Running Head: Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy 5

Running Head: Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy

Fairooz Kermalli

SOW5712- Interventions with Substance Abusers

March 2, 2008

As a system, a family is made up of individuals who engage in energetic and continuous interactions with one another. From these interactions, individuals learn many things about themselves, and also about the key players in their family (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Patterns become more noticeable as time wears on and the whole family is affected anytime one family member’s behavior is altered (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). When it comes to addictions, impacted family members can play a key role in the recovery of the addicted individual. Through family therapy, these individuals can explore their feelings about the addiction, learn how to deal with these feelings, and learn how to help the addicted individual in the recovery process family (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Thus, it can be seen that family therapy can be an invaluable tool when it comes to addiction treatment.

To begin with, there may be a few questions raised when it comes to using family systems therapy as a technique for working with addictions. Why focus on the whole family instead of just the individual with the addiction? How does doing so help? Well, as Van Wormer and Davis (2008) point out, “to treat the individual in isolation is to ignore the context in which much of that behavior takes place.” Isolating the addicted individual and referring them to treatment is a disservice to both the addicted individual and their family because the family’s involvement with the addiction is crucial for recovery, and it is important for family members to explore and sort out their feelings about this disease that has impacted them in such a large way. The maximum effect can be achieved when family distress is decreased and the family is taught strategies about how to help their loved one recover and stay in treatment (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

Moving forward, there is a stages-of-change model that exists and using this model is helpful in increasing families’ knowledge about the help that is needed and the change that needs to occur in the role the substances plays in the family. There are five stages in this model; precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). In the precontemplation stage, assessment usually occurs, and the goal is to have family members engaged from this very first step. The therapist can find out what the family is looking for and can begin referring the family to a program like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon. In the contemplation stage, the family is making a shift from being hesitant to being ready to acknowledge the problem to perhaps being angry about the effects the addiction is having on the family (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). In the preparation stage, the therapist helps the family strategize and guides the family to resources and support. The action stage consists of drawing the addicted individual into treatment, and continuing to help the family build solidarity. Lastly, we come to the maintenance stage. In this stage, recovery has begun and the therapist is working with the family to accommodate this change and then maintain the newly learned behaviors without the help of the therapist (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

When working with families in addiction treatment, it is also important for the counselor to look at the protective and risk factors that the family is exposed to. When it comes to adolescent substance abuse, such things like neighborhood influences, economic deprivation and family chaos all put an individual at risk of developing an addiction. Once a counselor has identified the risk factors involved in the family, they can introduce protective factors or practices that will help the family get back on track (Liddle, 1999). The families’ cultural circumstances also need to be taken into account by the family therapist so that they can be as effective as possible.

In conclusion, using family systems therapy as a technique when working with individuals with an addiction makes a lot of sense because the addiction affects not only the individual with the addiction, but those who interact with this individual constantly; or, their family. The family can be used as a source of motivation for the individual while on their path up to and during recovery. Also, since the family members have been deeply impacted by the addiction, it is important that they explore their feelings as they work through the stages of change, and learn how to adapt to the new behaviors with new styles of interaction. When a therapist takes protective factors, risk factors, and cultural considerations into account, they become able to work more effectively with the family. Unfortunately, working with the family of an individual who has an addiction may not always be possible, but the least a therapist can do is refer them to a program like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon, so that they have some kind of outlet for their emotions.

References

Liddle, H.A. (1999) Theory development in a family based therapy for adolescent drug abuse. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 28(4), 521-532.

Van Wormer, K. & Davis, D. R. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective,2nd edition. (New York: Thomson Publishing).