Addiction is a disease that affects not just one person but their loved ones as well. In order to heal the harms that addiction can cause, it can be immensely beneficial to include the whole family in the counseling process. Some people might think that if they are not using drugs or drinking, then what could they need from therapy? However, if a loved one is experiencing addiction, they will need their family to learn how best to support them through their recovery process. Participating in family therapy during substance abuse or mental health treatment can have many benefits and strengthen the positive effects of recovery.
What Is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a technique that aims to discover family dynamics, improve communication, and allow family members to share thoughts and feelings in a safe and neutral environment. Often, the presence of the therapist can help keep discussions on track and help people communicate strong feelings in a productive, non-harmful way. The goals of family therapy are:
- Better communication
- Resolving old conflicts
- Healing maladaptive family dynamics
- Strengthening the family relationships
Family Therapy Benefits Go Beyond Just Talking
Even though counseling might seem like simply talking to each other, having the presence of a licensed counselor or therapist can help those discussions be as productive and healing as possible. Some of the ways that talking as a family in therapy can help are:
- Using positive communication to more effectively express feelings
- Having the opportunity to discuss potentially difficult topics in a neutral setting
- Learning to identify family dynamics that may be helpful or harmful
- Repairing damaged relationships and strengthening family bonds
- Rebuilding trust that has been hurt or broken
- Educating the family about addiction and recovery
- Discovering how to better support and communicate with one another
Why Is Family Therapy Important for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment?
Studies have shown that people who have strong support within their family tend to have better recovery outcomes. Often, family relationships are harmed when someone in the family is experiencing addiction, and family therapy can help start the healing process. Family therapy also provides an opportunity for family members to educate themselves more about addiction and recovery, which is critical when supporting their loved ones. Programs that include family therapy and which involve clients’ families in the treatment process tend to be more effective. In order to help their loved ones achieve lasting recovery, families must be prepared to become part of a strong support system.
What Is the Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment?
In the field of substance abuse and alcohol treatment, it is fairly common to find that clients are living with a co-occurring mental health condition. These conditions are frequently either undiagnosed or not being properly treated. Also, it is not uncommon to find that clients who seek treatment for addiction are dealing with some kind of past trauma, which can have a major impact on mental health. For these reasons, substance abuse and alcohol treatment programs often involve treating clients’ mental health as well.
Serenity Grove Offers Family Therapy as Part of Our Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Programs
Our staff of clinicians, using an individualized and holistic treatment approach, are trained in proven therapies and techniques to help clients and their families start their healing journey. We also know that, in order to achieve lasting recovery, our clients need the strong support of their loved ones. If addiction has been hurting your family, don’t wait. Reach out to us today at 844.904.3485 and learn what we can do to help your family start to heal.
