Working through a recovery program is a challenging process. While achieving sobriety certainly has countless rewards, a successful journey through recovery certainly requires hard work and a strong and reliable support system. This is why when an addict enters rehab, they often go through therapy with their families, either in the context of their treatment center or at a therapy session. Going through treatment with one’s family can help greatly increase the chances of an addict effectively staying sober.
Systemic Family Treatment
Group therapy, or family therapy, is often referred to as systemic family therapy because during sessions a therapist talks with all individuals in the family and helps identify and analyze the behaviors and processes that are occurring within the entire family.
This is different from individual therapy because systemic treatment focuses on relationships and behaviors that are being facilitated by more than one person. Understanding group behaviors often means assessing the organization systems that exist within the group and identifying the causes and effects of certain organization systems or behaviors that may be leading to a destructive or unhealthy environment.
Family Behaviors and Addiction
A very big part of recovery lies in the process by which an addict does individual work to help identify the causes of addiction as well as tools that may help them continue to successfully maintain sobriety. While this is certainly a very important part of the recovery process, family therapy is often also just as important. Addiction is a complicated disease that has its roots in many places.
Often individuals who struggle with addiction are also facing issues like depression and anxiety, which may have their roots in a number of places, including roles within their own families that may have stemmed from childhood. Systemic therapy can help bring light to organizations and behaviors that may be related to the roots of an addict’s addiction.
Addiction and the Toll On Family
It is seldom just an addict who is affected by their addiction. Often, those closest to an addict also suffer when someone they love is struggling with a drug problem. Feelings of guilt, anger, frustration, and helplessness are all common among those who have seen their loved one struggle with addiction.
These feelings often manifest themselves in behaviors that in turn impact the behavior of an addict. It is possible that an addict is being enabled or that triggers for use are being set off without an addict’s family being aware of this. Family therapy helps a family assess their behavior and ensure that all members of the family are taking steps to ensure that their actions and group organization support their loved on in recovery.
A Strong Support System After Rehab
Recovery is a lifelong process, and while an inpatient or outpatient treatment program helps and addict build the tools they need to stay sober for life, success in recovery lies in making sure that those tools are actually used. It is far more likely that a recovering addict will find success if they are surrounded by a support system that will help them make the right decisions and continue to work towards a sober life.
In systemic therapy, the family of an addict can help learn the ways in which they can best support their loved one, and the behaviors that are most likely to encourage personal growth and continued hard work. In time, the struggles presented by addiction will grow much less challenging for the whole family. The right treatment program can help a recovering addict and their family achieve a state of happiness, stability, and well being that is highly beneficial for everyone involved.
