Family Therapy: Definition, Application, Process and Effectivity

Trying to compensate for feelings of shame and blame, they try to cover up for an individual by drawing attention to achievements and covering up incidents and problems that indicate a need for professional intervention. They often feel that they can handle everything on their own.

Mascot

This individual uses humor to minimize pain in situations and conversations, deflecting hurt away from the family and onto other topics. This person also refuses to take anything seriously as the comic response is a defense mechanism.

Lost Child

This individual seeks to keep the peace while suppressing their emotions. While they do nothing to stir up trouble during an uncertain time, they tend to suffer the most when substance use is present, for their inner conflict is rarely seen by others.

Scapegoat

This individual creates other problems to deflect attention from the real issue of substance use. They act out in their ways by picking fights to cause deliberate conflict or even getting in trouble with the law.

Enabler

This individual is unwilling and unable to hold the addicted individual accountable for actions and behaviors. Smoothing things over and doing everything to avoid confrontation, they seek to keep the person suffering from experiencing the natural and logical consequences of poor choices.

This prevents someone from seeking treatment, for they learn to see their behavior as “normal.” The enabler often feels like holding an addict accountable for their actions will cause the enabler to “lose” that person. The enabler does believe that they are helping the addict even as their codependence does consistent harm. 

Improved Understanding

Through education on the different aspects of addiction, family members have the opportunity to take self-assessments and gain insight into matters that were not clear before.

Improved Communication

Awareness of Family Dynamics

If these patterns exist, then all members of the family should receive counseling to yield the most positive outcome for everyone.

Open Sharing

Processing these dark feelings is much easier in a therapeutic environment when are all allowed a safe place to speak and receive feedback. 

Restored Trust

Healthy Boundaries

Drawing these boundaries and returning responsibilities back to your loved one is an essential first step to recovery for all. Clarifying these boundaries may not be easy, but it must be done for the benefit of all family members.

A Return to Self-care

However, family therapy involves identifying needs and finding resources for all people who have been impacted by the experience of addiction. As families move through the process of identifying self-care needs, members are better equipped to handle the road ahead with the resources they need to become healthy.

The counselor may help family members identify triggers for substance use, predict problems, and create solid strategies to minimize these occurrences.

Multidimensional Family Therapy

Young adults work on improving relationships, setting goals, and developing coping skills while parents and other family members focus on their addictive tendencies, unhealthy relationship patterns, and interpersonal skills that can help support an individual in their recovery process.

Behavioral Marital Therapy

Solution-focused Therapy

Focusing on the future of the family and not emphasizing how problems were created gives family members a feeling of hope that they can take an active role in creating a better future.

White Light Behavioral Health Services is a group of caring, committed professionals who seek to find solutions for hurting families in need. Cutting-edge mental health practices, a commitment to ongoing care, and follow-up with all family members ensure that you and your family will find peace and happiness once again.

Contact us today to set an appointment, and look forward to a brighter and more peaceful future.