Substance abuse and chemical addiction affect not only the individual, but also the people around them such as friends, family, and partners. Excessive and harmful drug or alcohol use can cause breakdowns in intimacy, relationships, and communication. It can often be very hard for family members or spouses to watch their loved ones suffer and wanting to help but not knowing how. While individual therapy sessions are a very effective method of treatment, specialists in the field of addiction and mental health recommend group therapies such as family conferences and couples counseling. They agree that the chances of long-term recovery are much higher when partners and family members are involved in the treatment process.
Couples Counseling and Family Therapy
Substance abuse often has an impact on relationships but can also cause problems in other areas that then lead to problems within those relationships. These can involve financial and legal issues, loss of the job or loss of the home, or loss of friendships and other close relationships. All of these are stressful events and can put a strain on the communication and the emotional and physical connection between partners, particularly is one or both are experiencing emotional distancing as a result of drug and alcohol use.
How Can It Help?
Group therapy services around Minneapolis such as couples counseling aim to restore healthy patterns of communication between spouses and families again, so as to form a strong base on which to rebuild their relationships. They also aim to educate all participants, not just those directly suffering from substance abuse, to help everyone involved become aware of what characterizes a relapse and how to prevent it. For long-term recovery, it is important that people suffering from addiction are taught coping skills for difficult situations when they transition back into the community outside of their treatment programs. Avoiding relapse is even more likely when the family or partner is involved as well, and group therapies aim to teach the same kinds of coping skills to everyone involved.
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