kathy ireland® Recovery Centers

Family Therapy

We generally incorporate family therapy into the later stages of our rehabilitation treatment programs. You will spend the first few weeks stabilizing your emotional and physical health while learning to acclimate to new patterns of behavior. Even supportive family members can sometimes hinder the process by taking your focus away from self-growth and healing. 

The dedicated clinicians at kathy ireland® Recovery Centers have the expertise and training necessary to guide you through the process of rebuilding or strengthening your relationship with your family members once you have worked through various aspects of treatment. We offer many resources to help loved ones resolve issues that develop as a consequence of substance use disorder (SUD), including:

  • Information about family support groups
  • Family therapy
  • Family support services

We believe that the support and encouragement of your loved ones can enhance the effects of treatment. Learn more about what we have to offer by visiting our respective Laconia, NH or Williamson, WV center webpages.

What to Expect From Family Therapy

We can use family therapy to help you overcome barriers that are stopping you from making necessary behavioral or cognitive changes during treatment. Every session is unique and highly personalized to meet your needs and accommodate the schedule and requirements of your family members. How often you have family therapy sessions will depend on your progress, the work schedules of family members, transportation availability, and other factors.

You may attend a joint therapy session a handful of times throughout your residential stay, or you could have frequent appointments. The proximity of your family and the depth of issues stemming from the SUD will play a role in determining how often family therapy takes place if our team believes it will improve your treatment.

A few things you can expect from family therapy include:

  • Working through relationship issues inhibiting recovery
  • Rebuilding relationships and creating healthy boundaries
  • Discussing the consequences and effects of SUD on the family
  • Educating family members about SUD and treatment

How SUD Affects Family Members

Substance use disorder (SUD) has a profound effect on family dynamics. You may feel uncertain about how your relationship with your loved ones will change when you begin treatment for SUD. According to research published by Social Work in Public Health, “each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances.” Family members are often impacted in various ways, including:

  • Financial burdens
  • Emotional distress or trauma
  • Legal issues
  • Loss of family support

The Importance of Family in Recovery

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “parent peer support, also commonly called family peer support or family support services, offers hope, guidance, advocacy, and camaraderie for parents and caregivers of children and youth receiving services from mental health, substance use, and related service systems.” At kathy ireland® Recovery Centers, we encourage family members to actively engage in the treatment process whenever possible. Social support systems have a significant impact on long-term sobriety. The SAMHSA report mentioned above also stated that parental support during treatment and continuing recovery could do the following:

  • Increase collaboration between you and your clinical team
  • Increase your self-efficacy and self-confidence
  • Empower you to take action
  • Help you recognize the importance of self-care
  • Decrease unhelpful guilt and shame
  • Decrease feelings of isolation

Not everyone benefits from family therapy, and you may feel that there is no reason to include family members in your treatment. Your therapist can work with you to determine if family therapy is right for you. However, we encourage families to work together whenever possible because it often smooths the transition from residential treatment to outpatient care. Family therapy is an excellent way to decrease conflict, increase positive communication, and bring you closer together with the people you love most. Learn more about other talk therapy options we provide by visiting our Therapy Modalities page.

Who Can Attend Family Therapy?

Many people assume that only blood relatives or immediate family members can attend family therapy. However, this is not the case. We understand that not all families look the same. Anyone you consider to be a part of your family can take part in therapy at our center, including:

  • Parents
  • Siblings
  • In-Laws
  • Spouse or significant other
  • Honorary family members
  • Extended family
  • Close friends
  • Mentors
  • Sponsors
family therapy

Breaking the Cycle of Substance Use Disorder

For many families in America, substance use disorder is multigenerational and cyclic, which means that you may have grown up with one or more close family members who also have SUD.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that “an annual average of 8.7 million children aged 17 or younger live in households in the United States with at least one parent who had a SUD.”

Attending therapy sessions with your loved ones can help you learn how to overcome guilt, anger, or distress caused by SUD and work together to create a healthier future. Therapy is a safe space for you to voice concerns, ask for forgiveness, and take the first steps toward rebuilding damaged relationships. You can break the cycle of substance use disorder. 

Your close friends and family will remain an essential part of your support system during recovery. One way that we can help you prepare for long-term success is by connecting you with local private and community-based resources for you and your family members. Your case manager can connect you with support groups for friends and family of individuals with SUD, referrals to therapists that offer family therapy services, and advocacy organizations.

Family therapy can help rebuild relationships and increase the benefits of treatment. Learn more by contacting kathy ireland® Recovery Centers today: (603) 619-1132.

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