Adolescents' Perspectives on Strengths-Based Group Work and Group Cohesion in Residential Treatment for Substance Abuse

Abstract

It is common to conduct treatments for adolescent substance abuse within a group format. Because previous research has identified group cohesion as being an important factor in adolescent substance abuse group treatment outcomes, it is important to examine therapeutic strategies that could help facilitate the development of group cohesion within substance abuse treatment programs for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine adolescents' perspectives on the contribution of a strengths-based orientation to the development of group cohesion. Following a 5-week strengths-based residential treatment program for substance abuse in Canada, 36 adolescents agreed to participate in an open-ended interview about their perceptions of how a strengths-based approach might have influenced group cohesion. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes across participant responses. Findings suggest that working from a strengths-based perspective could help facilitate the development of several aspects of group cohesion. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.