Family Programs
The Meridian Family Program consists of consultations, educational group topics, and individual family counseling. The Family Program is tailored to assist clients and their loved ones in improving relationship development while providing information on the disease of addiction. The Family Program is available to all clients and their loved ones, sponsors or members of their primary support group.
Programs and Services
Group Sessions
These sessions are held once weekly in the evenings. Group discussion topics include:
- The Nature of Addiction
- Stages of Change and the Family Stages of Recovery
- Co-dependency/Enabling
- Al-Anon (a support group for families dealing with addiction)
- Relapse Prevention
Individual Family Counseling
These sessions are held at the client/family member’s convenience. Individual family counseling is designed to provide insight and assist in relationship development.
Consultations
This service is provided to assist the client’s family members, loved ones or members of their primary support group in gaining insight regarding the disease of addiction and services offered in treatment. Additionally, information regarding the Family Program, referrals to counseling and information on Al-Anon are provided.
Common Questions and Answers
Addiction is a family disease because it affects the entire family. The addicted person becomes the central figure around whom family members organize their behaviors and reactions. As a result of this unhealthy living, “wounds” are formed and activated. These wounds may be long-lasting and require counseling and/or attendance at groups such as Al-Anon, Ala-teen, etc. However, with improved communication and support, healthy patterns can be integrated into the family system.
When a family member begins recovery, they start a new life – they speak and act in ways that are different from before. They might go to meetings frequently or avoid situations where they might experience a relapse trigger. Without family interaction, the recovering person learns to speak one language while family members are left to decode that language without much support. Joining a loved one in the recovery process — with education and support — will help family members best respond in these situations.
The Family Program group schedule is “open.” This means that there is no definitive beginning or end of sessions. Clients and their family members are free to attend as many sessions as they would like. Educational group sessions and individual family counseling are offered as long as the client is involved with services at Meridian HealthCare.
Addiction is a family disease; every member of the family is generally affected in some way by an individual’s substance use. While other family members may not have an addiction problem, the Family Program can still provide valuable insight and information regarding their loved one’s addiction. The Family Program can assist in providing information on supporting an individual as he or she starts on the road to Recovery.
