Addiction doesn’t just affect the addicted person, it impacts the entire family. Our Family Program at HRIDAI Rehabilitation Center is broken into alternating two-hour modules each Friday. The first module is geared toward providing education while the second focuses on processing recovery issues. The education module includes information about the addictive process, addictive personality, 12-Step, sponsorship, transitional living, and other topics. As family members move on to processing, patients join their loved ones to discuss anger and emotional coping, share honesty letters, explore re-entry options and family agreements. Loved ones are also invited to attend our free local weekly Family Support Group.
There are many benefits of family therapy, especially when it’s used in an addiction treatment setting. Family therapy helps the members of a family unit heal and recover as a group. The therapeutic setting provides a safe space for everyone to learn how to adjust to a loved one’s recovery from addiction and mental illness. Family therapy sessions are also designed to help family members make specific, positive changes to improve the home environment as well as heal relationships within the family unit.1 Family therapy typically involves the substance abuser and at least one other member of the family. This could be a spouse, parent, significant other, sibling, or any other individual who has a close relationship with the person in treatment.
A large body of research demonstrates the positive impact the family can have on a loved one’s recovery from addiction. Here we highlight the many benefits of family involvement in recovery, including: