Family Therapy for Parents

Addiction is seismic, and this is something family members must realize sooner rather than later.

A loved one’s problem with substance abuse creates a ripple effect that ends up affecting everyone in the family, including the parents of someone going through this. This is the reason why family therapy is so important.

What is Family Therapy?

The bulk of the work is done with your son or daughter, and your loved one will be dealing with a lot. As a parent, it is easy to overlook your struggles when your child is in trouble. Some parents almost suppress their struggles, thinking it’s somehow selfish to look inward at a time like this, but that is not the case.

Family therapy for parents is essential and something a helpful center pays attention to. Fighting addiction is something the entire family has to do together. Through this form of therapy, each member of the family will learn to support one another and begin healing.

The point of family treatment is to provide each family member with tools to help the person dealing with this problem and to help make recovery successful. The reality is that parenting has to be restructured a bit now that you are attempting to help someone in recovery. Some of the skills you’ve depended on for a long time have to be tweaked.

This restructuring is going to take some time but can be done. You’ll have to learn to be patient with yourself, and you’ll have to learn to trust the program. You should always ask questions about so that everyone is on the same page concerning the treatment.

What Does the Therapy Involve?

Family therapy can be modified to fit your needs, which happens normally. Changes happen organically, so make sure you allow the professionals in the program to understand your needs by being completely open. This step can be difficult for parents, but stay focused on the bigger picture of healing the family as a whole.

Still, the program you’ll be going into, should you decide to try family therapy for parents, is going to include the following:

You will have several sessions that involve the entire family. These sessions will teach everyone how to cope with the situation. Mental stability is going to be the goal of these sessions.
Sessions focused on communication are going to be important as well. The reality is tunnels of communication have been damaged, so finding a way to fix these is vital, which is what these sessions are for.
Experiential activities are going to be offered as well. You’ll have hands-on experience that’ll let you play out scenarios pertaining to your situation as a parent.
Another important part of family treatment is teaching you about addiction. You’ll learn about the process, the potential outcomes, the triggers, and other things that’ll help you understand what you are experiencing.
Private sessions will be offered. Sometimes, it’s hard to share some specific details in front of other family members, which is what these sessions are for. It’s here where you’ll get to address and potentially find ways to cope with difficult issues.

This is just a sample of what you can expect from family therapy for parents as your loved one goes through the intensive outpatient program created to support your child’s recovery.

In addition to physical cravings, someone with an addiction issue will also spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about their drug of choice. These thoughts become a compulsion and impossible to control, which leads to drug-seeking behavior that can sometimes be criminal.

Feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety, despair, and the like are often at the root of substance abuse. The substance might temporarily mask these feelings, but they return once the high wears off, creating a vicious circle of drug abuse.

Taking a substance will temporarily stop the cravings and compulsion for it, but soon the same feelings return. In time, it takes more and more of the same substance to achieve the same effect it once had.

People addicted to drugs and alcohol may feel like they have no control over their drug use. Refraining from using or stopping seems to be an impossibility for them. The substance controls them, rather than the other way around.

Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol will continue to seek them out even if their addiction has made them lose friends, family, spouses, and jobs. Drug-seeking behavior can even lead to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

If you are considering treatment for yourself or a loved one, call us today.

(310) 881-9151

Why is This Important Right Now?

You know how this type of therapy can help, but you must understand why this can assist. Relearning how to be present as a parent is going to take a lot out of you. This is on top of everything you’ve already gone through because of the addiction your loved one has been dealing with.

The reason you are doing this is that you represent a pillar of support. At the moment, your loved one’s support system is crumbling when he or she needs that support system to be as strong as it can be. The problem many parents face is that they don’t know how to be a support system, which is what this treatment is meant to help you with.

Remember the reason you’re in family therapy as you go through the program. The program may challenge you from time to time, which could feel overwhelming, but keep at it. At the end of the day, the reason you are doing this is so that you can be that pillar of support for your loved one in his or her time of need.

A study shows that effective emotional and social support could improve the chances of your loved one’s success. As most folks know, a relapse could happen to a person dealing with addiction, but your restructured support should be able to thwart that possibility. Be sure to stay positive at this time as your child may take notice of your actions and what you say.

Seeking Additional Support

After the program is done, don’t hesitate to come back for additional support. Overwhelming struggles can happen at any time, and it’s okay if you need some additional support, such as the following:

The family program is there when you need it.
Support groups can provide solace and comfort that you can find with others going through similar situations.
Books, online resources, and feel-good activities can help you through the rough patches.

You can find support groups in Los Angeles or nearby, like the intensive outpatient program for your loved one.

Now, you know how important it is to keep up with your mental and emotional health. The support you give your loved one can only be as good as you give. Be sure to take time for yourself to meditate or go for a walk, which can be helpful.

Nexus Recovery Services is here to help in any way we can during these difficult times for you and your family. Everyone in your family deserves support as your loved one takes that first step out of this addiction. You and your child can overcome, shine, and be exactly what you want to be as a family. Take the first step towards the healing process by giving Nexus Recovery Services a call today.

If you or a loved one are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, we’re here to help. Contact us today and speak with one of our trusted recovery advisors.