Addiction and Family Therapy

When one person in a family struggles with addiction, everyone is deeply affected. Your loved one might try to justify their behavior by saying things like, “Why does it matter to you what I do? I’m not hurting anyone but myself.” Of course, if you have been living under the same roof as someone who is actively misusing drugs or alcohol, you know claims like these are far from the truth.

Because addiction affects the entire family, all members of the family must do some degree of individual healing in order for recovery to be achieved and maintained. This is where family therapy comes into play. Most treatment programs offer family therapy and other forms of family involvement. Family members are also encouraged to seek support outside of their loved one’s treatment program by way of support groups and individual therapy sessions.

If you are interested in accessing additional resources, please feel free to contact us directly. To find an Al-Anon meeting in your area, visit the official Al-Anon website HERE.

Family Therapy in the Context of Addiction Treatment

We believe the immediate family of each client should be heavily involved in the entire treatment process from start to finish. Family members have access to a wide range of family-oriented services, from family therapy sessions to an intensive Family Workshop.

Addiction education is an important component of family involvement. The better the loved ones of the client understand substance use, the better equipped they are to address it. Addiction education takes place during family therapy sessions, though the loved ones of our clients are encouraged to seek a better understanding of the condition outside of a treatment setting. The better you understand addiction — how it develops and how it is effectively treated and kept in remission — the more prepared you will be to tackle any issues that arise once treatment concludes.

During family therapy sessions unhealthy family dynamics are addressed and healthy functioning is restored. Communication skills are developed and honed, and you learn how to set and maintain boundaries designed to help your loved one while protecting your own needs.

How Involved Can You Be?

We encourage the loved ones of our clients to be as involved in the recovery process as they would like to be, from medical detox through aftercare.

As your loved one undergoes withdrawal and takes the very beginning steps on their journey of recovery, contact will be limited. This is so your loved one can gain a firm footing and begin building a solid foundation for sobriety without the temptation of being “bailed out.” As chemical substances are cleared from the system, physical and psychological cravings often crop up. Because the desire to return to substance use can easily cloud judgement, contact during this phase of the process is intentionally restricted.

During the remainder of the recovery process you will be able to communicate with your loved one and with their clinical team, who will keep you updated on their progress as they move through treatment. Family therapy sessions are generally held on a once-weekly basis, and you will be able to contact the clinical team and case manager at any point in time.

To learn more about supporting a loved one who is in recovery for alcoholism or drug addiction, refer to our detailed article HERE.

We look forward to answering any additional questions you may have about family involvement over the addiction recovery process.

How to Get Help for Alcohol Addiction?

Making change — even positive change — can be scary at first; especially when you aren’t sure what to expect from the process that lays ahead of you. The good news is that you have access to unlimited support every step of the way. Contact us to learn more about taking the first steps towards a life of fulfilling and lasting recovery.

Our attention to individualized care and therapy programs can be the difference between a lifetime of challenges or a full recovery. Take the first step toward a better, more fulfilling future. Speak with one of our Treatments Advisors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-877-508-2278.