Having a good connection to the support of family and friends is an important part of recovery and can be key when it comes to maintaining sobriety and achieving recovery. Being able to experience the recovery process with family and friends may have a greater effect than programs based on the individual’s experience only. Having other family members present within the same treatment center allows individuals to feel comfortable and have a guaranteed source of support throughout the process of recovery. While going to treatment with family or friends may be the right choice for some, it may not be the best option for everyone.

Choosing which treatment center a person attends should be based on that person’s individual factors related to their substance abuse and their health. Individual differences and needs should be identified and considered when choosing a treatment center that will be most effective in maintaining their sobriety and chances of recovery.

Attending Substance Abuse Treatment with Family

If a family is seeking treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, they should do their research regarding the different programs that are offered for families and the factors that could determine whether a family or family member should attend treatment together. These factors can include:

The health of relationship – couples who attend therapy together should consider the status of their relationship’s health prior to entering therapy. Often couples who engaged in drug abuse together are not recommended to attend the same treatment facility.
Influence on one another – Family members that may influence the other members to engage in substance abuse may be best served attending the treatment facility in order to identify and eliminate behavioral patterns that are maintaining their drug use.
The substances that are used by family members – Different substance addictions commonly require different treatments and if family members are being treated for different substances, they may see better results if they attend separate treatment programs in different facilities.

Attending family therapy is a key factor in recovering from substance abuse for many individuals, even if family members are not attending the same treatment program. Family therapy allows family members to discuss any concerns they may have and how to move past issues with their families who are a part of the recovery process. Members of the same family that is attending treatment at different facilities are not able to participate in family therapy until they complete inpatient treatment and leave their respective facilities.

In contrast, family members who attend the same treatment program are able to go through family therapy upon arrival to treatment. Family therapy may differ for each family depending on their individual factors and issues. Family therapy is generally focused on mending relationships that have been damaged due to substance abuse. Further, family therapy seeks to eliminate codependency between family members that have resulted due to drug use or abuse.

Codependency can occur between couples and family members and is distinguished by several factors including:

Sense of self-worth is connected to family members
Feeling as though needs are not being met
Inability to connect with family members without using alcohol or drugs
Family members enabling other family members to engage in drug use or alcohol use.

Family therapy aids in the treatment of substance abuse by allowing the family’s strengths to be highlighted and their resources to identify methods for them to live without alcohol or substances in order to decrease the impact of substance dependency on the entire family. Family therapy also allows family members to gain awareness of their own specific needs and help achieve the overall goal of maintaining sobriety and preventing other family members from engaging in substance abuse.

This increases the chances that addictive behaviors will not be present in the next generation of family members. Finally, it is important to remember that family therapy should only be conducted by a licensed mental health professional. If you would like more information regarding substance abuse treatment for families or loved ones, please contact us today at 833-497-3812. We look forward to speaking with you and providing you with the information and guidance you need.