A Stress Reduction and Self-Care Group for Homeless and Addicted Women: Meditation, Relaxation and Cognitive Methods

ABSTRACT

This article describes groups at two residential settings for women with substance abuse problems, a shelter and a drug treatment center. The groups employed meditation exercises and cognitive restructuring techniques to teach meditation and relaxation, to help members identify and correct distortions causing stress, to provide positive and credible countering thoughts, and to improve social relationships. The groups and the themes that arose are described and examples are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Women with substance abuse problems
• meditation
• cognitive restructuring
• group work