Types of Family Therapy for Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is not discriminant. It affects a wide range of people across all demographics, and no one is immune to its ravages. However, there are a number of treatment options available to help combat addiction. One of the most successful methods is family therapy. It is a relatively new approach, primarily developed for teens, but is gaining in use because it continues to make a difference in the lives of many families.

Why is Family Therapy Important?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are many different types of family therapy that may be helpful. Family members are some of the most important people in your life. They are the people you live with and the people that you see most often. They are also the people most closely related to your addiction, whether as victims of it or as factors contributing to it. As such, addiction treatment that centers on the family can have beneficial and long lasting results.

For an addiction treatment center that offers family therapy, call 800-256-3490. We can help you and your family beat the addiction.

Family Behavior Therapy

Family therapy works to correct behaviors that lead to substance abuse.

Family behavior therapy involves creating a treatment plan with the addicted person and at least one family member. They attend counseling sessions together, set goals together, and learn behavioral strategies together. The family member is then encouraged to implement the learned behavioral changes and reward the completion of specific goals.

Multisystemic Family Therapy

Multisystemic therapy is typically used to treat teens with substance abuse disorders. It focuses on the environmental aspects of the teen’s identity, including family, peers, school, and neighborhood; it then determines how the teen views those opinions on substance abuse and how they affect the teen. It then seeks to change the teen’s perception of drugs and drug culture to one that is more conducive to sobriety. It works very well in teens with a severe addiction.

Multidimensional Family Therapy

Multidimensional therapy is primarily intended for adolescents that have already been in trouble with the law for delinquency or substance abuse. It focuses on parents or guardians of the adolescents using schools, community centers, and even the justice system to help monitor their child and implement the desired behavioral changes. It includes a focus on individual accountability and good communication; it is shown to be effective in the target populations.

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Brief Strategic Family Therapy

This treatment strategy is best used when it is determined that substance abuse is partially or completely caused by interactions among family members. In this therapy, the counselor seeks to build relationships with each family member, observe their interactions with one another, and correct behaviors and interactions that are creating an environment that results in unwanted results, including substance abuse.

All of these types of family therapy have a very high success rate when used in the right circumstances. According to the Mayo Clinic the therapy that works for you depends on your individual circumstances. Of course, no single treatment option is right for everyone or every situation, but it is beneficial to explore all treatment options when it comes to combating addiction.

If you believe that family based therapy may be right for your situation, call us today at 800-256-3490. Centers.com can help you evaluate all of your options and come up with a solution that is right for you.