These sessions help engage clients’ families in treatment and enhance family members’ understanding of the treatment and recovery process. Topics that are covered in a family educational session include but are not limited to:

• The dynamics of addiction, treatment, and recovery in the family
• Relapse and relapse prevention
• Family issues common in addicted families
• Enabling and denial
• Healthy family functioning
• Healthy detachment and “tough love”
• Communication and problem solving in the family
• Management of family social functions
• Introduction to Al-Anon, Alateen, and other relevant support systems for family members.

The purpose of family counseling is to educate family members about family dynamics and issues associated with addiction and recovery. Family counseling provides the structure to support stabilization in the family and to assist the entire family in making changes that support the recovery of the client and all members of the family.

Family education and counseling provide an opportunity for family members to identify and address personal family dynamics and issues associated with the identified patient’s education plan and are used to develop solution-oriented strategies for change to support their recovery.