Family Therapy in Memphis

Family Therapy in Rehab Centers in Memphis

Although addiction is difficult for the victim, it’s also hard for that individual’s family members. Addiction affects each member of the family in a unique and personal way. When individuals in a family change due to addiction, there can be a major rift in the family unit. This is why therapists focus on addiction and family when forming a treatment plan. Without a family therapy session, the effects of addiction can tear families apart even after a loved one stops drinking or using drugs.

We Believe in Treating the Individual, Not Just the Addiction
Take the first step today

What Is Family Therapy?

What is family therapy, you ask? Well, family therapy is a therapy session that occurs with one therapist and a group of family members. A family therapy session that often includes several approaches, and these methods help in both addiction analysis and intervention. Assessing each member of a family helps a therapist understand each person’s family role, strengths, and weaknesses.

However, therapy doesn’t focus only on each person within a family as an individual. The main focus of family therapy is how each individual family member contributes to the family system. As soon as therapists identify the strengths of families as units, they use those as a focus for treatment.

Although family therapy is used for a variety of reasons other than addiction treatment, it’s a vital part of lasting addiction recovery. There are two goals with family therapy for addiction. The first is to improve the emotional health of the entire family, and the second is to help the family provide the right support for the person in addiction recovery. Therapists also recommend individual therapy for people who struggle with addiction.

Therapists may schedule one family therapy session with a spouse or partner first. The next family therapy session may be with children, siblings, or other family members. There may also be therapy sessions with the entire family.

What Are the Types of Family Therapy?

Although some facilities may have slightly different approaches, there are four standard models of family therapy today. These are the main models that address addiction and family:

  • The cognitive-behavioral model, which focuses on the interactions of the family, communication, and the development of problem-solving skills.
  • The multidimensional model, which identifies the environmental and other contributing stressors that play a role in the victim’s addiction.
  • The family systems model, which identifies the issues within the family that could potentially cause the victim to relapse.
  • The family disease model, which identifies problems within the family that members must change for their loved ones to overcome addiction.

A family therapy session may combine one or more of these methods to accomplish certain goals.

What Types of Addiction Treatment Programs Offer Family Therapy?

Inpatient and outpatient programs are the two main types of addiction treatment programs. Individuals in inpatient addiction treatment must live in a rehab facility 24/7 during treatment. Inpatient rehab programs can last anywhere from one month to a year.

Types of outpatient addiction treatment programs include partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and standard outpatient programs. Individuals that attend outpatient addiction treatment get to live in the comfort of their own homes when not attending their treatment sessions.

The therapists that are providing care at inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs determine the frequency and duration at which each patient receives family therapy based on the patient’s individual needs. For example, if a loved one is staying in a residential treatment facility for a few months, there may only be one family therapy session per week.

On the other hand, if a loved one is in an intensive outpatient program, there may be multiple family therapy sessions each week. Since each person and family unit is unique, a therapist must determine what is in the best interest of the victim in each case.

How Does Family Therapy Help in Addiction Treatment?

For addiction and family issues, family therapy yields a valuable set of strategies. It’s designed to help families assist a loved one in recovery. Because every therapeutic strategy needs willing participants to succeed, family therapy cannot be successful without motivated family members.

Therapists motivate family members to attend family therapy by showing them how they will see improvements in their own lives by helping their loved ones with addiction recovery. For example, a child who is upset about a parent not being home much may seem uncooperative at first. However, once the child learns that the parent will be home more by overcoming addiction, the child may cooperate.

Another reason why family therapy helps those in addiction treatment is that it addresses the family as a complex system. Therapists analyze relationships between individuals and the entire family unit.

Family therapy is effective because therapists use the strengths of individuals and the family as a whole to better the family unit. Family members can make behavior and communication changes with lasting and positive effects during family therapy. Additionally, therapists help family members overcome their fears or concerns by creating a safe space where everyone can feel comfortable.

How Does the Family Dynamic Change When Someone in the Family Develops an Addiction?

Think of a family like a car. There is an engine, a transmission, a brake system, and other critical parts. Every part is necessary, and a deficiency in any part can affect the other systems. or the entire vehicle. The same is true with families. When one member struggles with addiction, it causes a shift and affects the whole family.

Ignored Problems Escalate

People tend to avoid adversity, and they often deny problems that exist. When this occurs in a family unit, one or all members may display maladaptive behaviors.

Family members of those that suffer from addiction may try to manipulate reality. This can cause tension when each person does it. There are often fights and arguments. Children tend to feel the heaviest effects.

As addiction and family issues escalate, the home environment becomes unstable. When an addiction continues, the instability leads to distrust and other problems.

Family Therapy Reveals Problems

A family therapy session is designed to address issues that affect family dynamics. Through several therapy methods, a therapist helps family members identify the root issues within their relationships with one another.

During a family therapy session, a therapist explains how family members can rebuild trust with one another. Family therapy also helps the person with addiction overcome it and maintain sobriety. Thus, as family members go through family therapy, family dynamics are improved.

Creating New Dynamics

In some cases, the original family dynamics before addiction develops are toxic. When that happens, a therapist helps family members create new and healthy family dynamics that support sobriety. These new and healthy family dynamics can also foster positive communication, mutual respect, and trust amongst family members.

Finding Family Therapy and Rehab in Memphis

If you’re looking for rehab centers in Memphis for yourself or a loved one, we here at Grace Land Recovery can help you. Our compassionate team here at Grace Land Recovery will be happy to discuss your addiction and family concerns with you.

The Grace Land Recovery team can even help individuals find the addiction resources that they need to find a family therapy session. To learn more about Grace Land Recovery and the various addiction therapy and treatment programs that we offer, contact us. We would love to help you achieve sobriety.

References

[1] https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma13-4784.pdf

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64269/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64258/

How Does Family Therapy Aim To Heal the Addicted Person and the Whole Family?

In addition to addressing individual and familial issues, therapists for addiction have another important goal that contributes to family therapy’s healing success. As therapists analyze broken addiction and family dynamics, they must also identify the purpose of the addiction.

While addiction may not serve a constructive purpose, there is usually a reason for it. For example, if there was a recent death in a family, the surviving spouse may turn to substances to cope.

In such a case, each family therapy session can help family members work through family issues at the root of the addiction. This may lead to other positive steps, such as a reunification of a parent and children after a court-ruled separation. Although family therapy may not help all separated or divorced partners fix relationships, it can help family members work to forgive one another and establish healthy communication for the sake of the children in the family.

As therapists work to help families understand addiction and family issues, they also help them heal in these ways:

  • By enacting changes that positively impact family dynamics
  • They help families learn to share burdens and communicate to reduce stress.
  • They help families set common goals that they can agree on and feel motivated to work toward.

If a family member is unwilling to cooperate, a therapist will determine the reasons why. The reasons usually include skepticism, distrust, fear, fatigue, or lack of power.

Therapists at the Grace Land Recovery rehab center in Memphis help family members create actionable plans for recovery. The reason why therapy helps many families heal is because each person within the family understands what he or she needs to do and is willing to do it.

Find Your Recovery

Our mission is to help individuals achieve sobriety by getting to the root of their addiction issues. We also aim to treat the minds, bodies, and souls of our patients.

Learn More About Our Team
Don't Fight This Battle Alone Get the Help You Need & Deserve