Every family dynamic is different — which means no two families address addiction the same way. When these relationships face challenges, like drug or alcohol addiction or mental health issues, it would be helpful for all family members to seek family therapy.
Therapy with family members may seem intimidating, especially when dealing with substance abuse. However, the right addiction treatment center will provide effective family counseling services to improve communication skills and strengthen family relationships.
Let’s take a look at everything you should know, starting with a basic definition:
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a type of counseling, also called psychotherapy, designed to help family members resolve conflict by improving communication skills. This type of therapy is usually facilitated by a psychologist, clinical social worker, or other licensed therapist. The therapists who practice family therapy have graduate or postgraduate degrees and typically have credentials from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Most family therapy is short-term and addresses a specific reason, challenge, or crisis that has brought the family to therapy. How your therapist proceeds with your family’s therapy (and what methods are used) depends on your specific situation. Family therapy for addiction treatment, for example, will help you resolve issues and learn about strategies to handle problems even after you’ve completed therapy.
Why Family Therapy is Done
There are many benefits to participating in family therapy. For example, it can greatly help improve troubled relationships with your spouse, parents, children, or other family members. You will likely address specific family issues like financial problems, parent-child conflicts, mental illness, or substance abuse.
If one or more of your family members has a mental illness or an addiction problem, you (or a family member) may also pursue other treatments besides family therapy on an individual basis.
- In the case of addiction, the family member who has an addiction may go to residential treatment while other family members participate in family therapy to help them understand their new roles in their loved one’s recovery.
- In the case of mental illness, family therapy can help individuals cope if their relative has schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Still, the person suffering the mental illness will need to seek individual treatment, which may include one-on-one therapy, medication, or other psychiatric treatment.
Any situation that causes family conflict or strains on familial relationships can be addressed by family therapy. Stress, grief, conflict, and anger are all resolvable with family therapy — and will likely bring you much closer together with your family members.
What Are the Different Types of Family Therapy?
Mental health professionals use evidence-based family therapies. The type they choose depends on the particular circumstances and needs of the family. Family therapists may also combine elements from two or more approaches to best help your situation.
Some types of family therapy include:
- Systemic Family Therapy: Fundamental to this therapy is considering family issues within the contexts of their lives. This includes examining how each family member functions in different roles, such as a partner, parent, and child, and considering cultural, religious, political views, and socioeconomic status. These contextual factors are considered significant for psychological development and emotional well-being.
- Strategic Family Therapy: This type of therapy involves a brief intervention focusing on making positive structural and behavioral changes within the family setting. It operates on the premise that family plays a crucial role in children’s development, making this type ideal for families dealing with behavioral issues in children.
- Structural Family Therapy: This approach examines the internal relationships, boundaries, and hierarchies within a family unit, known as its structure. Emphasizing direct interactions among family members, the goal is to facilitate positive change. The foundation lies in guiding families to discover different patterns of relating to one another under the therapist’s direction.
- Functional Family Therapy (FFT): This method frequently assists families with children exhibiting behavioral challenges. FFT examines the family dynamics contributing to the child’s problematic behavior, enhances family communication and parenting skills, and reinforces positive behaviors.
- Marriage Counseling/Couples Therapy: Involving you and your spouse or partner, this therapy is facilitated by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) who work to help couples identify and address their issues. Topics covered may include communication, parenting, finances, and mental health concerns.
Living in the State of California, you will have many different family therapists to choose from. Do your best to research each provider and ensure they’re verified to offer quality services.
How Does Family Therapy Help With Clinical Substance Abuse Treatment?
Family involvement in rehab includes various activities benefiting family members and those in treatment. Therapy sessions focus on family dynamics, addressing emotional wounds, and promoting overall well-being. Recognizing the importance of family health in recovery, these interventions aim to heal and strengthen bonds.
During treatment, adult individuals may be in residential programs where they live at the facility or intensive outpatient programs, allowing them to stay at home. While one type separates individuals from the family, the other keeps them close. Regardless of the program, family therapy benefits all involved.
The goals of family therapy with drug or alcohol addictions are:
- Allowing each family member to have a voice in problems
- Improving communication
- Navigating addiction-related depression and anxiety
- Learning about alcoholism and drug abuse
- Improving responses to each other
- Giving everyone clarity about others’ feelings
- Ending many types of denial
- Stopping enabling and codependency
- Healing psychological trauma of addiction
- Supporting each other along the recovery path
- Preventing substance abuse in the future
- Strengthening the family unit
- Regaining confidence as you move on with life
Working alongside the right family addiction therapist can help you overcome addictive habits and embrace a new future.
Final Thoughts: Addiction Treatment and Family Counseling
Everyone in the family benefits from counseling. It’s important to remember that your family isn’t always your blood relatives. Sometimes, individuals are closer to friends, and they can also participate in family therapy if appropriate. The key is that together, each one of your loved ones can help with your recovery, just as you can help with healing their wounds. When family therapy is part of drug and alcohol rehab and aftercare, the future is brighter for everyone involved.
Are you living in the Fresno area and looking for family counseling?Get more info about our Fresno Family Counseling Therapy and Support Group and confirm whether or not it’s a fit for your family.
