The effects of substance abuse have a long reach. They pose risks to you as an individual, but also to your family. That’s why many rehab centers make family therapy available as part of their treatment programs.

Family therapy focuses on the idea that the impact of substance abuse is rarely if ever confined to the individual. When someone is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, or with a process addiction, the struggle touches the entire family unit.

A family therapy program seeks to bring family members together to chart a new course. Family therapy may become a central part of adolescent therapy programs. To learn more about the benefits of family therapy for adolescents, contact Foothills at Red Oak today at 866.300.5275.

Therapy and Addiction

One of the main dangers of addiction is what it can do to judgment. Drugs and alcohol rewrite the chemical compound of our brains.

Unfortunately, treatment requires more than just ceasing the use of drugs or alcohol. It requires the hard work of therapy and counseling to undo some of the rewiring that has taken place.

Therapy can help keep addiction at bay by exploring our backgrounds and motivations. With that understanding, you can begin to build better coping skills.

The exact nature of what adolescent therapy programs are right for you is determined at the onset of treatment. It may or may not include family therapy.

How Family Therapy Benefits Adolescents

A family therapy program brings all members of a family together to helping adolescents build a better life, premised on sobriety. Family therapy may not be right in every case. But it can help promote healing for the entire family unit. Some of the benefits include:

• Creates a team: The adolescent has people around him or her for encouragement, as well as accountability.
• Reduces tension and stress: Family members gain a greater understanding of each other, lowering the household’s stress and making it easier for the adolescent to grow.
• Improves communication: As families learn about what each is going through, they are more likely to respond to straightforward communication.
• Makes parents stronger: Ultimately, it’s the parents who will be relied upon to manage relationships within the family; family therapy helps them do it better.

Other Types of Therapy

Every individual in treatment is unique. It is your circumstances that will determine the nature of your treatment program. In addition to family therapy, you can expect to spend time in individual counseling sessions with a trained therapist. Also, to help support your recovery, you may be able to participate in additional therapy types. These can help you flourish as an individual and provide new and different interests away from drugs or alcohol. Some examples include:

• Music therapy
• Wilderness/adventure/outdoors therapy
• Art therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy

The programs can become a supplemental aspect of adolescent therapy programs. Whether they are right for your family will be determined at the onset of treatment.

Rely on Foothills at Red Oak for Family Therapy

It would be nice if, somehow, the cure for addiction was to “just stop using.” Unfortunately, it’s much more complicated. The process of rehab treatment requires the commitment and hard work of various forms of therapy. The impact of addictions often spreads beyond the individual to the family, which is why family therapy may be part of your treatment plan.

The team at Foothills at Red Oak consists of doctors and counselors in addiction medicine who provide a full range of treatment services targeting adolescent boys between the ages of 14 and 17. We help young people through addictions, co-occurring disorders, and other mental health challenges. Write your next chapter at Foothills at Red Oak. Call 866.300.5275 to learn about our services and set up an initial consultation.