Family Therapy for Addiction:

Family therapy can make a world of difference in the right setting. Family therapy for addiction allows the members of a family to heal and recover as a group. After all, drug addiction is something that affects everyone in the family. Family therapy provides a safe and open environment that allows for productive and emotional healing. This is not a confrontational approach but rather a positive exchange with each family member.

Family therapy usually has a substance abuser and a family member (usually one) during the therapy session. This is usually a spouse, sibling, or a close family member. This is to ensure a safe and open environment for change. Regardless of who it might be, there is always room for change and recovery from the chains of addiction.

The Many Benefits of Family Addiction Counseling:

There are a lot of different studies that show family therapy as a great option for helping a loved one recover from drug addiction. Talking about the problem and confronting addiction head-on in a positive manner can be the key to long term recovery. The benefits of family therapy for addiction treatment include:

Great for staying motivated and encouraging change in a loved one
An open space for all family members to speak freely about addiction and the effects it’s had on them as a unit
A place to ask questions and voice concerns about the addiction
The opportunity to learn about addiction and the different treatment options and choices
Offers great support before and after treatment
Dispels feelings of anger, stress, confusion, and fear about addiction
Improves how the family communicates and talks to each other
A chance to talk about strategies and paths towards recovery in the future.

What to Expect During Family Therapy for Addiction:

Family therapy utilizes a number of techniques and a positive mindset to work towards recovery. By healing and working as a family, each member can come to terms with the situation and actively help the person overcome their addiction. Let’s take a look at some of the things that are included in family therapy for addiction:

Family involvement: As substance abuse treatment begins, at least one other family member will be there to help. This can happen anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months into the treatment process.

Behavioral changes: Contingency management is often utilized during family therapy to develop goals and encourage a clean, sober lifestyle. This can help pinpoint the root of the problem while rebuilding tarnished relationships in the process.

Life Skills: Family members are able to learn new skills that can help improve the environment. This includes communicating calmly and effectively amongst the family.

Setting Goals: Setting goals is part of almost every type of addiction treatment. Setting goals for siblings, parents, or other family members can be beneficial. Oftentimes, a reward can be introduced for incentive throughout the recovery process.

These tools and skills can make a huge difference for the addict and the family as a whole. Family therapy is also useful in treating cases of co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders are cases where a person is struggling with an addiction and a mental illness at the same time. These cases can be intense and extremely stressful for all parties involved. Family therapy can be beneficial during the process (where both the disorder and addiction are treated separately).