The Importance of Family Counseling With Substance Use Disorders

Population and intervention technique Substance use disorders Family therapy

Addiction as a family disease many family-based interventions share the assumption that problem behaviors are tied to relational behavior patterns of various social systems in which they exist, most specifically the family when compared to a no treatment group, family therapy presented with positive results immediately following the intervention as well as during a follow up period (Sexton and Alexander, 2002).

Relationship Issues Lack of Boundaries Enmeshment Lack of healthy communication Criticism, blaming Defensiveness Contempt Stomewalling Threatening Nagging Promises (unable to keep) lecturing

List of family roles assumed within addicted families The Enabler The Scapegoat The Mascot The Victim The Lost Child The Hero

Specific Models or Techniques for Family Interventions focus on the overall functioning of the family relationships and not necessarily the substance use itself structural family therapy family systems therapy behavior and cognitive-behavioral therapy functional family therapy.

References Alexander, James., Robbins, Michael.,  (2010). Functional Family Therapy: A Phase-Based and Multi-Component Approach to Change. Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth. Devine, Cindy. & Braithwaite, Valerie. (1993). The Survival roles of children of alcoholics: their measurement and validity. Addiction. (88),69-78. Family Roles. Adult Children of Alcoholics.   http://www.adultchildrenalcoholics.com/family-role s/ McNeece, C. & DiNitto, Diana. (2012). Chemical Dependency A Systems Approach. (4th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson. Nichols, M. P. (2011). The essentials of family therapy. (5 ed.). New York: Prentice Hall. O' Farrell, Timothy., Schein, Abigail., &  (2011). Behavioral Couples Therapy for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Journal of Family Psychotherapy. 22 (3),193-215. Sexton, Thomas., Alexander, James.,  (2002). Family-Based Empirically Supported interventions. The Counseling Psychologist. 30 (328),238- 261.