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Family Addiction Therapy in Orange County, CA

Addiction truly is a family disease. When one family member struggles with addiction, it negatively impacts all members of the family system, especially immediate family members and others in the same household.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of addiction. They may struggle with depression, anxiety, confusion, and low self-esteem, which can impair their capacity for learning and their ability to form healthy relationships in the future.

Substance abuse affects families in different ways depending on the family structure. Here are some common scenarios: 

  • Couples with no childrenCodependency issues are common when one partner abuses drugs or alcohol. Both partners need help in this situation. Family therapy or couples counseling can help the couple rebuild trust, set appropriate boundaries, and address how addiction has negatively impacted their relationship.
  • Families with minor children – When one partner has an addiction, the other partner may end up taking on most or all the parenting duties and responsibilities. This can leave them feeling hurt, angry, and resentful. A parent’s addiction can also have profound effects on children, so getting help for the whole family is essential.
  • Blended families – Addiction can be especially hard on blended families, where family members may already have issues with integration and stability.
  • Families with an addicted teen/adolescent – When a teen or young adult has a substance abuse problem, the parents often become consumed with rescuing that child. Siblings may end up feeling ignored and unimportant. Everyone needs help in this situation.
  • Seniors with adult children – Many seniors struggle with chronic pain, depression, sleep disorders, and loneliness. This increases their risk of becoming addicted to alcohol or prescription drugs, such as painkillers or sedatives. When adult children participate in family therapy, their parent is more likely to recover. Family therapy can also help address unresolved issues and unhealthy family dynamics that may be contributing to the parent’s substance abuse. 
elderly man being consoled by wife

Family members of a substance abuser often experience a roller coaster of emotions, including fear and anxiety, worry and concern for their loved one, feelings of abandonment, embarrassment about their family member’s behavior, and guilt, shame, or anger. 

If not properly addressed, these feelings can lead to unhealthy coping strategies. Some family members may try to “rescue” their loved one. Others may shut the person out or isolate themselves. Siblings sometimes try to become “model children” to compensate. 

Addiction can make dysfunctional family dynamics even worse, as each family member tries to cope. 

How Family Therapy Works

Addiction treatment often has the best outcomes when the person’s family is involved. In fact, family members can actually hinder their loved one’s recovery if they continue unhealthy or enabling behaviors. This is where family behavior counseling comes in. 

Addiction counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) who specialize in addiction are trained to help family members understand how addiction affects family dynamics. 

The goals of family therapy are to help family members communicate better and solve problems without criticizing and blaming. A skilled therapist can help families develop the following skills: 

  • Being assertive (not aggressive) in communication
  • Setting appropriate boundaries
  • Enforcing limits
  • Expressing feelings without blaming (e.g., using “I feel” statements)
  • Active listening 

Family therapy is ultimately about relationships. It’s about helping each family member understand the role they play and how they can get their needs met and meet others’ needs in a healthy way. 

A skilled therapist does more than point out problems or passively listen. They help families identify their strengths and resiliencies—and use those strengths to form stronger bonds. 

The best time to start family behavior therapy is after the person in treatment has made some progress in their recovery. 

Family Counseling at Adelante Recovery Center

The team at Adelante Recovery Center encourages family members to get involved in their loved one’s addiction treatment. Family therapy can help address long standing family issues and unhealthy family dynamics that may be contributing to the person’s addiction. It’s important for all family members to heal and learn healthier ways of communicating and relating. 

Our skilled therapists are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a useful tool for helping family members identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. We also offer dual diagnosis care for clients who have co-occurring mental health challenges, such as depressionanxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder

Family counseling sessions at our Orange County treatment center usually last for an hour, and the focus may change each time. Some sessions focus exclusively on the person in treatment, while others focus on another family member or the family as a whole. Specific goals and objectives for family therapy are unique to each family, and they may change over time. 

Contact us to learn more about family therapy at our Orange County drug and alcohol rehab center in Corona del Mar.

We want to help. Contact us today.

If you or a loved one are in need of help with addiction, contact us today. Our professional and friendly addiction specialists are able to answer your questions and get things moving in the right direction.

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