According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, 12% of American children live with at least one parent with a substance use disorder. Addiction can affect every family member, making their inclusion in the recovery process vital. A family therapy program can address the substance use disorder’s impact on family dynamics, and the person in recovery will learn how making amends can be significant.
If you or a family member is struggling with a substance use disorder, family therapy at Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge can offer guidance for the whole family. Call us at 844.442.8673 to learn about our addiction treatment programs.
Addressing the Loss of Trust
People suffering from a substance use disorder find it difficult to meet their obligations. When family and addiction intersect, this means the inability to follow through on promises, which can be particularly distressing for children.
Many people with an addiction have to find ways of getting the substances they depend on, which can involve lying and even stealing. Regaining trust is one of the main points of family therapy since no healing can begin among your family members unless you re-establish trust.
Handling Stress
The person with the addiction is likely to leave responsibilities to their partner, parent, sibling, or another family member who becomes the caretaker. Having to shoulder the weight of jobs, bills, children, and other responsibilities while also worrying about the person with the addiction takes its toll on the caretaker. Therapy can offer guidance for finding ways of balancing responsibilities once again.
Dealing with Financial Difficulties
Addiction can bring various types of financial difficulties. As the person with substance use disorder requires more of the substance to function, they may resort to spending more money than they can afford. In addition, addiction makes it harder to maintain a job, creating added financial stress.
The recovery process can also be costly. Relapses after getting treatment can increase tensions and resentment among the family members who helped pay for treatment. Addressing these issues in therapy is essential for healing the family dynamics.
Re-Establishing Family Roles
It can be particularly stressful for children of people struggling with addiction to understand their roles throughout the illness and recovery. Children may have had to take care of their parents while also managing household tasks. That creates an unbalanced family with roles that are not established.
The person suffering from the addiction usually takes a central role, with others revolving around them, and that routine can be challenging to break. As the recovery process begins, you must re-establish each family member’s role.
How Family Therapy Helps
Family therapy is an essential aspect of recovery for someone with a substance use disorder. It allows for a safe environment where family members can speak honestly about what they have gone through, expressing their hardships and how addiction affected their lives. It can also help participants by:
- Establishing and maintaining boundaries
- Reducing conflicts between family members
- Making communication easier
- Making amends and regaining trust
Family and addiction therapy can also educate all family members on relapse prevention techniques. This education can put a healthy support system for the individual in recovery.
Balance Family Dynamics with Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge
At Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge, we know addiction can impact the entire family. Children can feel forgotten and abandoned, while other family members may be shouldering more responsibilities than they should be. Our family therapy sessions are here to help you and your loved ones recover from addiction and its consequences. Learn more about Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge and all the treatment options we offer by calling us at 844.442.8673 today or using our convenient online form.
