Repairing Family Dynamics
Family Therapy

Addiction effects the entire family. Not only does active addiction affect each member of the family individually, but it severely compromises the functionality of the family as a whole. According to an article published by the US National Library of Medicine titled, “The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice,” addiction impacts each member of a family in a variety of ways including unmet developmental needs, emotional distress, increased risk of violence, financial insecurity and legal issues. Simply treating the individual who has been suffering from substance abuse or dependence is not enough to render treatment effective – in order for sobriety to be maintained, all members of the family must be treated simultaneously. At Guardian Recovery we have developed a family-oriented detox program that includes intensive family therapy. Each family therapy session is facilitated by an experienced and licensed therapist who works to improve communication and restore the family to a state of healthy functioning.

The National Association for Children of Addiction published an article that details the unavoidable negative impact of living with an addicted loved one. According to the article, “Families have a remarkable ability to maintain what family therapists call homeostasis. But when alcohol or drugs are introduced into a family system, the family’s ability to regulate its emotional and behavioral functioning is severely challenged. The family will generally reach as a unit to balance itself. In alcoholic homes, this may become a dysfunctional sort of balance. Family members can become subsumed by the disease to such an extent they lose their sense of normal. Their life becomes about hiding the truth from themselves, their children and their relational world. Trust and faith in an orderly and predictable world can be challenged as their family life becomes chaotic, promises are broken and those they depend upon for support and stability behave in untrustworthy ways. Both children and adults in this family may lose their sense of who and what they can depend upon.” At Guardian Recovery one of our top priorities is returning families to a state of homeostasis by providing them with the healthy coping mechanisms they need to work through any issues that might arise once treatment has concluded.

Types of Family Therapy

There are several different types of family therapy that are employed in an addiction treatment setting. At Guardian Recovery we utilize a combination of evidence-based techniques in order to cover a wide array of substance abuse-related issues. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, numerous studies point towards the fact that recovery programs that include the family every step of the way are more efficacious than individually-based treatment approaches.

Family-oriented therapeutic techniques that we employ include:

• Family Behavior Therapy (FBT) – This effective therapeutic method combines contingency management with behavioral contracting. The therapist helps the client and his or her family members develop new and effective behavioral strategies, which are to be actively employed when the client returns home. Clients and their loved ones set up recovery-related goals, and as these goals are met they receive rewards for their personal progress.
• Functional Family Therapy (FFT) – This therapeutic method focuses on the development of problem-solving techniques, healthy communication skills, beneficial parenting skills and conflict resolution. Clients and their loved ones learn how to communicate effectively with one another and employ a range of contingency management techniques. The loved ones of each client are immersed in his or her program of recovery from medical detox through aftercare.
• Multisystemic Therapy (MST) – This therapeutic method is geared towards clients who struggle with severe substance abuse disorders and who regularly engage in unfavorable behavioral patterns as a direct result of drug and/or alcohol addiction. The therapist works with the family as a whole, but separates the client and his or her family members, treating them separately.

Family therapy is only one of the family-oriented services we provide. We offer a wide range of applicable resources to the family members of each of our clients, pointing them in the direction of continued therapy, family-based support groups and any other services we believe will benefit them in the long run.

The Goals of Family Therapy

The primary goal of family therapy is to meet the needs of all family members. Active addiction does much more than destroy the physical, mental and emotional health of the addict or alcoholic. Everyone that loves the afflicted individual is deeply affected. Our job is to begin the healing process by providing our clients and their loved ones with the intensive therapeutic intervention they need.

At Guardian Recovery we focus on several main goals, including:

• Exploring the pre-existing and current family dynamics
• Providing each family member with a range of functional resources
• Resolving parent-child conflict
• Resolving issues that exist between siblings
• Exploring the extensive effects that active addiction has on the family as a whole
• Addressing any potential inconsistencies in parenting
• Exploring the Disease Model of Addiction and focusing on addiction education
• Improving communication skills
• Improving problem-solving skills and resolving interpersonal conflict
• Completely restructuring any maladaptive behavioral patterns that exist within the family
• Ensuring that the home environment serves as a built-in support system

Multi-phased addiction treatment is only effective long-term when the loved ones of each client are heavily involved. To learn more about our family-oriented detox program or to learn more about family therapy in general contact us today.

Guardian Recovery
Other Addiction Services We Provide

In addition to family therapy we offer the following addiction services:

• Medical detox services – Our program of medically monitored detox employs several evidence-based techniques including tapering, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and holistically-based approaches (including massage therapy and acupuncture).
• Case management services – Upon admission to our program each client is assigned a case manager who acts as their primary advocate, helping them develop personalized recovery goals and a comprehensive aftercare plan.
• Individual therapy – One-on-one therapy sessions take place at least once every week, and provide clients with the opportunity to explore underlying issues and any potential roadblocks more in depth. They develop personalized goals and have the opportunity to discuss anything else they feel is pertinent.
• Group therapy – Group therapy sessions take place on a daily basis and cover a wide-range of recovery-related topics. Clients also have access to daily 12-step meetings.
• Aftercare planning – At Guardian Recovery we offer comprehensive and individualized aftercare planning services which include rehab placement.

Begin Your Journey of Familial Healing Today

If you or someone you love has been suffering at the hands of a substance abuse disorder of any severity, we are available to help. At Guardian Recovery we believe that medically monitored detox should be about more than a safe and pain-free withdrawal and physical stabilization. We believe that detox should adequately prepare clients for continued success in sobriety. In order for this goal to be achieved the comprehensive destruction of active addiction must be addressed in full – and this includes exploring the impact that substance abuse has on the family as a whole.

The moment you or your loved one gives us a call we begin developing a plan for intake, which includes working through potential coverage options, arranging reliable transportation plans and setting a date and time for admission. There is nothing standing in the way of a lifetime of fulfilling recovery and a return to familial harmony – pick up the phone and contact us today for more detailed information, we are available to help you 24/7.