Ways Families Get Involved in Recovery | The Shores Treatment & Recovery

3 Ways Families Can Get Involved in Addiction Recovery

By LYLE R. FRIED, CAP, ICADC, CHC In Addiction Recovery, Family Based Recovery
Posted March 24, 2016

At one point, the only involvement families had in the addiction recovery journey was to arrange an intervention for their struggling loved one, or to send an encouraging letter to them in treatment. Apart from this, families in the past have been largely detached from the process.

Today, we are beginning to grasp the significance of family involvement in recovery.

We’ve entered into a new chapter on healing and success in sobriety.

Why Should Families Get Involved in Recovery?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is a positive correlation between relapse and social support. The risk, and occurrence of, relapse are significantly reduced when the family is supporting and involved in recovery.

There are also many other benefits of engaging in recovery. Some of which are:

It provides healthy motivation for your loved one in treatment.
It allows everyone to become educated on the effects of addiction on family, how treatment will help your loved one achieve sobriety, and what to expect when treatment is finished.
It provides a safe environment for the family to voice feelings and concerns and to pose any questions they may have.
It allows the addict the opportunity to understand how the family experienced the addiction.
It aids in resolving anger, fear, confusion or stress caused by addiction.
It provides knowledge of enabling or codependent behaviors to avoid.
It equips the family with strategies for self care, and helping your loved one navigate sobriety.

Family based treatment provides a balanced focus on working through your own hurt and issues, and supporting your loved one’s recovery.

Three Ways to Get Involved With Addiction Recovery

At The Shores Treatment and Recovery Center, we offer three different ways to get involved with your loved one’s recovery.

1) Weekly Psychoeducational / Supportive Phone Call Sessions

Our phone conference program consists of a pre-program survey (to evaluate your level of prior knowledge), 12 consecutive weeks of curriculum covering all facets of addiction in the family, and a post-program survey (to assess your understanding of addiction after the program is completed).

2) Weekly Family Systems and Structured Family Recovery Interventions

Family groups will take place once per week and cover material taught by our family based recovery director Dr. Laura, and Denise.

3) Three-Day Family Retreats

Our three-day family retreats are where families will really be able to engage with the recovery process in a hands-on way. These retreats are held in beautiful Port St. Lucie, FL at The Shores Treatment and Recovery.

Families visiting their loved one in treatment can get to know the client’s therapists, clinical staff, and admissions counselors. Family members also have the opportunity to participate in face-to-face counseling sessions, attend a community meeting with our featured speaker, and meet with an experienced case manager to address a plan of action for the family as they move forward on a path of emotional healing and recovery.

As a family nears the end of their retreat, they meet with one of our alumni coordinators to establish an ongoing point of connection that extends beyond their three days at The Shores.

Post-Treatment Life

Just as your loved one begins to approach their graduation from the program, we will start working with them to form their Offshore Plan. Because it can be difficult and confusing to transition home after living in the recovery community, the Offshore Plan is a necessary tool for success. Together, clients will work with their case manager to assess all areas of their home life and create a plan of action.

Recovery is a constant “work in progress.” We continue to learn, and grow into better versions of ourselves each day. The same applies to the family’s recovery. It is important to stay connected with the recovery community, and to form an aftercare plan of your own for successful growth in the family.