Families Recovering Together Against Addiction

The family program at Sanford Behavioral Health was created to include our patients and their loved ones in the treatment process and beyond. At Sanford Behavioral Health, family involvement is crucial to a healthy, long-term recovery. And during this time, we are offering our family programs on virtual platforms.

Our recovering together program is focused on helping family members of addicts develop a better understanding of both addiction and recovery. This helps them provide the support their loved ones need to heal, grow and move forward. In this program, participants will learn about resources available in their community that can help during treatment and aftercare. To learn more about our family programs and why recovering together is important, reach out to us today at 616.202.3326. We are always here to help.

Recovering Together Is Important

The family program is a psycho-educational group to help family members more fully understand the disease of addiction. They also learn effective ways to support their loved ones through treatment and recovery. The family program is a repeating cycle of four educational sessions. These sessions are:

  1. Addiction as a family disease
  2. Understanding the process of the condition of addiction
  3. Understanding post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and early recovery
  4. Communication skills for recovering families

Family members of Sanford Behavioral Health patients in any of our programs are welcome. A master’s level clinician facilitates the group, and it’s open to all supporting friends and family. We define “family” as parents, spouses, siblings, adult children (and accompanied adolescents), significant others, and encouraging friends.

recovering together family on beach

Contact us at 616.202.3326 or our email for more information and virtual login instructions.

The Benefits of the Family Program

The Sanford Behavioral Health family program is a unique and powerful way for families to come together during recovering from mental health issues. This program has multiple benefits for the individuals recovering and the family unit. Participants are given individualized counseling sessions alongside family therapy, creating a strong foundation of support that aids in recovering together. Clear communication between each member and the therapist encourages healing and assistance, fostering supportive relationships with one another while developing the skills needed to cope with triggers, behavior changes, and new strategies for an improved lifestyle. Though it can seem complicated or intimidating at first, families recovering together through this program can often find clarity and understanding, enabling them to strengthen their bond moving forward.

Support Groups for Family Members of Drug Addicts

The friends and family support group provides continuing help and connection. It is guided by the common experience of loving someone with a substance use disorder (SUD). The group allows people to share and discuss their challenges and successes. The group selects topics to be discussed. Anyone who has been through our family program or a previous Sanford Behavioral Health family program is welcome to attend. The one-hour group is a support group, not a therapy group, and is facilitated by our staff.

recovering together family on beach

For more information and virtual login instructions, send an email to the above email address.

Resources for Family Members of Addicts

Coping with a loved one’s addiction can be difficult and overwhelming. Taking care of yourself and seeking resources to help you understand the situation and support your family member is important. Fortunately, many sources are available for family members of addicts recovering together. These include online support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon, which offer access to online meetings, literature, and information about substance use in general.

National organizations like The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids provide resources for parents, and extended family members, such as hotlines, community events, and tools to start conversations with an addicted loved one. Finally, it is helpful to seek professional treatment such as counseling or addiction specialists who can provide personalized advice on how best to handle the situation. Although recovering together is never easy, these resources are available to help families find comfort in the shared struggles of recovering from addiction.

Learn More About Sanford Behavioral Health’s Family Programs and Resources

Sanford Behavioral Health is dedicated to helping individuals and families recover together. Our family program allows members of the same household or close circles of friends to come together in a safe, therapeutic setting and provide comfort while recovering. We also offer resources for those recovering from an addiction, such as support groups and hotlines, so they can access the tools and resources they need.

We look forward to helping you get on the path of recovering together. Please contact us at 616.202.3326 to learn more about our family programs and resources.

Sanford Behavioral Health is licensed and accredited as an addiction, eating disorder, and co-occurring mental health treatment facility, serving all of Michigan and beyond. Each of Sanford’s facilities in Greater Grand Rapids is carefully and diligently crafted to create a welcoming and comforting environment. Sanford is led by a psychiatrist-led team of medical, clinical, and support personnel providing medication-assisted, evidenced-based treatment to residential, outpatient, and telehealth patients. For more information, visit www.sanfordbehavioralhealth.com.