FAMILY TREATMENT
Here at Journey Malibu, we understand the needs, concerns and frustrations that family members must contend with when their loved one is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction. Therefore, we realize the importance of treating the entire family system and the central role the family plays in the recovery of their addicted family member. The addicted person (otherwise known as the Identified Patient or IP) and their family engage in dysfunctional relational patterns that can prohibit the commencement of recovery. These dysfunctional patterns surface in a variety of ways. Substance abuse and dependence can be debilitating to the sufferer, but it also affects the family – in essence, everyone suffers the consequences of a substance abuser’s actions. At Journey Malibu, we intervene to help break those dysfunctional patterns, allowing the entire family to express themselves in safe, non-judgmental environment that will help establish new boundaries, new communication tools and a new paradigm of how family life could look as a result of total recovery.
Our approach combines a variety of family systems models for treatment of addicts, alcoholics and their families. Some goals of family therapy are:
- Understand the impact of substance abuse on families taken as a whole
- Recognize that family members need treatment in the context of the family as a whole
- Appreciate the value of family therapy in treatment and integrate their interventions
Our licensed Marriage and Family therapist(s) gets in between these maladaptive patterns, gently calling attention to them as they appear in the treatment room, and helps the family to choose better coping mechanisms such as problem solving and communication skills. The family gets to “practice” these new tools while the addict is still in treatment. Upon discharge, if family therapy is indicated as part of the aftercare treatment plan, Journey Malibu will ensure that the family stays connected to each other with continued treatment with an appropriate outside therapist.
During the course of their stay, clients will be exposed to Family Therapy that may include spouses, children, siblings and extended family if desired. Pre-arranged meetings with the family will be established so our team of therapists can work with the family as a whole in private sessions (to discuss more sensitive issues) as well as in a group setting for psychoeducational lectures with other families who are experiencing similar challenges. Sharing is encouraged in an environment that is emotionally safe and goal oriented to facilitate more functional and healthy family dynamics. Let Journey Malibu help your family heal from the devastating effects of addiction.
- Understand the impact of substance abuse on families taken as a whole
- Recognize that family members need treatment in the context of the family as a whole
- Appreciate the value of family therapy in treatment and integrate their interventions