Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling designed to promote healing, foster effective communication, resolve conflicts, and build accountability within the family unit. While every family is unique, at Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we find that helping all family members deal with guilt, anger, and resentment is valuable for a person in addiction recovery and the family as a whole. Acknowledging mistakes without drowning in guilt brings tremendous healing power to everyone involved.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the effects of polysubstance abuse, family therapy at Greater Boston Addiction Centers may be part of their addiction therapy programs in Massachusetts. Contact us online or call 877.926.3034 today.
Facilitated by a psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed therapist, family therapy is often a short-term approach to healing and repairing the lines of communication within the family dynamic. It may include all members of your family or only those willing and able to participate in the family counseling sessions.
Because addiction treatment is most successful when the person in recovery has a support system, family therapy is often an essential part of addiction treatment.
The therapist facilitating family therapy sessions will help all family members communicate more effectively with each other. This may include teaching conflict resolution skills, identifying and changing negative communication patterns, and increasing empathy and understanding between family members.
Family therapy aims to help the family function more effectively and support the person in addiction recovery in making healthy lifestyle choices.
Family therapy sessions have the potential to teach many skills and help to improve a variety of issues, including:
One of the most valuable things is getting support from people in a similar situation and learning what works for them. A family therapy program can help everyone live as fully as possible in the relationship without enabling someone who struggles with addiction or alcoholism.
You may pursue family therapy in addition to other forms of treatment, especially if one or more family members have a mental illness, addiction, or polysubstance abuse. In addiction cases, family members can attend family counseling while the individual who is battling a substance use disorder participates in detox, rehab, and other addiction treatment programs, including:
Usually, several family members will be together in the same room for family therapy sessions. Individuals in family therapy may also see an individual therapist.
Family counseling sessions typically last one hour or less and tend to run for roughly a dozen sessions. Of course, the exact number of sessions needed to accomplish the goals you and your family have for the therapy may differ based on the therapist’s professional recommendation.
During family therapy, you can expect to be asked to:
