“Knowledge is power.”
Have you ever heard that phrase before? There’s a lot of truth that can be found in it, because the more we know, the more we can act on whatever it is that’s holding us back. Addiction and mental health recovery rely heavily on knowledge, and psychoeducational classes give people in recovery the opportunity to learn more about themselves (and others) through open learning initiatives and discussions. Recovery isn’t just a process of doing – it’s a process of learning, understanding and then implementing the tools that are learned. In fact, a lot of recovery-based organizations provide relapse prevention programs that incorporate psychoeducation, and the following is often talked about:
- Coping skills to help a person identify, anticipate and avoid or cope with highly stressful situations
- Information to help a person avoid relapsing after it has happened once
- Encouragement to really help a person understand that they are capable of changing their behavior
Relapse prevention often involves goals that a person will work towards alongside their support network, and the more they learn about their disorder/addiction, the better they can have control over it. Psychoeducation can also help a person identify some really positive, sobering activities to fill in their schedule. Addiction recovery still comes with stress and cravings sometimes, and it’s vital that a person keep themselves to a strict routine to help change their habits.
In 2015, researchers assessed the efficacy of psychoeducational programs for individuals with schizophrenia; for 8 weeks, individuals attended weekly educational sessions for 60-90 minutes. Overall, the researchers found a lot of benefits to psychoeducation:
- Participants felt more knowledgeable about their disorder
- They had greater attention, participation and overall satisfaction in the health services they received because they understood what and why they were receiving certain types of treatment
There’s not much we can do about the issues in our lives if we don’t understand them in the first place. Recovery involves a multitude of life components, including health, relationships, financial stability, nutrition and more – psychoeducation is the tool that sort of pieces all of this together, and helps us make better sense of what we’re going through. Normally in this type of setting, a leader will guide a group of people through activities, discussions and lectures to help people gain new perspectives.
Really take a stand for your recovery today and get involved in some psychoeducation programs. You’ll learn so much and the tools you’ll learn are invaluable.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-campus, we are made up of 2 twelve-step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
