The family unit should be a source of support and strength for everyone. However, some people experience rifts among family members that cause severe mental health repercussions for years to come. In fact, many people turn to drug or alcohol use to numb the emotional pain from family problems. However, how can someone mend these crucial relationships and become a family again?
At Athens Recovery, our team believes that family therapy, especially family therapy for addiction, can help people begin to heal psychologically and set them up for success in long-term recovery from addiction. If you have experienced disconnections with your family and you would like to learn how to potentially get your family back together, reach out to our Athens Recovery team today either online or at 844.959.4998. Our admissions team is standing by to answer any questions you might have. But first, what is family therapy?
What Is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy to improve communication and repair relationships among family members. The difference between individual therapy and family therapy is the framework of the sessions. Typically, family therapy is geared towards problem-solving so that people can leave the issues of the past behind. Also, this form of therapy can help a family adjust to a member struggling with addiction, a mental health disorder, or both.
Many people find that family therapy is very beneficial, and some of these benefits include:
- Reduces family conflict
- Creates and maintains proper boundaries among family members
- Redevelops cohesion in the family
- Builds empathy and understanding
- Opens up channels of communication
What Are Some Forms of Family Therapy?
Just as no two people are the same, no two families experience the same issues. Therefore, there are several forms of family therapy so that each family unit can find the tools they need to strengthen their bond.
Some forms of family therapy include:
- Functional family therapy (FFT) – This form of family therapy is designed for children and adolescents. Functional family therapy helps families learn to help children who are encountering behavioral issues and has been effective for adolescents engaged in substance use.
- Family-based behavioral treatment – This approach gives parents the opportunity to model positive behavior to help the rest of the family change their ways. Although primarily used for children, family-based behavioral treatment can also be used with adults.
- Multidimensional family therapy (MFT) – Multidimensional family therapy identifies the individual, family, and environmental factors that may be causing rifts among family members. Once these factors are identified, the therapist can teach the family healthy coping mechanisms to overcome any division.
Additional Therapeutic Options at Athens Recovery
Our Athens Recovery team believes that family therapy should be a foundational aspect of any addiction treatment plan. However, our therapeutic options don’t end there. Once a client has enrolled at Athens Recovery, our team performs a thorough assessment of their psychological and physical health, as well as the client’s medical history. We then use this information to create an individualized treatment plan with therapy options to meet the needs of each client in our care.
Our other therapy programs include:
- Behavioral therapies
- Meditative therapies
- Experiential therapies
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Group therapy
Explore the Family Therapy Program at Athens Recovery
What is family therapy? For many people, it is an essential part of an effective addiction treatment program. Athens Recovery is a safe and supportive environment where families can heal from the effects of trauma and disagreements from the past and prepare them to be a source of encouragement for the future. If you would like more information about the family program at Athens Recovery or any of our other programs, contact us today by calling 844.959.4998 or filling out our online contact form.
