Many facilities either choose not to directly involve the family in treatment or increase their participation only in the later stages. Newport Beach Recovery Center allows families to contact their loved ones throughout treatment and may facilitate family therapy during later stages of treatment. We also provide support services, including referrals and information on community resources for families of individuals in recovery for substance use disorder (SUD).
We encourage treatment involvement when the family dynamic is healthy because it provides clients with an additional source of support. According to Social Work in Public Health, “Treating the individual without family involvement may limit the effectiveness of treatment for two main reasons: it ignores the devastating impact of SUDs on the family system leaving family members untreated, and it does not recognize the family as a potential system of support for change.” We believe the entire family unit should have support during the recovery process and provide referrals to family members who would like to attend individual therapy.
Why Is Family Often Not Involved in Early Recovery?
Early recovery, including treatment for detox and withdrawal, often does not include family therapy or much communication between clients and their loved ones. The reasons are practical. People in detox and withdrawal often have severe symptoms affecting their mental and physical health. Therefore, the best treatments are proper nutrition, therapeutic support, and a structured environment. In addition, contact with loved ones at that time might be emotionally destabilizing.
How Can Family Members Support Their Loved Ones?
Your family member will not be entirely cut off even during the earliest stages of detox and withdrawal, and they can do things to help support you throughout rehabilitation. For example, many facilities like Newport Beach Recovery Center will set up weekly calls with family members where they can check in with you over the phone to offer moral support and encouragement.
Can Anyone Attend Family Therapy?
Multiple therapeutic methods exist to treat family trauma and dysfunction. Family therapy is among the more popular options for individuals in residential or outpatient treatment for SUD. Anyone relevant to your recovery can attend family therapy, including:
- Friends
- Blood relatives
- Adopted relatives
- Roommates
- Significant others
- Mentors and sponsors
Although anyone can attend family therapy, not everyone should. In some instances, family therapy may exacerbate the issue. For example, if your loved one has opposing views on therapy or religious objections, having them attend sessions might cause more harm than good.
What Family Members Should Not Be Involved in Treatment?
Not every family member is willing or able to offer relevant support during recovery. In some cases, they do not have the emotional capacity to cope with their issues while providing compassionate encouragement to someone else. In those instances, some clients have a better outcome if their family members are not involved in the treatment process. At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we believe that families have a lot to offer, and their involvement can have a profound effect. However, in some instances involving family members may not benefit clients or their loved ones.
You should avoid regularly interacting with the following types of people during rehabilitation:
- Anyone who reacts to treatment with shame, anger, or disgust
- Anyone who constantly belittles you or uses your diagnosis as an excuse to blame you for their own choices
- Anyone who has a strong religious or cultural objection to substance misuse and treatment
- Anyone who frequently treats you disrespectfully and without regard for your mental health
- Anyone who actively misuses substances
Individuals who will not uplift you and give you the time and space to heal should not have an opportunity to participate in your recovery. We understand relationships with family members can become strained, and you might feel compelled to “put up” with their behaviors to avoid conflict. However, allowing yourself to be emotionally mistreated or neglected can significantly impact your ability to prevent relapse during continuing care and ongoing recovery.
How Does Long-Term Recovery Affect Family Dynamics?
To succeed in long-term recovery, you should have a stable and supportive home environment and healthy relationships that encourage self-accountability. Positive family dynamics can motivate you to continue progressing in therapy despite the occasional setbacks that come with recovery.
Ongoing recovery can affect family dynamics in the following ways:
- Improve verbal and nonverbal communication
- Increase emotional support
- Encourage better social interactions
- Strengthen established boundaries
- Improve conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
Every family member will benefit from you taking steps to repair the damage caused by maladaptive behaviors and past choices. You can take steps to strengthen those bonds and create a healthier and happier family unit using the resources at Newport Beach Recovery Center.
Newport Beach Recovery Center incorporates supportive family members in treatment when it will most benefit the client. If you and your loved ones share a strong bond and you want them to be a part of your rehabilitation, we can incorporate family therapy and support services into your treatment plan. For many people, early recovery requires complete focus on getting through the stages of detox and withdrawal. Family involvement in therapy is often limited during those stages because it can distract you from various aspects of therapy and treatment. You will collaborate with your care team to determine when or if to include your loved ones in the treatment process. Sometimes, family members cause more harm than good, and it might be in your best interest to avoid including them. To find out more about our treatment and family services, call us today at (855) 316-8740.
