The Value of a Family Therapy Program is Clear
Family support is a big part of the drug and alcohol substance use disorder treatment process. Itโs clear that, for men and women with substance use disorder, the family can help or worsen the battle. It all depends on how well people within the family communicate. In family therapy, the goal is to help people work through those challenges in a constructive, safe manner. This can create many benefits, including:
- Developing a strong support system in recovery
- Enabling family to know what to do when a person is at risk for relapse
- Overcoming misunderstandings and heartache even if itโs lasted for a long time
- Empowering family members to properly support loved ones without enabling
- Giving a person the ability to walk away when they cannot accept the change or needs of a person with addiction
Itโs possible that some relationships will not improve. Thatโs okay as long as everyone in the relationship understands that you cannot include that person in your life as you work on substance use disorder recovery.
What Happens in Family Counseling Isnโt What You Think
It is common for people with substance use disorder to believe family counseling will be about blaming them for everything thatโs happened to the family. While there is some discussion of whatโs occurred, blame isnโt present or encouraged. Rather, the focus of these programs is to create new communications and strategies for the future instead. Itโs a process of moving beyond forgiveness and past pain into a new future with clearly defined boundaries and responsibilities for each person.
Family Support May Be Critical in the Long Term
Family therapy for substance use disorder is valuable to most people because without it a person is at a higher risk of relapsing. Families can pay close attention to a person with substance dependence to know when their stress level is high. They can help to minimize the exposure to triggers and support a person when they are feeling uneasy about life. They can also be there when a person is craving alcohol or drugs and needs someone to stop them.
With family support like this, a person can feel empowered. The family learns a great deal about addiction and why it is a disease thatโs so hard to overcome. That can help family members feel like they are doing their part to help in the recovery process.
Request a 100% Confidential Callback
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems, contact our drug and alcohol rehab center in the Greater Boston area to talk confidentially with an addiction specialist. For immediate help, call (978) 878-3677 or fill out the form below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Explore What to Expect in Our Family Therapy Program in Ma
At Paramount Recovery Centers in Southborough, MA, we offer a wide range of tools to support your best outcome. A part of that is family therapy. This, along with an individualized substance use disorder treatment plan with other therapies, can give you the best chance at long-term recovery.
Some of the other therapies we offer include:
- Mindfulness stress reduction
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Evidence-based therapy
- Motivational interviewing therapy
