Addiction and Family Therapy

Addiction and Family: How Family Therapy Can Help

Anger. Confusion. Resentment. Remorse.  Denial. When a family member is struggling with addiction, emotions are high and tension is thick. All members within a family are affected by the disease, and the road to recovery can be a bumpy one.

Groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon provide support to families and friends of individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as opportunities to make connections with others.  However, professional therapy is an imperative step in recovery from addiction. Meeting with a therapist can help establish balance within a family dynamic, improve the quality of communication among family members and provide a safe environment for families to express their emotions.

Family therapy involves multiple therapeutic approaches and the philosophy that a family is a system containing “parts” which are connected to one another. Such a philosophy states that when any “part” of such system changes, changes occur in all “parts”, recognizing that parts of a system are interconnected. Family therapy builds upon the strengths and resources of a family unit to overcome such issues as addiction. Family therapy also seeks to evaluate the impact chemical dependency has had on a family, encouraging individuals to process emotions and resolve tension. Family therapy is meant to provide a family with the support required to overcome addiction and strengthen relationships.

When a family struggling with addiction seeks professional treatment, the family is considered the system or unit and the individual suffering from addiction is considered the subsystem. The therapist helps a family consider the repercussions of the addicted party and works to facilitate problem-solving and discussion among all family members.

At Self-empowerment NH LLC, family therapy is based on the philosophy that people react in accordance to how they think and feel. Through elimination of negative perceptions, family therapy seeks to eliminate dysfunctional patterns which may relate to the development of addiction and/or the recovery process. Several research based counseling models are utilized at Self-empowerment NH, LLC and Lori Magoon, MLADC, LCMHC, helps families evaluate the means in which their emotions, feelings and thoughts influence their own behavior; as well as the behavior of their family members.

In addiction recovery, specifically substance abuse addiction recovery, family therapy seeks to support families in the healing process and in improving communication and overall interaction between family members. Self-empowerment NH, LLC recognizes that regardless of whether the addicted individual within a family is a parent or child, the entire family system is in need of change. By encouraging family systems to work together to make mutual goals and to learn to work together more effectively, all individuals within a family can benefit from family therapy.

It is common for more than one family member to struggle with addiction. Because of this, family therapy promotes prevention, seeking to end the shift of substance abuse from one generation to another. By involving all family members in an addicted individual’s road to recovery, the probability that more than one family member will begin to struggle with substance abuse is significantly lowered.

If you or a family member is struggling with addiction, Self-empowerment NH, LLC can help. Our agency is dedicated to strengthening family units and promoting both prevention and recovery. You are not alone. Let us help you open the door to self-empowerment.

To learn more about our programs, please contact Lori Magoon, MLADC, LCMHC by phone (603)470-6937 or by email at selfempowermentnh@gmail.com .