Skills for Recovery: A Recovery-Oriented Dual Diagnosis Group for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at a high risk for abusing alcohol and illicit substances relative to the general population. This use, even in small quantities, can negatively affect mental and physical health. Group therapy is an evidence-based treatment for individuals dually diagnosed with SMI and a substance abuse disorder. The Skills for Recovery group used a recovery-oriented therapy manual for dual diagnoses and was informed by the International Association for Social Work with Groups' Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups throughout the development and implementation of the group.

Keywords:

• serious mental illness (SMI)
• substance abuse
• recovery
• veterans
• group psychotherapy
• IASWG Standards

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful for contributions to the group by Grishelda Hogan, LICSW, Stacey Edwards, LICSW, Benjamin Presskreischer, PsyD, and Timothy Smith, PhD.