Family involvement has been shown to increase the success rate in your recovery, according to an article published by the journal BMJ Open. Involving the family, along with other therapy methods, helps provide motivation, accountability, and support during your recovery. Family can get involved in treatment in multiple ways, including educating themselves. Avalon Malibu can help you get the treatment you need, educate your family, and get them involved in your recovery process.
Why Is Family Involvement Important to Recovery?
Family provides a different type of connection and support that you may not be able to find elsewhere. Their involvement can help you in a variety of ways, such as the following.
Motivation
Entering treatment is a difficult decision to make, and going through the detoxification process can be a challenging process. Having a family that you are working to better yourself for and working to get back to can motivate you to keep going. It gives you something to think about when you are struggling and something to look forward to.
Relieve Stress
The other members of your family may take on your responsibilities, such as household, financial, and childcare, if applicable. This can lift a weight off your shoulders and eliminate a reason that was holding you back from getting the care you need. It takes away things you would usually be worrying about so you can focus on your recovery and reaching your goals.
Accountability
Your family also holds you accountable for your past, present, and future. Entering treatment doesn’t mean what happened prior is forgiven or forgotten, but it can act as a stepping stone to making amends and rebuilding relationships. They help you stay accountable for your sobriety during treatment and after by reminding you why you got sober and providing support when you feel like you are struggling.
Support
Your family supports you prior to, during, and after treatment. Your family doesn’t support your substance use but may take up the financial and other responsibilities during this time. You may also feel the support as they help you find the treatment plan right for you, make sure everything is arranged for you to go, and even when they get involved with your treatment, so they know how to help you when you’re home.
How Can Your Family Get Involved?
There are a few ways your family can get involved in your recovery.
Educate Themselves
Your family can educate themselves on the addiction process, your specific addiction, the recovery process, and the treatments you may participate in. This can help them understand your behavior better and what you have, are, and will go through during your recovery. It’s also a show of support that they want to know more so they can help you and that you aren’t alone on this journey.
Family Involvement in Therapy
Participation means more than just showing up, sitting there, or putting the blame on others. It means they are listening to you and the professional working with you. The family members need to learn how to communicate just like you do if you want to rebuild and maintain a healthy relationship with one another. Everyone needs to put the work in.
Avalon Malibu’s Use of Family Involvement to Improve Success
At Avalon Malibu, we provide holistic mental health and addiction treatment. Our goals are centered around you reaching and maintaining mind, body, and spirit harmony. The programs you participate in are customized to meet your needs and ensure you get the most from your time with us.
Our substance use disorder (SUD) treatment occurs in the Cottage House. We put an emphasis on your being comfortable with your treatment. The treatment plan is made to fit you best, and no two plans are identical. Some things that they include will be:
- A non-religious 12-Step approach
- Detox
- Therapy
- Education
- Family involvement
- Holistic activities
- Nutritional intervention
We take a holistic approach because addiction affects every aspect of your life. You can go through detox, but if the underlying cause isn’t evaluated and worked through, you are likely to return to substance use. Without understanding your body and what it needs, you can’t thrive mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually in your sober life. Leaving treatment without a support system and resources to turn to can mean that you go back to what you know: substance use. Family is a big part of that support system, which is why we integrate them into your treatment plan when you are with us.
Some therapies we include to rebuild your relationships include couples, marriage, and family therapy. The techniques we use are:
- Group therapy
- Family systems approach
- Relationship counseling
- Family psychoeducation
- Communication skills development
- Substance abuse support
Participating in these sessions may be a good fit for you if you have communication problems, trouble meeting the other family members’ needs, substance use problems, signs of mental illness, and behaviors that have changed to cause dysfunction within the family. This disjointed family dynamic can cause unease and negatively impact your mental well-being, especially when struggling with SUD or other mental health conditions. We want to help mend these relationships so everyone can be happy and want to be a part of the family unit.
Recovery is a long and complicated process. Knowing your loved ones are there to support you through it can significantly increase your success in the program. Familial support can increase your likelihood of reaching long-term sobriety and thriving in your new sober life. They provide motivation, support, accountability, and much more to help you fight to stay sober. To be involved and provide this support, your family needs to educate themselves on your condition and the treatment process you will be going through. For more information, reach out to Avalon Malibu at (844) 857-5992 today. We understand the unique challenges you are facing and want to help you reach your long-term goals with the help of your family.
