By LYLE R. FRIED, CAP, ICADC, CHC In Family Based Recovery
Posted July 26, 2017
Going through rehabilitation is a trying time mentally and emotionally. Having family or friends there to help you through is important for active recovery, and sobriety outside of the treatment center. Not all treatment facilities have the same regulations on visitation, but at The Shores Treatment and Recovery we believe family visits at the appropriate times are crucial to the entire recovery process.
Do All Inpatient Centers Allow Visitation During Treatment?
This is a common and important question for all participating members of treatment. Most treatment center’s visitation policies are determined based on the individual’s level of treatment. Many treatment centers, including The Shores, limit visitation for individuals in partial hospitalization, outpatient detox, or residential level care programs for the first 30-45 days of treatment. By visitation, we mean outings with loved ones off campus.
Early recovery is a pivotal time which molds the entire recovery process. In the early phases, most treatment centers try to reduce distractions, conflicts, or relapse triggers. After 30-45 days, most individuals start intensive outpatient treatment and outpatient programs which allows them to freely visit with their community and family support systems. Since each case is different, individuals will need to be assessed by a primary clinician.
When can Family Members Visit Their Loved Ones in Addiction Treatment?
At The Shores, we strongly advocate family involvement in the recovery process. Prior to open visitation, though, a family session is conducted to evaluate the quality and safety of the relationship before giving permission to engage family members further.
To bridge the visitation gap at a higher level of care, teleconferencing and/or video conferencing sessions are available to engage sober family members in weekly family therapy sessions.
Family retreats also provide families the opportunity to spend time with a loved one during addiction treatment. This component of family recovery is a new addition to the family care program at The Shores Treatment and Recovery, set to begin in the fall of 2017. During these retreats families and loved ones will be invited to spend three days at The Shores to experience treatment with their loved ones.
How Can Family Visitation Benefit a Person in Drug Rehab?
According to a review by the Center for Mental Health Services Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Department of Veterans Affairs Capitol Health Care Network, “Family psychoeducation is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to reduce relapse rates and facilitate recovery of persons who have mental illness.” From the research, we know that family connection is key for long-term sobriety.
The following benefits of family engagement facilitated by a counselor or addiction professional are often observed:
- Learning increased and more effective communication
- Learning how to experientially set boundaries
- Seeing where your loved one is being cared for and who is caring for them
- Having a tangible reminder of the support and love one has back home
- Increasing one’s self-esteem
- Discussing difficult topics that are less effective to communicate via allotted phone calls
- Receiving appropriate psychoeducation on addiction and recovery
- Engaging and consulting in aftercare planning in tandem with your loved one’s multiple providers
Family Addiction Treatment Options
There is a myriad of family interventions that integrate family engagement at different levels of care and during different phases of addiction recovery. At The Shores, we have integrated a curriculum developed by Debra Jay from the Love First Institute. This is a curriculum that utilizes behavioral approaches and 12 step modalities.
Our family recovery program is a three-part, structured counseling program that facilitates communication, healing, and long-term sobriety.
To learn more about the family treatment services offered at The Shores, please contact our team of addiction specialists.
LAURA S. OLIVOS-ALFONSIN, PSY.D. serves as the Director of Family Recovery and as the Assistant Clinical Director at The Shores. She is a Certified Structured Family Recovery Counselor and has experience in the assessment and treatment of those who struggle with addiction and their co-occurring disorders.
DENISE MARINO is a co-founder and counselor at The Shores Treatment and Recovery’s Family Program. She is certified as a Structured Family Recovery Counselor and has been working as a therapist in the field of addiction for over three years. Ms. Marino has a passion for bringing families together to heal in the process of recovery.
