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Addiction Recovery Blog

How Important Is Family Involvement in Addiction Recovery?

A family getting counseling for addiction.

We all have some experience with how complicated family dynamics can be. There’s a wide variety of relationships to navigate, and you must make sure to keep everyone’s thoughts and feelings in mind. When you add substance abuse into the mix, family dynamics become much more complicated.

Substance abuse is a disease that affects the entire family. Whoever is abusing drugs and alcohol often feels isolated and powerless, while family members have an intense fear for their loved one’s health and safety. Since substance abuse impacts the entire family unit, it’s essential for loved ones to be involved in the addiction recovery process.

The Role of Family in Addiction Recovery

It’s common for drug or alcohol abuse to be the catalyst for feelings of resentment, anger, depression, shame and distrust. The substance convinces you that it’s the only connection worth pursuing and, as a result, other relationships begin to fall by the wayside. From a family member’s perspective, it’s challenging to know how you can support a loved one struggling with addiction without enabling them.

Once someone struggling with addiction is ready to get help by going to treatment, support from their family can really make a difference. Family members act as a foundation that can keep someone in addiction treatment grounded. The simple fact of knowing a loved one is in your corner can give anyone in addiction recovery added motivation to maintain sobriety.

To anyone struggling with addiction, the experience of getting treatment with the support of their family is like when you’re first learning how to ride a bike. There’s a level of reassurance knowing you have a helping hand there to guide you.

How Family Therapy Improves the Recovery Process

One of the main challenges people in recovery face is their loved one not understanding what they’re going through. However, many addiction treatment centers have family education programs to support the recovery of their clients. Family members learn more about addiction and gain insight on the stress and challenges it presents. That way, the stigma of addiction begins to disappear, and you’ll learn healthy ways to support your loved one without enabling them.

Family therapy also helps everyone who has been affected by a loved one’s addiction. It will help people adjust to the changes addiction has brought to the family, teach you about healthy ways to communicate, and address any trauma the situation has caused. By addressing these issues, the person in recovery will be less likely to let any feelings of guilt undermine their hard work.

Family Involvement Lowers the Risk of Relapse

People who have family support in their addiction recovery are at a lower risk of relapse. It’s because family members who are educated about addiction have a better idea of relapse causes and triggers to watch for. Plus, having family members involved gives the person in recovery a higher sense of accountability, which offsets the urge to fall back into dangerous behavior.

Discover Family Therapy for Addiction in Florida

At Footprints Beachside Recovery, we understand how big an impact addiction can have on a family. That’s why when a client is getting treated at our luxury rehab center, we also offer personalized counseling for any of their family members who have been affected. Our Family Therapy Program is designed to help anyone struggling with substance abuse and their family confront addiction and lay a foundation for a better life. We have experience helping family members come to terms with their loved one’s addiction and can show them how to use positive influence for lasting recovery.

Learn More About Family Addiction Counseling at Footprints

Our luxury addiction treatment center in Florida offers counseling and therapy session for anyone in addiction recovery and their family begin healing. We know what it’s like to go through addiction and all the challenges it presents to the addict and their family.

At Footprints, you can expect our family therapy to work alongside addiction treatment. That way, everyone affected by the addiction can be on the same page about the best way to move forward. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about how we can support your family through addiction recovery.