After months or even years of drug/alcohol abuse, a lot of addiction sufferers enter rehab with a lot of collateral damage laying in their path. Much of that damage has fallen on the shoulders of their friends and family members.
When family problems knowingly exist because of a client’s addiction problems, rehab administrators know immediately there will need to be a reckoning. At some point during the treatment process, there will need to provide some form of therapy for family members. Why? Reconciliation with family members will go a long way towards helping the client recover from their illness. In all likelihood, they will need ongoing support from the family members they harmed. That’s why family therapy options are made available.
Beyond family therapy options, some rehabs, ours included, will offer support groups made up solely of family members of clients. Keep in mind, there are a lot of ways that someone’s addiction can harm the people they love. Sometimes, the hurt and harm run so deep that it leaves family members needing as much help as the addiction sufferer. That’s the premise behind family support groups. Everyone gets an opportunity to talk things out with people who are having similar experiences. FYI: Here is a list of ways an addiction sufferer’s addiction can harm family members:
- Family member becomes codependent (supportive of addiction behaviors as a means of appeasement)
- Family members completely withdrawal from relationships with an addicted family member out of anger and disgust
- Family member becomes sad and depressed watching a loved one become consumed with drugs or alcohol
- Family members become victims of crime due to loved one’s addictive behaviors
Now that you know a family support group option exists, let’s discuss how these support sessions come together and what role they play in treatment and recovery.
How Are Support Groups Formed for Family Members of Those in Florida Drug Rehabilitation Centers?
When someone is hurting, they need comfort from someone who might understand what they are going through. That certainly applies to family members who have in some way been victimized by their addicted family member.
The problem with forming these groups is getting access to people who want to participate. On the outside, family member support groups are available through organizations like:
- AL-ANON (alcoholics)
- NAR-ANON (Drug addicts)
- Co-Dependents Anonymous (general addictions)
The problem with getting access to these groups is family members don’t usually consider participating until their addicted loved one starts recovery. Rehab family support groups help provide a starting point for family members who need help.
Let’s discuss the two ways these groups are formed.
Rehab Sponsored Support Groups for Family Member
Through the treatment process, therapists learn a lot about each addict’s family members. They also get a chance to interact with family members during family therapy. These are two great opportunities for a therapist to recognize which family members might be willing to participate with family members of other clients for the purpose of forming a support group.
After pulling several families together, the therapist takes on the role of a meeting proctor. Their job is to create an environment where participating members are willing to open up and share their experiences of living with an addicted loved one. Through the sharing and communication process, families can form bonds they can use as support groups on the outside.
Independently Formed Support Groups
Even though a rehab facility might lack the resources to sponsor family support groups, they have direct access to family members. They can use this access to find out if the family members of one client would be willing to communicate with family members of other clients. If they find there is enough interest, they can offer up contact information between families. If there is enough motivation to independently start a support group, families can contact each other and get the ball rolling. For the rehab’s part, they might be able to offer literature and suggestions about running support group meetings.
If your addiction has created issues for your loved ones, you should try to address these issues. In our rehab facility, we offer a wide range of family therapy options. We can offer these options while providing you with the treatment you need. For more information about our individual and family therapy services, you can contact one of our administrators at 844-639-8371.