The preconception among many healthcare providers is that alcohol and drug use issues "are problems of the young" and hence, the article offers doctors, psychologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals to "wake-up call" that indeed older people suffer from "bereavement feelings of loneliness or depression" which often leads them into abusing alcohol and drugs (General OneFile). It seems that a group counseling session involving older people could achieve positive results if the therapist embraced Client-Centered therapy. Indeed, older people respond when respected. Adlerian Group Therapy: The approach of Adlerian is to institute the "4 R's" (respect, responsibility, responsiveness and resourcefulness); and in the process, group members' introductions do not say "Hi, I'm John and I'm an alcoholic" because that forces people "to identify themselves with the lowest point in their lives" (Prinz, 1994, 351). One interesting strategy in Adlerian therapy is when a group member talks about herself for a few minutes, and then steps outside the group, turns her back, and listens to group comments "without responding" (Prinz, 356)....

This experience "can be intimidating" but the dynamic can encourage honesty and help group members face up to their personal substance abuse issues.
Conclusion

Of the two approaches to group therapy in this paper, the Client-Centered therapy appears to be potentially the most successful in working with addictive issues. The reason for that opinion is due to the amount of respect and openness that Rogers' approach offers to both the therapist and the clients. Also, the fact that those in the group are not "patients" but rather they are "clients" presents a degree of respect and flexibility from the very outset of therapy.

Works Cited

Community Care. (2011). News (Substance Misuse Among Older People). Retrieved July 23,

2011, from General OneFile / Gale Group.

Harvard Mental Health Letter. (2006). Client-Centered Therapy. Harvard Medical School.

Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://www.health.harvard.edu.

Prinz, Joseph, and Arkin, Sharon. (1994). Adlerian Group Therapy with Substance Abusers.

Individual Psychology,…