The Value of Family-involved Treatment

Addiction significantly impacts the lives of those we love most. This may be our family members, children, spouse, or friends. Relationship issues related to trust, communication, finances, and emotional or physical harm can all arise from addiction.

Dealing with addiction in the family is no easy task for all of those involved, and it can bring a host of confusing emotions, from anger to sadness. Family members may wonder how they can help their loved one recover while dealing with their own pain. This is all understandable. Addiction and its impact are complex, affecting every aspect of a person and their loved one’s lives in a unique way. But there’s hope.

Individuals with substance use disorder and their loved ones do not have to navigate these complexities alone — or in isolation from one another. Involving family members in their loved one’s treatment can promote a lasting recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, know that it’s possible to heal broken relationships, rebuild trust, and support each other throughout the journey.

Why Is It Important to Involve Family in the Treatment Process?

Family-involved treatment is essential for addiction recovery because it provides the following advantages:

• Promotes a successful recovery: Support from family members can help a person in recovery feel cared for, understood, and motivated to continue on their path to wellness. Multiple studies recognize that social support plays a key role in addiction recovery, particularly support from family members, parents, and significant others. Therefore, it’s crucial that they’re a part of the journey.
• Repairs relationships: When a person enters treatment, their family will still be coping with pain caused by the addiction. Treatment programs that provide family therapy can help heal everyone impacted by addiction. Family therapy offers a safe, objective space to explore and resolve conflicts, promote understanding of substance use disorder, and prepare the foundation to rebuild trust and renew relationships.
• Changes the family dynamic: During therapy, family members can explore and address problematic family dynamics, such as enabling behaviors or unhealthy communication patterns. Therapy helps families change how they interact with one another and empowers them to create a supportive and nurturing home environment.

What Is the Role of Family in Relapse Prevention?

Family members often play an important role in preventing relapse. With family-involved treatment, family members and their loved one will work with counselors to create a tailored prevention relapse plan. Family members will also learn effective strategies to help keep their loved one on track.

Here are some ways family members might help their loved one avoid relapse:

• Limiting exposure to triggers like stress
• Removing substances from the home
• Setting clear boundaries
• Providing emotional support
• Encouraging participation in healthy activities

Additionally, family members might learn self-care techniques and how to set realistic expectations around relapse prevention.

How Sana Supports Relatives of Individuals With Substance Use Disorder

At Sana at Stowe, we understand that family members, spouses, friends, children, and parents can significantly benefit from being looped in after their loved one enters treatment. That way, they can also learn, grow, and be properly supported through a challenging time.

Instead of being an outsider, loved ones are welcome to have a more immersive and collaborative experience. They can be in tune with what their loved one is going through and have an opportunity to learn, understand, and analyze for themselves. This experience starts with a fundamental understanding of what takes place during an individual’s addiction treatment.

We offer weekly group conversation sessions specifically for families and loved ones, led by our clinical and wellness staff, that teach attendees more about our program and daily schedules. Sessions cover the following topics:

• Understanding the arc of the recovery journey
• Answering “how,” “what,” and “why” questions about substance use disorders
• Exploring the best communication and boundary-setting practices
• Developing tools for stress resilience and strategies for balancing self-care amidst the stress of it all
• Preparing for the individual returning home after treatment

The purpose of these sessions is to create a forum to ask questions, get feedback, seek advice, and feel supported. We also aim to help family members and their loved ones build their own community and support network. It is our priority for families to feel supported and have the opportunity to grow while their loved one is in our care.

After a person is admitted to our program, we develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan may include family therapy, depending on the person’s needs. Every treatment plan is built around the individual’s unique needs and goals. It aims to treat substance use disorder holistically to promote whole-person healing.

Sana Is Here to Help

When you or a loved one decide to seek treatment for a substance use disorder, you’ve taken a courageous step to improve the quality of your well-being and mental and physical health. The days in treatment will be rigorous and challenge you to reach deep within to work through difficult emotions, traumas, and life experiences. While you or your loved one is in treatment receiving professional support and care, it is crucial to extend that same compassion, support, and education to family members.

Sana at Stowe is here for you and your loved ones. We provide evidence-based treatment for individuals struggling with a substance or alcohol use disorder and co-occurring PTSD, trauma, anxiety, or depression. Our professional and compassionate staff is devoted to providing our clients with the healing journey they deserve in a safe, comfortable, and serene environment.

To learn more or start your path to wellness, give us a call at 802-566-5906.