FAMILY THERAPY

FAMILY THERAPY FOR ADDICTION

Drug and alcohol addiction impacts the entire family. Many people in recovery experience the damage caused by addiction in their closest relationships. Substance abuse can cause marital strife, chaotic home life, and challenging relationships with children. However, while they feel the effects of addiction on their family life, they might not know how to fix these issues. In some cases, they may even deny that addiction plays any part in these problems. That is why we offer family therapy for addiction at Chattanooga Detox Center.

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy for addiction is a type of group therapy that involves the loved ones of an addict in recovery. During family therapy, a therapist will guide a family through sessions together to work on conflict resolution and repairing relationships. In addition, family therapy can also include one-on-one sessions with each family member to address issues specific to that individual.

Throughout family therapy sessions, the goal is for families to work together to resolve issues and voice their concerns about their loved one’s addiction. Sometimes, addicts don’t realize the impact of addiction on their family members. Family therapy helps to foster an open environment that hears everyone’s concerns while also navigating their own emotional health needs.

However, it is important to note that not every family member will want to be a part of the process. Drug and alcohol addiction can damage relationships and not everyone wants to repair those bonds. Some family members might have moved on long ago and found their own path to healing. Others feel that their own needs have been neglected for so long that they don’t want to help their addicted family member.

IS ADDICTION A FAMILY DISEASE?

Addiction is often considered a family disease. This is because addiction impacts the way a person behaves and interacts with others. When a loved one is addicted to drugs and alcohol, the addiction often takes a priority over a person’s relationships. A family member addicted to drugs and alcohol might not fulfill their household responsibilities or expectations. This leaves other family members feeling neglected and overlooked.

In many cases, some clients don’t know how their addiction impacts those around them. They might think that they are only affecting their own health and well-being. However, many family members inadvertently learn maladaptive coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of addiction at home. Even children feel the impact of addictive behaviors, although they might appear fine on the surface.

HOW FAMILY THERAPY CAN HELP WITH ADDICTION

Family therapy can help with addiction in many ways. For one thing, a healthy home environment is critical to success in recovery. When families don’t address the issues surrounding addiction, they can remain dysfunctional. This can cause stress and arguments in the home, which can trigger addictive behavior. Thus, by dealing with these issues, families can repair relationships and restore peace within the home.

In addition, building a strong support system outside of a treatment facility is crucial to long-term recovery. During inpatient treatment, clients are surrounded by supportive staff and peers who help the person heal. However, if they then return home to a chaotic environment, they might not feel as supported as they had in the treatment facility. Therefore, it is important to begin family therapy before returning home from inpatient rehab and detox.

Ready to Escape Addiction? Let’s get started.

Chattanooga Detox Center is a premier leader in the provision of addiction treatment services. If you or someone you love is in need of professional care to address a substance use disorder, reach out to us right now at (423) 455-9887 to speak with an admissions specialist who can get you started on the road to recovery.
(423) 455-9887

BENEFITS OF FAMILY THERAPY FOR ADDICTION

At Chattanooga Detox Center, we know that healing the entire family is in the best interests of everyone in the home. Not only does family therapy help the addict, but everyone in the family benefits by engaging in the recovery process together.

Benefits of family therapy in Chattanooga include:

  • Increased retention in treatment when a person feels supported by their family
  • Learning how addiction affects not only the addict but the entire family
  • Building a natural support system and healthy home environment
  • Understanding the causes of addiction and signs of relapse
  • Addresses any overlooked emotional health issues and maladaptive coping skills family members developed in response to addiction
  • Teaches conflict resolution, how to set boundaries, and healthy communication skills
  • Reduces the risk of relapse during recovery
  • Improves the mental health and well-being of everyone in the family
  • Promoting the strengths of each family member and of the family as a whole

RESOURCES FOR LOVED ONES OF ADDICTED FAMILY MEMBERS

Loved ones of addicted family members can contact our rehab center for additional questions and support. In addition, we encourage families to learn more about addiction and mental health issues. By learning more about the disease of addiction, family members gain insight into their loved one’s behaviors.

The following are additional resources for family members:

FAMILY THERAPY FOR ADDICTION IN CHATTANOOGA, TN

When a family member struggles with addiction, everyone within the home struggles. In addition, family members outside of the home often worry about their loved ones and wish they knew how to help. Recovery from addiction needs to include building a person’s natural support system—which is most often a person’s family. Family therapy at Chattanooga Detox Center can help families work together to overcome the problems created by addiction. Contact us today to find support for you and your loved ones.

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    About The Contributor

    Erika Dalton, LMSW
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    Erika Dalton, LMSW

    is the Community Content Editor at Chattanooga Detox Center.

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