Every year, millions of people enter a rehab facility hoping to overcome their substance abuse disorder. This is often the first step in living a happier, healthier, and more rewarding lifestyle away from drugs. However, that is often just the beginning, and there’s a lot more work to be done.

To begin treatment, patients are asked to complete the detoxification process – which is usually combined with medication and therapy. Once the detox is complete, the medication and therapy will continue as necessary, and doctors will monitor your progress as you live a drug-free life.

Some of the most popular forms of therapy used with substance abuse patients include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, group therapy, and family therapy. They each have their own individual uses and goals.

How Does Addiction Impact a Family?

When many people think about addiction, they immediately consider the patient and how drugs or other harmful substances are impacting their life. In reality, drug addiction and substance abuse impact the whole family, in a variety of ways – and some more than others. 

Let’s take a look at some of the major ways addiction impacts a family:

• Addiction can drive a husband and wife apart – either due to dishonesty, lack of attention, or changes in behavior
• Children of an addict can be exposed to unhealthy behavior and may grow up without a mother/father figure
• Family members generally find it hard to trust someone who’s addicted, which tends to strain familial relationships
• Since family members usually pick up any responsibility being left behind by the addict, this exposes the family to high stress levels
• Family members can struggle financially trying to take care of an addict
• Family members are usually exposed to an increase in physical or emotional abuse
• Not only that, but family members usually live in fear of what might happen to their loved one

Addiction impacts a family in various ways – whether it be a result of side effects, withdrawal symptoms, out-of-character behavior, legal trouble, new groups of friends, or strained relationships. For that reason, family members must be accounted for during treatment. 

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that extends treatment to family members close to the patient. Family therapy aims to identify, analyze, address, and solve issues or conflicts between family members. The primary purpose of family therapy is to improve relationships. 

There are several different types of family therapy, including family systems therapy, functional family therapy, narrative family therapy, psychoeducation, and supportive family therapy. They often use a combination of unique behavioral, psychodynamic, and structural techniques. 

Most types of family therapy are centered around the family systems theory – which defines a family as a complex social system. Instead of family members acting and behaving individually, each family member’s actions and behaviors are influenced by other family members.

What are the Benefits of Family Therapy?

Under the right circumstances, family therapy can be the driving force behind an individual’s journey towards a better life – one that’s free of drugs and other harmful substances. It not only helps the individual as they work through treatment, but it’s necessary for the family members.

Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent benefits of family therapy: 

• Helps families develop and maintain healthy boundaries
• Helps facilitate cohesion and communication among family members
• Helps improve problem-solving skills during family conflicts
• Helps build empathy and understanding between family members
• Helps define an individual’s role within the family
• Helps identify certain triggers and ways to prevent them

While the primary purpose of family therapy is to help identify and resolve conflicts between family members, it’s just the beginning of the many family therapy benefits that await. If you care about your loved one, you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help them overcome addiction. 

How to Find Family Therapy in Florida

Are you interested in learning more about family therapy? Are you intrigued by the many benefits of family therapy? Is your family in desperate need of help in overcoming addiction and substance abuse? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

We take great pride in providing quality and dedicated addiction treatment programs in South Florida. Founded by a group of friends who have their own stories of triumph over addiction, we understand what it takes to prevail. 

Prevail Recovery Center is an outpatient rehab in Fort Lauderdale, FL, providing comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment programs.
To learn more about our Florida treatment program or to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact us today – we can’t wait to hear from you!