Family Services
Discovery Institute believes that family members, employers, and significant others play a crucial role, and are critical in the recovery process. We place great importance on their involvement in our family education, and family counseling program. The Institute believes that the family must be educated about the dynamics of chemical dependency. Discovery wishes to provide education about their role as being affected by their loved one’s addiction and how to be a positive part of their recovery process. These educational tools also afford opportunities for families to interact with other families who are sharing a similar experience and may help gain mutual support.
Family Assessments
Family assessments are required of family members who wish to participate in education and counseling, and are usually scheduled within the first two weeks after one’s admission. These assessments provide the clinical team with a better understanding of the client and his/her family and support systems. Once the assessment has been completed, you will receive a formal invitation via regular mail only for future educational seminars to attend with your loved one while in treatment. We encourage all eligible loved ones to participate in this assessment process.
Family Education
Addiction is a progressively debilitating disorder that affects the entire family. As such, recovery and education for all involved is essential. For this reason, family education is provided to families on an ongoing basis. These seminars occur 2-3 times per month, which represent various topics related to addiction, family, and recovery. They are intended to address issues focusing on the recovery of the entire family. Residents and their loved ones attend these seminars together. They are approximately 1.5 hours in duration. These seminars are permitted for children 13 and over and accompanied by an adult.
Attendance at these seminars has a minimal cost. Examples of seminars topics are:
- Separation & Divorce
- Extended Families
- Stress Management
- Co-Dependency
- 12 Step Program
- Depression & Mood Disorders
- Anger Management
- Grief & Loss
- Adolescent Behavior in Treatment
- Medication use in Recovery
- Nutrition in Recovery
- Parenting
Family Counseling
Family counseling sessions are provided by one of our residential counselors working with individual clients and their families. These sessions are opportunities for the family to discuss their anticipation for their loved one returning home, stages of recovery, and better communications with their loved ones. This paves the way for future planning of ongoing recovery. There is an additional cost for these sessions. Payment must by made at the time of or prior to the session.
Family Support Group
Discovery Institute also provides the families with an opportunity to develop their own support group with the assistance of a family counselor. While attending family education and Alanon, your family may become interested in discussing their feelings about early recovery and how to communicate with their loved one when he/she returns home. If you are interested, please speak with your family counselor.
Child Visitation
Discovery Institute provides visitation once per month for small children ages 12 and under to visit with their parents while in treatment. All children and chaperones must first complete a Family Assessment. Visits will be permitted for clients who have staff permission and are in Phases II, III, and ACT only. Clients should be in treatment a minimum of 30 days prior to receiving visitation with their children. Visits will be permitted on the 1st or 3rd Saturday for those who meet the criteria. Visits will be 2-3 hours in duration.