The Importance of Family Therapy

When a family member seeks treatment for mental health issues and addiction, it’s important for the whole family to play a role in recovery. The common misconception is that only the person who is seeking treatment needs help. This often creates an “identified patient” in the family. One person displays symptoms through addiction and mental illness but the reality is that the whole family system needs help. When the family is involved, it also helps the addicted person feel supported and makes lifelong recovery more possible.

When someone struggles with addiction and mental health issues, it’s common for their family and closest loved ones to deny that there’s a problem and ignore visible warning signs. Sometimes parents will even say things like, “My son doesn’t use drugs because he’s in his room all day.” Turning a blind eye either willfully or out of fear and not wanting to face the problem can cause further damage and enable the person who is suffering. 

Family members need to come to terms with what’s happening. Accepting that there’s a problem is the only way to get your loved one the help they need. Family therapy is a healthy environment where an objective therapist provides guidance and will guide your family through the recovery journey. It’s important to reconnect over positives and learn together as opposed to focusing on the “identified patient.”

In this episode of A Wise Mind Present by Sabino Recovery, host Sam Zimmer is joined by Dr. Vicki L. Loyer  Ph.D., LMFT, the CEO/President of Blue Door Psychotherapy. Dr. Loyer brings together the strength of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and the efficiency of Competency Focused Family Therapy to provide relief for families and help individuals and their families learn healthy coping mechanisms. Sam and Dr. Loyer discuss how families can care for a member of the family who is suffering from addiction and mental health issues. They also discuss the importance of healing family systems and how to improve family dynamics. 

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1-800-662-4357

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