When someone seeks mental health treatment, sometimes they may wonder what family therapy options are available to them. Some may even wonder what it means to have family therapy, especially when they have families that aren't supportive of their mental health journey. Having the option to have family therapy helps families understand and support their loved ones through treatment and beyond.
Family therapy is when someone has therapy alongside their family members. These can be spouses, children, parents, siblings, or other important family members. Not every mental health care facility is equipped to offer family therapy. Facilities like Pathways Wellness Center offer it, believing it's vital for those struggling with addiction to stay in recovery during and after treatment. But how does family therapy help us, and why is it so important?
Mental health issues are rarely talked about in today's society. We go through most of our lives not knowing what mental health is, let alone recognizing when we need help. This is especially true when it comes to the elder generation, who were raised on the bootstrap mentality.
The bootstrap mentality is when someone believes that any problems you have can be solved by yourself if you try hard enough. This mentality has set many people up for failure and has degraded our country's understanding of mental health and its treatment. Family therapy helps in that it allows family members to learn about mental health and how it relates to not only their loved ones but themselves.
This is known as psychoeducation. It's especially important for heavily stigmatized mental health disorders, such as substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction. Addiction can be difficult to talk about, and blame can be slung around in a family. This is not only unhealthy but unhelpful, as the person in recovery needs understanding and support to heal. Educating a family through family therapy helps them understand their loved one better. This doesn't just teach them how to be supportive, but it often teaches them how to be more accepting and understanding as well.
Having family therapy options helps people achieve and stay in recovery. One reason why people relapse is because of a lack of support from close family members. For example, imagine that someone has just finished their addiction treatment and is currently in recovery. They go home to find that their loved ones don't understand what they have gone through. Sometimes their accomplishments are outright dismissed, or they are convinced by their family that they are going to relapse sooner or later. They may not like the changes a person has made during treatment and feel like the person they knew is gone. It can be a very lonely and isolating experience.
This is difficult for anyone to deal with, let alone someone who just finished treatment. Having family therapy options available can help prevent a painful homecoming. A supportive and loving environment is the key to remaining in recovery. Those that have gone through treatment deserve to have their accomplishments recognized by those they love. Utilizing this important form of therapy helps families recognize those accomplishments. In the end, everyone needs to be loved and validated.
If you or someone you love is currently in treatment or considering treatment, it's time to talk about family therapy options. Again, many people, especially those of older generations, can be reluctant to talk about or participate in therapy. Sometimes they need someone they view as a professional to tell them about family therapy options. Pathways Wellness Center employs such professionals that can help educate you and your family.
A therapist can help you find the words you need to speak with your family should you need help with it. This can be done through role-playing, where you pretend to talk to your family to build up confidence in yourself. You can also draft a letter or prepare your words ahead of time. Sometimes it can take multiple tries to convince someone to give family therapy options a try.
However, people cannot be forced into therapy. Therapy only works when someone understands they need help and wants to make a positive change in their lives. Families are no different, and sometimes a family member will outright refuse therapy. It's not ideal, but it is their right. In such cases, other members of your family can attend family therapy and use the skills they learned to educate members that chose not to go.
Family therapy options are a vital part of recovery, helping those that already love you to support and understand you better while helping you communicate more effectively with them.
Family therapy can be helpful for those seeking mental health treatment. It educates families about important mental health topics, such as addiction, to help them support their family members better as they seek recovery. Having this source of support and understanding is vital not only for recovery but for someone's mental well-being as well. Here at Pathways Wellness Center in Azusa and Glendora, California, we understand the importance of family therapy. Undergoing treatment can be scary and make someone feel helpless. By offering several options, including family therapy, we give our clients the power they need to control their recovery journey. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or a mental health disorder, call (888) 771-0966 today.
