Addiction can damage relationships and leave a lasting negative impact on loved ones. Physical, emotional, and financial scars may drive a wedge between a person with substance use disorder and their family members. Therefore, treatment that includes a family therapy program is essential for healing the wounds left behind by addiction.
Call The Bluffs today at 850.374.5331 for more information about addiction and family therapy.
The Importance of Family Therapy During Addiction Treatment
Family therapy and addiction recovery go hand in hand. No matter what has happened in the past, including family trauma that may have contributed to drug or alcohol use, dealing with dysfunctional family dynamics is crucial to addiction recovery.
In some cases, family members can be a patient’s greatest supporters. In other cases, moving on from family drama is necessary for a patient’s long-term recovery.
The importance of family therapy during addiction treatment can be measured in relapse rates. Current data suggests that patients who engage in family therapy have lower rates of relapse. Participating in a family therapy program in Ohio may also improve overall family happiness.
Benefits of Family Therapy and Addiction Recovery
While individual therapy focuses on the patient, family therapy focuses on how substance use has damaged the family and how that damage can be repaired. In other words, family therapy isn’t just for the patient. It is also an opportunity for other family members to heal from their loved one’s addiction.
Other benefits of family therapy include:
- Helping the patient stay motivated with his or her treatment
- Learning more about addiction, its causes, and the recovery process
- Providing family members with skills to cope with their loved one’s substance use
- Providing important support for the patient
Another highlight of family therapy during addiction treatment is its importance to the parent/child relationship. Parents with substance use disorders can improve their children’s lives by engaging in family therapy.
Adjusting to the “new normal” after a parent enters recovery can be, in some ways, just as difficult as having a parent who is misusing drugs or alcohol. The therapeutic environment provides a safe, supportive place for children to express themselves.
What to Expect from Family Therapy
Every family is different and has unique needs, and therapy includes multiple different approaches and techniques to make sure those needs are met. While therapy is conducted in an office setting, the insights and lessons learned during therapy are meant to be carried back to the household and practiced in the family’s day-to-day life.
In general, you can expect the following components to be included in the family therapy process:
- Family Engagement: Ensures that family members are invested in therapy and share the same goal
- Relational Reframing: Helps the family move out of the past and reframe relationships for the future
- Family Behavior Change: Centers on behaviors and emphasizes learning new skills that help to improve family relationships
- Family Restructuring: Setting new ground rules and ways for the family to function now that the addicted person is receiving treatment
Participating in a family therapy program in Ohio gives everyone a safe space to process the intense feelings that loving someone with a substance use disorder can generate. The improved communication learned in therapy will benefit the family for many years.
Discover Family Therapy at The Bluffs
The purpose of family therapy and addiction recovery is not to lay blame or fan flames. Instead, it is an opportunity to heal the wounds caused by addiction and gain new skills to improve the family dynamic.
Call The Bluffs at 850.374.5331 if your family has been affected by alcohol or substance use. Our caring professionals can help every member of your family move into a brighter future together.
