Therapies – Family
Healing the Whole Family: Family Therapy for Drug Addiction
Evidence-Based Family Counseling at Meridian Recovery
ADDICTION AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY 
AND SO DOES RECOVERY 
Addiction affects more than just the person living with a substance use disorder. It affects the family and all those who care about them in ways that are not always obvious or simple to amend. Family members often experience fear, grief, confusion, and stress as a result of the impact of substance use disorder. Trust is eroded, communication is altered in ways that can complicate recovery, and healing may involve the entire family to succeed.
At Meridian Recovery, family therapy is included as part of our approach to addiction treatment. When clinically appropriate and with the consent of the client, the family is invited to participate in recovery; not to blame, but to work toward rebuilding, repairing, and moving forward together.
What Is Family Therapy for Addiction?
Family therapy for addiction is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach where the client and one or more family members work with a licensed family therapist to discuss and assess the relational, communication, and behavioral patterns affected by substance use.[1] Family therapy takes place in a safe and neutral environment that supports the client in recovery from addiction and the entire family system.
Who Is Family Therapy Right For?
Family therapy may be beneficial for a wide variety of clients and families as part of addiction treatment. Families may benefit from therapy if:
- The family system has been impacted in many ways by a loved one’s substance use and requires education about the recovery process to support the client throughout healing.
- Communication within the family has broken down and needs to be reestablished in a structured, supported way.
- There are enabling behaviors, codependency, or dysfunctional family dynamics present in the family system, which may impair the client’s ability to recover.
- A family member is having difficulty understanding addiction as a medical condition and would benefit from psychoeducation to help them support their loved one.
- Trust has been damaged, and both the client and their family members need a safe space to start repairing their relationship.
Family therapy is not about placing blame or reopening old wounds. It is about lighting the way for lasting healing for everyone involved and making sure there is a collective effort and attention to the major underlying issues at play.
How Family Therapy Works
Family therapy is grounded in the understanding that a family is a system. When one part of the family system changes, it will ultimately affect every other part of that system.
Family therapists use evidence-based family treatment models such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or functional family therapy (FFT). All therapy sessions are led by an experienced clinician and are tailored based on the client’s specific family dynamics and needs. Sessions typically focus on areas such as:
- Communication Skills: Developing effective tools to communicate openly and productively with each other, as opposed to the ineffective, dishonest, and unproductive forms of communication that are often a result of the unpredictability and stress caused by addiction.
- Psychoeducation: Educate family members on addiction as a clinical condition, as opposed to a moral failing, the need for empathy and compassion toward those with addiction, and the stigma that can hinder recovery.
- Enabling Behaviors and Healthy Boundaries: Assist family members in recognizing enabling and codependent patterns within their family systems and establish healthy boundaries that support the client’s recovery process and the well-being of family members.
- Conflict Resolution: Provide a structured approach to resolving disagreements or tension among family members to strengthen, rather than destroy, the family relationship.
- Rebuilding Trust: Create an environment where an ongoing, honest effort can be made to restore damaged trust between family members and the client at a pace that is suitable for everyone involved.
Every family’s experience dealing with addiction is unique, so all family therapy sessions will be individualized to the specific family dynamics and needs of those participating.
The Efficacy of Family Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Research consistently supports the inclusion of family therapy as a component of effective addiction treatment. Here’s what the research indicates:
- Improves treatment outcomes — Studies indicate family involvement improves engagement and retention of the person in treatment.[2]
- Reduces relapse risk — Having a supportive and knowledgeable family provides protection against relapse.[3]
- Benefits the entire family — Research indicates therapeutic involvement not only benefits the person in recovery, but the family also benefits from reduced stress, improved mental health, and more empowerment and ability to support their loved one.[4]
- Effective across a range of family structures — Family therapy has been successful in providing effective treatment within all members of the family structure, including spouses or partners, parents and adult children, and blended or extended family systems.[5]
What to Expect from Family Therapy
Family therapy may be unfamiliar and overwhelming initially for everyone involved, especially if the relationships have been damaged for any length of time. Every family’s experience will be different, but here is what you can expect:
- Initial sessions — The first sessions create a safe atmosphere, set clear expected outcomes, and explain the purpose and structure of family therapy to all who are present. The therapist creates a safe and non-judgmental environment for all who are present.
- Working sessions — As the process continues over time, sessions become focused on the specific issues and challenges the family is experiencing. Areas of communication, developing new skills, and having the difficult conversations occur in a structured environment to provide support.
- Progress and integration — Over time, the insights and skills developed in family therapy are combined with the ongoing daily interactions within the family unit. The goal is to make all members of the family better communicators, better at providing support to the other family members, and to provide support for themselves in the recovery process.
When the family completes even a few sessions, they generally report a significant improvement in the family dynamics—more openness, more understanding, and substantially more hope than previously thought possible.
Family Therapy at Meridian Recovery
Meridian Recovery provides an individualized and compassionate approach to family therapy, and it’s not hard to see what sets us apart:
- Clinician-led and structured — Family therapy sessions are provided by licensed therapists with expertise in addiction treatment and family systems. This ensures that family therapy is based on sound clinical principles and is clinically productive.
- Client-centered involvement — Family participation is based on the client’s needs and priority treatment goals. Family therapy only takes place if the client finds it beneficial. Families are never forced to take part, and great care is placed on ensuring that family therapy is always in support of the client’s continued recovery.
- Fully integrated with the treatment plan — Family therapy at Meridian Recovery is integrated with the client’s individual treatment journey and experience.
- Specialized dual diagnosis support — Our team helps families understand the complexities of co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety or depression, alongside addiction. By educating the family on how these conditions are related, we can create a more supportive home environment for long-term stability.
Recovery is a family journey as much as it is an individual one, and we are here to support the entire family unit.
Contact Us
Bring Your Family Into the Healing Process
If you or someone you love is trying to find help for an addiction in New Jersey, or if you’ve been told that family therapy is a critical aspect of your treatment plan, then Meridian Recovery is here to assist you.
To find out more about how we support families in the recovery process, please contact our admissions department.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Therapy for Addiction
How does family therapy help with addiction?
Family therapy addresses issues such as family dynamics, communication, and behaviors that can both contribute to and hinder recovery from substance abuse. Through family therapy, families develop an understanding of each other, support each other through the recovery process, and gain the skills needed to provide true support instead of sabotaging recovery.
What are three codependent behaviors in families with addiction?
Some examples of common codependent behaviors include hiding or excusing the substance use of another person in your family, prioritizing the needs of the person with addiction over your own needs, and accepting responsibility for the consequences of another person’s substance use.
How do you cope with a family member struggling with drug addiction?
The first step a family member can take is to seek professional support, whether that be family therapy, individual counseling, or participating in community support programs. Family therapy at Meridian Recovery creates a safe and supportive space to process the emotional impact of addiction as well as learn appropriate ways to support their loved one without losing themselves in the process.
What are the goals of family therapy in addiction treatment?
While family therapy goals will vary from family to family, the primary goals will be to improve family communication, identify and eliminate enabling behaviors, establish healthy boundaries, and build trust. At Meridian Recovery, all family session goals are developed based on the individual needs and dynamics of the family.
Are there situations where family therapy should not be attempted?
Yes. Some examples could include: a history of domestic violence, active sexual or physical abuse, or a family member posing a danger to the client’s safety or recovery. In these cases, the client’s individual needs will always take precedence in determining how or if family members will be involved in their recovery.
Sources
[1] [2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Integrated family counseling. In Substance use disorder treatment and family therapy (Treatment Improvement Protocol Series, No. 39). National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571088/
[4] Copello, A., Templeton, L., Orford, J., & Velleman, R. (2010). The 5-Step Method: Evidence of gains for affected family members. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 17(sup1), 100–112. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9806960/
[5] O’Farrell, T. J., & Clements, K. (2012). Review of outcomes of Behavioral Couples Therapy for substance abuse. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(1), 122–144. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00242.x
