Family Therapy at Abbeycare Scotland or Gloucester is realistic, compassionate, and appropriate for families and loved ones of addicts.
Family therapeutic interventions in residential rehabilitation have been designed to support those living with or caring for participants entering the Abbeycare Programme.
Support for families in a group setting allows for a safe, constructive, and confidential place to listen and share common experiences.
Groups are facilitated by a specialist recovery worker with experience in family therapeutic interventions.
Family Therapy Programme – Recovery For All
Commonalities between family members and those using alcohol or drugs are:
Alcohol and drug users:
- Dependence on alcohol or drugs slowly develops
- Denial is used to minimise, blame or avoid the ‘problem’
Family Members and loved ones:
- Realisation that a loved one has a dependence on alcohol or drugs slowly develops
- Denial is used to minimise or pretend the ‘problem’ doesn’t exist
Issues Commonly Dealt With During Treatment
Enabling
Enabling creates a false environment as the substance user slips into denial precipitated by the defence of actions by family members.
Although enablers are well-meaning, it facilitates continued addiction, and patterns of enabling must be stopped to ensure future sobriety.
How To Love Those In Recovery
Therapy interventions teach family members how to love those in recovery without facilitating future addictive behaviours.
Feelings And Emotions
Feelings and emotions family members can process during therapist led therapeutic interventions are:
- Fear
- Anger
- Guilt
- Shame
- Regret
- Low mood
- Anxiety
Identifying With Others In Group Therapy
The Abbeycare therapy programme allows members to meet other families struggling with addiction to:
- Learn coping mechanisms
- Develop support networks
- Break away from the stigma of having a family member struggling with drugs or alcohol
Post Rehab
Family therapeutic interventions prepare family members for feelings post-rehab:
- Family still experiencing shock, anger, or fear towards the addict
- Relationships between family members and addicts still being fractured post-rehab
Additional Community Based Family Support
- Families Anonymous UK. Website www.famanon.org.uk - Helpline 0207 4984 680
- Al-Anon UK. Website www.al-anonuk.org.uk - Helpline 0800 0086 811
- Alateen. www.al.anonuk.org.uk - Contact Number 020 7593 2070.
- Scottish Families Affected by Drugs SFAD. Website www.sfad.org.uk - Helpline 08080 10 10 11
- DrugFAM -Drug and Alcohol Addiction Families Support. Website www.drugfam.co.uk - Helpline 0300 888 3853
Frequently Asked Questions
“Can children attend or is it just for adults?”
The Family Support Group is for adults.
Attendees can discuss how children may be affected, and techniques for talking to children will be discussed.
“I don’t want my loved one to come home how do I tell them?”
If a decision is to be made regarding the resident's safety or home life upon leaving rehab, it is better to discuss this with the resident's case manager.
“What if they start to drink or use drugs when they come home?”
Abbeycare staff can encourage attendance in the Aftercare Programme and assist them in stopping their chemical dependence before it re-occurs.
