Family therapy plays a vital role in helping an addict to recover. Studies show that behavioral family therapy works better than individual treatment.
Patients who seek therapy together with family respond better to treatment. They also recover faster than those who get help on their own.
Are you seeking therapy for drug or substance addiction? Or is your loved one going through addiction therapy? Keep reading to learn the benefits of family therapy in addiction recovery.
What Is Family Therapy?
In family therapy, family members seek counseling together with the addict. The family member acts as a support system, and this is essential in promoting quick recovery.
During therapy, the counselor takes the family through various sessions. These address tough topics and realities which could have promoted the drug addiction. The therapist addresses issues such as addiction, recovery, and relationships.
Benefits of Family Therapy
Here are our top benefits of family therapy for both the patients and their families:
Therapy Promotes Awareness
Family therapy helps families to understand drug addiction and recovery. During the sessions, family members learn how addiction comes about. This sheds light into their contribution towards the problem.
When people are aware of their behavior, they can make positive changes to aid in the recovery. They also learn how to handle the patient during and after the treatment.
Therapy Helps in the Management of Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms occur during treatment, and they can be painful and depressing. For example, heroin withdrawal symptoms can cause depression, fatigue, and anxiety.
An addict needs a strong support system to help them manage withdrawal symptoms. Without this support, one can easily relapse.
During therapy, the family is enlightened on how to help with the withdrawal symptoms. This may involve showing love to the patient and providing a balanced diet. They can also help in administering medication in the prescribed dosages.
Therapy Strengthens and Rebuilds Relationships
Drug and substance abuse can destroy relationships between family members. If these bonds are not restored, the addict can relapse after treatment.
A therapist helps families work through any rifts that occurred as a result of the addiction. At the end of the treatment, families come out with stronger bonds than what they had before.
Getting Started with Family Therapy
Family therapy should go hand-in-hand with individual treatment. Thus, you need to identify a good family counseling center for recovery.
Before choosing a facility, take time to check out online reviews from other families. For example, you can get some great Sundown Ranch reviews on this site. You’ll learn about how other addicts and their families benefited from the facility.
Once you find the right recovery center, be consistent in family therapy. Also, encourage all close family members to be part of the sessions. This will help you to work on any issues that may impede full recovery.
Are You Ready for Family Therapy?
Addiction is a family disease; thus, it is crucial for family members to be part of the treatment. Don’t miss out on these benefits of family therapy. Enroll in an addiction treatment facility and work on the underlying problems as a unit.
Before you go, check out our blog for info on family, drug addiction, and other lifestyle issues.