Family Therapy in New Jersey
Whether you, your partner, or another family member is dealing with substance abuse or addiction, you may have observed its impact on your entire family. However, the positive news is that you do not have to face this challenge by yourself. Caring addiction treatment professionals are available to assist your family in recovering from the consequences of drug and alcohol addiction.
At Discovery Institute in Marlboro, New Jersey, we provide family therapy for addiction and family support resources that tackle all facets of addiction, enabling every member of your family to heal and find a more fulfilling life.
The Effects of Substance Abuse on Family and Friends
If you believe that substance use is impacting your entire family, you are not alone. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) recognizes substance abuse as a family disease that can undermine the stability of the household and influence the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of each member.
It is widely recognized that the adverse effects of drug and alcohol addiction have prevalent consequences. Here are ways that addiction affects the entire family:
Maintaining substance use can be costly. The body’s incessant cravings for alcohol or drugs may lead individuals to make poor financial choices. Those afflicted with substance use disorders might spend substantial amounts of money on alcohol or illegal drugs. Furthermore, addiction can result in job loss, which leads to financial strain.
Addiction can create issues within marriages and partnerships. The partner of an individual struggling with addiction may find it challenging to stay in the relationship due to the impact of addiction on their loved one. Individuals with substance use disorders also often find themselves in conflict with their children. Children may begin to disregard their parents’ authority or develop a fear of them. Siblings of individuals with addiction may face challenges in avoiding enabling behaviors.
The use of alcohol or drugs can severely impair an individual’s parenting abilities. It may lead to a decline in good hygiene practices. For someone grappling with addiction, maintaining cleanliness and managing the home may become less important. These alterations can affect the entire family unit.
Regrettably, addiction can lead to detrimental changes in a person’s conduct. Those who are addicted may exhibit physical violence or verbal abuse towards their family members.
Families affected by drug or alcohol abuse may face emotional and psychological difficulties. Members of the family may grow distant from each other.
Individuals struggling with drug or alcohol abuse may encounter physical health issues. This can have repercussions for the entire family, as members may need to adjust their roles. For example, family members might take on the role of caregivers for the addicted individual.
Children of individuals suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction may start to find solace in substance use.
Family therapists are capable of assisting families in overcoming the adverse impacts of substance abuse. With the guidance of family therapists, individuals can settle family disputes and collaboratively tackle their difficulties. By participating in a functional family therapy program, individuals can obtain and provide familial support. This frequently serves as an essential element for a successful recovery.
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy for addiction is a psychological counseling approach designed to enhance communication among family members and address issues. The objective of family therapy is to enhance the overall psychological well-being of all family members, thereby nurturing a healthier and more stable family system.
In contrast to individual therapy, which centers on the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions of a single person, family therapy delves into the relationships and experiences of all family members. Typically, this service is delivered by a psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed therapist. This form of therapy is generally short-term and may involve all family members or only those willing to engage.
How Does Family Therapy Work?
Family therapy for addiction emphasizes enhancing communication, resolving disputes, and fortifying relationships within a family unit. It entails collaborating with several family members, either collectively or in various combinations, to tackle common challenges and enhance the overall well-being of every member.
The therapist assists in recognizing behavioral patterns, communication methods, and fundamental issues that may be contributing to difficulties. By promoting understanding and empathy, family therapy seeks to establish a more unified and functional family atmosphere.
Goals/Principles of Family Therapy for Addiction
Family therapy in New Jersey focused on addiction seeks to enhance familial relationships and dynamics to aid an individual’s recovery from substance use. The primary objectives encompass improving communication, resolving disputes, restoring trust, and cultivating a supportive atmosphere.
The four key principles of family therapy include:
- Family engagement: This aspect aims to boost the involvement of family members. Interventions focused on family engagement typically occur during the initial phase of addiction treatment.
- Relational reframing: This involves interventions that guide individuals away from their specific definitions of a problem and the solutions they propose, towards a relational understanding.
- Changing family behavior: The objective here is to modify the behaviors of family members by imparting new skills and promoting individual behavioral changes.
- Family restructuring: Family therapy aids in transforming the governance of the family system, altering fundamental beliefs, and similar aspects.
At the Discovery Institute in Marlboro, NJ, family therapy sessions aim to achieve the following goals:
- Enhanced communication: Family therapy facilitates improved communication among family members, allowing them to express their feelings and needs openly while also engaging in active listening with one another.
- Conflict resolution: Family therapy provides family members with the necessary tools to address conflicts constructively, helping to alleviate tension and encouraging healthier interactions.
- Rebuilding trust: Addiction can significantly undermine trust within families. Therapy aids in the restoration of trust by promoting honesty, accountability, and consistent positive interactions.
- Strengthening family bonds: By tackling dysfunctional patterns and encouraging healthy communication, family therapy contributes to the strengthening of family bonds and the establishment of a more supportive environment for the individual undergoing recovery.
- Addressing underlying issues: Family therapy assists in identifying and addressing underlying issues within the family system that may contribute to addiction, such as codependency or enabling behaviors.
- Reducing relapse risk: By fostering a more supportive and understanding family environment, family therapy plays a crucial role in minimizing the risk of relapse and promoting sustained recovery.
The Benefits of Family Therapy for Addiction
Thankfully, the family members of those who suffer from addiction can find peace and support. Family counseling works to offer helpful resources to families that are dealing with the effects of addiction. The benefits of family therapy include:
- Empowerment
- Enhanced emotional well-being
- Alleviated stress and anxiety
- Aligned expectations
- Enhanced happiness
- Prevention of isolation
People who know an individual who is suffering from addiction will often show enabling characteristics. In most cases, this is unintentional; people don’t usually mean to enable the addiction of a loved one. However, these behaviors, as harmless as they may seem, can be very harmful to the struggling individual.
Some examples of enabling behaviors may include:
- Giving money to the struggling individual
- Taking on the person’s financial burdens
- Buying or providing drugs or alcohol for the individual
- Ignoring or justifying the individual’s actions
- Failing to address or express your concerns
- Offering the individual a place to live (especially if they were once self-sufficient)
- Lying to friends, family members, or even employers to “cover” for the individual
As individuals begin to learn more about enabling behaviors, they can also start to establish healthy boundaries. They can gain a deeper understanding of their weaknesses, strengths, what overwhelms them, and what they may need throughout the healing process.
As people develop an understanding of their boundaries, they can become more comfortable with the recovery process. Family members should never feel as though they need to ignore or suppress their emotions. While learning to recognize and address their feelings, families can establish their boundaries and discuss the ways in which they can work together to facilitate healing in their lives and in the lives of their recovering loved ones.
Often, people think of addiction as a matter of choice. They think struggling individuals are simply choosing substance use over priorities such as family. But this is far from the truth.
Those who suffer from addiction suffer from chemical dependency. Addiction is a disorder that prevents people from being able to go without substance use. In family therapy, families can learn more about the truth behind addiction. They can develop a much deeper comprehension of how addiction has impacted their loved ones.
Counseling for families encourages honesty, trust, and conflict resolution. All of these are important for the health of a family unit. But each of these things can disappear when addiction is in the mix.
It is important to note that communication between non-addicted family members can also be broken as a result of one individual’s struggle with substance dependence. For example, spouses may become distant as a result of a child’s addiction.
Thankfully, family counseling works to help mend relationships between family members. Family members can begin to make amends with one another. This will also enable families to extend that understanding and forgiveness toward the individual who is recovering from addiction.
Forgiveness is never easy, especially in situations that involve addiction. Many times, people who struggle with substance dependence do things that could bring emotional or physical pain to their loved ones. Unfortunately, abuse can occur when addiction is involved.
It can be difficult for people to forgive their loved ones for the hurt they may have caused. But family therapy offers families an environment that can facilitate forgiveness. Through counseling and therapy, individuals can make amends and work to rebuild trust in the recovering individual.
As we mentioned earlier, family counseling strives to help families feel free to address their emotions. While in therapy, individuals can freely express their pain and struggles. They can discuss their concerns and relieve themselves of the stress, tension, and fears they have been experiencing. Seeing a loved one suffer from addiction can cause people to develop very deep-rooted emotional discomfort. But family therapy works to help uncover those issues and helps families to work through these emotions and concerns healthily.
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Family Therapy at Discovery Institute
At Discovery Institute in Marlboro, NJ, we believe support in addiction recovery promotes successful outcomes. Approved family members and loved ones will be encouraged to be a part of the treatment process and to stay involved.
Alcoholism or drug addiction can create a complex dynamic that impacts each family member in various ways. Some individuals may lash out, while others might choose to withdraw. Our drug rehab in NJ provides a family therapy program that encompasses various forms of addiction counseling, allowing each family member to heal and recover. Through our residential treatment program, we offer drug and alcohol detoxification, along with additional therapeutic services, which include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Trauma therapy
These programs are structured to deliver comprehensive support and counseling for the entire family. Each member has the chance to confront issues, share their concerns, and collaboratively discover the path to long-term recovery.
In family counseling, we will address the family members individually without the suffering individual present. This enables family members to privately discuss any concerns they may have. Addiction can be devastating for the suffering individual’s loved ones. So they must get the answers and help they need, most importantly. We also address family members and the struggling individual together, so that issues can get resolved under the guidance of a professional therapist.
Is Family Therapy Right for You?
Family therapy offers plenty of benefits to the family units that have been affected by addiction. This type of counseling can work to meet the emotional, physical, and mental needs of these families.
It’s easy to assume that individuals who suffer from addiction are the only ones who feel the effects of their battle. However, this simply isn’t true. Their family members may also experience quite a bit of pain and loss throughout the individual’s struggle. The trust may be broken. Familial connections may be lost. Families may begin to drift apart as stress, guilt, blame, fear, and concerns come between them.
Even once the individual decides to seek help for his or her addiction, the family is still left to pick up the pieces. The trust that was broken does not automatically rebuild itself. Just as it is important for people in recovery to receive professional guidance and support, their families should also seek help. Through therapy, all familial roles and relationships can have the best chance at finding healing.
Receive the Support You Need to Recover
Addiction can impact anyone. It is a long-lasting, manageable condition. If you or someone you care about is facing challenges with drug or alcohol dependency, assistance is available. Discovery Institute, situated in Marlboro, NJ, offers treatment for substance dependency. Our compassionate professionals employ a blend of medical, clinical, psychiatric, and holistic methods to support you in reaching your objective of sobriety.
Today marks the opportunity to initiate your path to recovery. Contact us today to discover how to get started.
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Dr. Michael DeShields, MD, ASAM, DABAM, is a distinguished Medical Director with nearly 40 years of expertise in addiction medicine. A diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Society of Addiction Medicine since 1996, he is renowned for his leadership and commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care. Dr. DeShields earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his training at Cooper University Medical Center, where he cultivated his passion for addiction treatment. His dedication and innovation continue to shape the field, guiding clinical teams and supporting patients on their recovery journey.
