Family Therapy

Family therapy is a recovery tool used for substance use disorders and mental health issues among psychologists to help identify challenges in the process of helping one come clean. Through research, it’s repeatedly discovered that most family issues contribute to the downfall of addiction and perpetuate the illness. For this reason, addiction is commonly referred to as a “family disease”. A mental health counselor aims to provide support in making positive changes within a household to heal the family dynamic.

All family members share a bond that can be used to support one another during trying times. Hence, family therapy for addiction and mental health problems has become a popular approach used by mental health care professionals. Historically, It was done independently and often removed the substance abuser from a comfortable setting such as their home. Today, we offer it as both a part of inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment at Behavioral Health Centers.

Research supported by Vertava Health reveals addiction affects the family process as it causes stress, oftentimes brings resentment, airs frustrations, and causes a violation of privacy.

a family therapist helping family members gain insight about addiction

Family Therapy at Work

Family therapy for addiction involves a family therapist, the addict and at least one family member, but family counseling is dynamic and involves all. Therefore, it is appropriate to involve those who are not technically family but friends, coworkers, partners, or significant others.

Successful addiction treatment should include all who are a part of the family and are experiencing the effects of the individual’s substance use disorder. Participating in therapy as a family can be the first step in repairing failed relationships.

There are many goals at work in providing family therapy for addiction. Therapy for the family unit:

Is able to provide a personalized plan for the recovery process
Will provide an unbiased listening ear and a judgment-free zone regarding one’s family and marital problems
Is willing to provide the flexibility of treatment moving at the pace of the patient

It’s normal to wonder how family therapy for substance use disorder works. Understanding the process from a mental health professional can be confusing. This is why it is important to comply with certain requests.

For instance, after the substance abuser starts treatment, the family receives counseling to uncover family history, recurring communication tactics, and damaging self-care routines. The family structure is important as it factors into the treatment of each individual.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the effects of addiction don’t just affect one, but affect all family members. Children of alcohol and drug dependent parents often face the most consequences. The children suffer most in school as difficulties arise and they result in skipping school or face being expelled.

The Modern Family Unit, What Makes it Important?

The modern family unit could be a major contributing factor in what makes an individual unsupportive or abuse a substance. The modern family unit includes single-parent families, unmarried cohabiting couples, divorces, blended relationships, LGBTQ relationships, shared childcare, etc. So family therapy for addiction is a popular path in choosing to create a support group for the suffering individual.

patients in a marriage and family therapy session

How to Tell When Family Therapy for Addiction is Necessary

Before family counseling was introduced, many resulted in blaming one another, isolating themselves, or self-medicating. Most lived in denial about addiction and would unwittingly follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. These unhealthy coping mechanisms usually result in the destruction of family functioning. One of the main goals of strategic family therapy is to learn better-coping skills.

Identifying when a friend abuses the limit of certain substances might be easy. But how does one know when to seek professional addiction treatment? Deciding when it’s time to seek help from a family therapist could be dependent on a family member’s behavior. For example, families that frequently experience behavioral or emotional problems within their children pose a common reason to visit a psychologist or a family therapist.

It could be time for family therapy if you experience these circumstances:

You find your response to their substance abuse needs improvement.
The family member continues substance abuse despite many objections.
Your mental and physical health is at a breaking point having been negatively impacted by the friend’s drug abuse.
Codependent behavior patterns have become stronger than the need to improve oneself.
Enabling behavioral problems is becoming the “easier way out” of drug abuse.

Codependent and enabling behaviors are common among generational families. It was common as many coped with drug abuse and addiction in unhealthy ways before the idea of family therapy for addiction was introduced. Before this method was introduced, many resulted in blaming one another, isolating themselves, or self-medicating. Most lived in denial about addiction and would unwittingly follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. These unhealthy coping mechanisms usually resulted in the destruction of the family unit. One of the main goals of strategic family therapy is to learn better-coping skills.

structural family therapy strengthening family relationships and communications

What to Expect from Family Therapy for Addiction

Family therapy has been successful in more than just addiction and substance use disorder. It has shown positive results in coexisting disorders such as depression, child abuse/neglect, anxiety, etc. Sessions of family therapy aim to help understand the way an internal family system works and help identify signs of triggers and resolve conflicts within a family.

Here’s what one can expect while enrolled in family therapy:

Family therapy for addiction takes place after the substance abuser has entered addiction treatment and made progress.
It creates healthier family relationships in the home environment.
It teaches individuals to communicate more effectively between all family members.
Family therapy shows that reacting/behaving in exciting ways rather than dismissively can support the client’s recovery rather than hinder it.
Family therapy focuses on using contingency management as a behavioral therapy, which uses motivational rewards to incentivize one to become abstinent from drugs or alcohol.
Family members can set goals that relate to the roles they play within their family dynamics.

While enrolled in addiction and mental illness therapy, substance users can expect to go through a detox process. Detox (or detoxification) involves one abstaining from or ridding their body of the toxic or unhealthy substances they usually ingest.

Successful addiction treatment should include family as the emotional stress of addiction often leaves one feeling helpless. Working with a family therapist often relieves the stress of having to deal with something alone. Enrolling in family therapy for addiction will ease the mixture of feeling helpless and lost.

Verify Your Insurance

If you have coverage of any kind from a major insurance provider, your treatment is likely covered. We promise to keep your information confidential.

Verify Benefits

Verify Your Insurance

If you have coverage of any kind from a major insurance provider, your treatment is likely covered. We promise to keep your information confidential.

Verify Benefits

Benefits of Attending Family Therapy for Addiction

Trained marriage and family therapists work with family members to help them:

Understand that addiction is a disease.
Repair the emotional damage caused by substance use disorder.
Re-establish trust among the abuser and others.
Identify strategies for family success such as assessing communication habits.

Foster supportive relationships and Improve communication styles.
Improve the mental and physical state of family members.
Gain awareness of substance abuse treatment, needs and behaviors.
Avoid enabling behaviors.

The purpose of family therapy is to bring the family back to their first identified goal: addiction recovery. Therapy sessions are structured substance use disorders and mental health professionals are trained to tend to the needs of family members. Involving family has proven to bring higher rates of success, better engagement instances, and increased aftercare participation. By engaging with family therapists, a difference will be seen in the addicts and family member’s daily lives’.

When & Why to Participate in Family Counseling

Often times family members may not want to participate in family counseling, this could be due to:

Fear
The skepticism that addiction treatment and counseling will or will not work
Distrust against the psychologist
Sheer exhaustion at the effort already put into this
Power over substance abuser and loss of that power

If this happens, it’s best to have this individual meet with trained family therapists and address certain concerns or encourage change. By involving the whole family, they become equipped to integrate recovery principles into their daily lives. Family therapy becomes more than just family education. Substance abuse therapy involves applying the techniques learned and working through situations where a goal may not play out.

Becoming involved with family therapy allows the primary and extended family to uncover drama hidden below the surface. Many times, substance abuse masks the problems in a family deeper than alcoholism or drug abuse. These problems often rise to the surface once the person seeking treatment finds a solution.

While family counseling can seem intimidating, it’s effective in helping the substance user decide which route of treatment to take.

functional family therapy for adolescent having addiction problems

Coping with Addiction; Relapse is Possible

Even while enrolled in family therapy services, a large percentage of people relapse while in addiction recovery. Today, relapse is regarded as an opportunity to re-evaluate the recovery plan. It’s a time to determine the negative factor and take the correct steps to develop skills that’ll lead away from relapse. Oftentimes, it may be difficult to cope with addiction, but with the entire family behind your back, it would be easier.

In situations with children or adolescent family members, it can be difficult as they often suffer from PTSD, nightmares, insomnia, or flashbacks. There are further risks for adults in therapy such as:

One member feels attacked during a session
Escalation of anger into violence at a family member
The addict is triggered to continue or increase usage

Figuring out how to cope with a substance abuse problem can be difficult as it is a habitual impulse. These habits serve to help one manage their particular situations or levels of stress. Habits can be maladaptive or destructive, but addiction consists of both.

Maladaptive behaviors are seen as the addict displays deliberate actions in which one avoids new situations. Destructive behaviors are any harmful or self-destructive actions that seem deliberate, impulsive, or habitual. Display of these behaviors can be another key factor in determining if you and your family should seek professional help.

Enrolling in Family Therapy for substance use disorder should ease the feeling of helplessness. At Behavioral Health Centers, our focus lies on your success.

Family Therapy at Behavioral Health Centers

Family therapy at Behavioral Health Centers in Florida offers a crucial avenue for individuals and families to navigate addiction and mental health concerns with the guidance of a skilled marriage and family therapist. Through a collaborative and holistic approach, family therapy aims to strengthen familial bonds, improve communication, and promote overall mental and emotional well-being. In this nurturing and professional setting, families in Florida can find the support they need to start their journey of transformation.