cover group therapy for addiction in California?
Yes. Under California SB 855, commercial health plans must cover substance use disorder treatment, including group therapy, at the same level as medical care. Coverage details vary by plan. Call 818-869-2112 to verify your benefits at no cost.
What should I expect in my first group therapy session?
Your first session begins with introductions. The therapist explains group guidelines, including confidentiality and respect, and invites you to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. You do not need to speak at length on day one, and many clients find it helpful to listen and observe. Most feel more comfortable after the first or second session.
How many people are in group therapy for addiction?
We keep groups small so every client has meaningful time to participate. Very small groups limit the range of peer perspectives, while large groups reduce each member’s chance to take part, so size matters for therapeutic effectiveness.
Can group therapy help with co-occurring mental health disorders?
Yes. Dual diagnosis group therapy, designed for clients with substance use and conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD or bipolar disorder, is one of the most effective formats for integrated treatment. Our clinical staff are trained in dual diagnosis care, and groups address both addiction and the conditions that often accompany it.
Sources
[1] Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2013). Groups and substance abuse treatment. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64223/ on May 20, 2025
[2] Malhotra, A., Baker, J., & Mars, J. A. (2022). Group Therapy. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549812/ on May 20, 2025
[3] Group therapy in substance use treatment. (n.d.). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-02-01-020.pdf on May 20, 2025
[+] Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 41. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Begin Group Therapy for Addiction Today
Recovery is possible, and you do not have to do it alone. Our group therapy program brings together the rigor of evidence-based treatment and the power of shared human experience. Call 818-869-2112 for a free, confidential consultation. We serve the greater Los Angeles area, including the San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Burbank and surrounding communities.
