Family therapy, also known as family counselling, consists of therapies based on assessments, involvement, and techniques at the family level.
The need for assistance extends to all relationships. According to research, people who have family support are more likely to stay in addiction treatment, stop misusing substances, and stay sober. Compared to more traditional individual-based therapy, couples who engaged in behavioural couples therapy had higher levels of abstinence and better communication.
Although family engagement is beneficial, it is not for everyone. Some family members may feel emotionally and psychologically exhausted after dealing with a loved one’s substance misuse for a long time, fear the unknown, or be apprehensive about sharing family concerns with a stranger after dealing with a loved one’s substance abuse for a long time. Regardless of the rationale, consulting a family therapist to discuss one-on-one with each family member about their issues could be beneficial. Family members who wish to participate in treatment may do so, while those who do not wish to participate may do so when they are ready.
Family therapy can also be offered in a group setting (with various patients and families attending simultaneously)..
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A good therapist is vital to the success of family therapy. Some issues can be aggravated if you don’t have someone who has been thoroughly trained in family counselling. Furthermore, family counselling should be continued for as long as necessary to avoid reoccurring difficulties.
It is critical for everyone in your family to participate if you and your family members are to overcome the challenges that have brought you to this point. Even initially hesitant patients find the process to be highly therapeutic and helpful.
Your unique circumstances will determine the nature of family therapy and its conduct. For example, if one family member is suffering from a condition, such as addiction or a behavioural issue, the goal will be to educate other family members about the disorder and why their loved one is acting the way they do.
Anyone who plays a supportive role in the lives of the addicted person is eligible for family treatment. So it doesn’t always have to be blood relations, and it doesn’t have to be people who live in the same house as you. Close friends or extended family members may have deep bonds with you, and it would be helpful for them to participate in family therapy as well to help repair any harm created by your condition.
Family therapy aims to teach all family members to be considerate of one another’s needs and to recognise one another’s abilities. One of the main goals is to increase family communication so that everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings.
While some families do not operate well, and their dysfunction may be the source of addiction or mental health issues, others suffer as a result of such a disease. Family therapy aims to heal the family unit by assisting individuals in developing and maintaining the skills required for optimal functioning. Family therapy often consists of one-on-one counselling sessions with individual family members or group therapy sessions with numerous family members present and led by one or more counsellors or therapists.
If you are in a residential treatment programme for an illness such as addiction or a behavioural issue, family therapy sessions may be scheduled as part of your treatment. Most family therapy sessions run around an hour, and the programme itself is usually only a few weeks long. As a result, over the course of a few weeks, your family members will be asked to the clinic to participate in therapy sessions with or without you. The number of sessions your family attends will be determined by the circumstances and how everyone reacts.
Family therapy focuses on resolving challenges in the family unit’s relationships. Bringing all family members together can help with substance abuse and psychiatric problems. Negative mental processes can be identified and challenged, while positive behaviours can be formed and promoted.
Family therapy aims to bring the family closer together and encourage everyone to be honest with one another. This can aid in the re-establishment of trust and the creation of a supportive family atmosphere.
When a family member has an addiction issue, resentment and resentment are typical. Still, in family therapy, members will be encouraged and assisted in forgiving one another so that they can all move on with their lives.
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Family therapy is usually done in a group setting with family members and the addict. However, some sessions may be offered to family members without the addict present. Certain family therapy models also include individual sessions with the addict alone, encouraging them to explore their relationships with and feelings for family members and how these relate to their addictive behaviour. The therapist will lead and control talk and provide a calm and constructive environment in which open discussion can occur to improve communication and bring important concerns to the forefront without increasing current problems.
Family therapy differs from other psychotherapies in that it aims to mend the family relationships to address any underlying issues that may have led to the disorder.
Family therapy is intended to assist on several levels. It works by helping family members establish and maintain appropriate boundaries, as well as boosting family unity and communication. Conflict can be addressed, and relationships can be repaired as a result of this. The entire family unit can recover from the disease by encouraging all family members to better understand each other’s needs.
Families who participate in therapy sessions will develop a better awareness of how their family functions and of their own needs as well as the needs of other members. Stress levels will be decreased as a result of the improved family dynamic, which will assist in preventing a relapse of the condition.
In the treatment of addiction, family therapy can take several various forms. It usually involves the entire family meeting with a therapist. Still, it can also involve only half of the family meeting with a therapist or each person meeting with a therapist separately in unusual circumstances. Each session lasts around an hour and may vary based on the family’s requirements. For example, one meeting can be devoted entirely to discussing each person’s views and worries, while another might focus on improving communication and listening skills to reduce misunderstandings. Depending on the issues, the therapist may employ a variety of family therapies, including:
BCT promotes and rewards abstinence through a daily “Recovery Contract” for married or cohabiting couples with one individual suffering from a SUD. This entails the person with SUD expressing their desire not to drink or take drugs and their partner encouraging them to do so. This therapy can aid in the improvement of communication, the reduction of stress, and the maintenance of abstinence.
Adults and adolescents with SUDs have found this model to be effective. It’s a kind of pick-your-own therapy based on a menu of evidence-based treatment alternatives aimed at teaching everyone skills to assist them in enhancing their home environment. FBT focuses on how the person with SUD’s actions influence the family as a whole and seeks to change those behaviours with the entire family’s involvement.
This therapy spread out across 12-16 sessions and geared toward families dealing with adolescents with SUDs, is based on therapies that focus on family interactions. Studies show that adolescent substance addiction is linked to dysfunctional family dynamics.
FFT is a family therapy that focuses on strengthening family interactions because the underlying idea is that poor family dynamics lead to problem behaviours in adolescents with SUDs. Effective communication tactics, problem-solving, conflict resolution, parenting skills, behavioural contracts, and other strategies are among them.
This can help families dealing with co-occurring disorders, which means your loved one has both an addiction and a mental health problem. It does not require determining the precise causes of family discord. Instead, this therapy focuses on identifying and resolving individual issues.
CRAFT uses a structured method to educate families living with substance use disorders which applies positive reinforcement strategies to encourage their loved ones to change their substance use habits.
MST is a methodology that uses goal-oriented tactics and family-strengthening measures to motivate adolescents with SUDs, violent behaviours, or criminal records to change.
MDFT is a treatment approach suitable for various populations, including adolescents with severe SUDs and their families. It is designed to improve the functioning of the adolescent and family through a comprehensive treatment programme that includes the school, legal system, and other relevant parties.
These offer assistance to family members who have a loved one recovering from SUDs.
Family members who have a loved one in recovery can receive knowledge, support, and resources from someone who has also had a loved one recover from SUDs.
Don’t go through the process of recovery alone. Treatment providers can answer your questions. Get in touch with one today.
Call 0800 999 1083 today!
The family of an addict can play an important role in addiction treatment and recovery, and family members can often benefit significantly from participating in and receiving therapy, both with and without the addict.
Depending on the approach used, family therapy may aim to analyse and resolve family power relations; focus on communication (conscious and unconscious) among family members; work to establish communal coping strategies and identify and correct harmful behaviours. Family therapy should not be viewed as a “magic wand” that will address all intrafamilial problems overnight, and it should not be considered a cure-all for addiction. However, family therapy can help lay the groundwork for stronger and better relationships and greater understanding among family members, resulting in a caring framework within which an addict can be supported through recovery while working to avoid further harming their relationships with loved ones.
In the treatment of addiction, family therapy is an effective technique. Substance misuse and addiction and a variety of behavioural disorders and mental health difficulties are frequently caused by family situations.
Internal conflict and negative mental processes are frequently caused by underlying troubles inside the family unit, as we all know. If you don’t handle any familial issues that may have brought you to this place in your life, you may find yourself right back where you started. Additionally, because negative thoughts can lead to negative actions, it is critical to address family issues as part of a thorough recovery programme.
Family members have undoubtedly suffered as a result of your condition. There is no way to avoid this when a loved one suffers from an addiction. In addition, family counselling is employed to assist family members in dealing with the challenges resulting from the addiction.
Some close family members may have acquired co-dependency, a condition in which they alter their behaviour in response to yours. They must learn to detach themselves from you for both your and their own good. They can also be sacrificing their happiness as their entire world becomes consumed by you and your addiction.
Parental addiction can negatively impact children, and many will suffer long-term emotional scars if they do not receive sufficient family therapy. Children of addicts are frequently affected by addiction and may develop mental health issues. Some people will struggle to form healthy relationships with others, which will impact their future possibilities.
Every family member will have the opportunity to deal with the difficulties that directly impact them through family therapy, allowing them to recover and mend relationships.
Individual therapy with the addict alone is frequently insufficient to allow the addict to recognise the impact of their behaviour on their family or provide the therapist with sufficient awareness of the family environment and dynamics. Family therapy strives to create an environment in which family members may have a frank and open yet supportive discourse, allowing the addict to realise and come to terms with the repercussions of their addiction while also improving the family’s support network.
According to research, family therapy for SUDs has several advantages, including:
Another issue in a dysfunctional family unit is negative emotions or feelings. Feelings are often repressed and not discussed in families when addiction is present. Emotions are suppressed and never discussed inside the family or with anyone else. People (especially children) may become disturbed, angry, insecure, and humiliated as a result of this.
The family is urged to be upfront about their feelings in family therapy as part of substance addiction programmes. After all, it’s just a regular part of life. It is critical that people understand that it is acceptable to express their emotions. It’s a natural aspect of life, and family members should be encouraged to participate.
Family therapists use a variety of approaches for treating addiction. Still, they all aim to bring family members together to explore their relationships in the context of their loved one’s addiction. This will give the therapist a better understanding of the family environment and how it has impacted the addict, and it will allow them to involve family members in their loved one’s treatment. During intrafamily discussions, family therapists frequently serve as informed moderators, guiding the conversation through themes that have previously proven to be barriers to productive dialogue.
