One of the most critical ingredients in a recipe for recovery success is family support. At the same time, family members may be unaware of their part in a loved one’s recovery. It can also be problematic if a loved one’s substance abuse has harmed those around them. It is up to each family member to figure out how to define and fulfill a supporting function.
To encourage and support rehabilitation, family members can adopt appropriate roles and behaviors. A parent, for example, could play the part of a loving but strong parent who encourages their child to make intelligent and productive decisions. Holding their loved ones accountable for their actions and rewarding positive choices are examples of healthy family roles and practices.
Providing family psychoeducation is the most effective strategy to assist people in their recovery. Family psychoeducation is an evidence-based therapy that has been found to minimize recurrence rates and help people with mental illnesses recover. (Murray-Swank & Dixon, 2005) Providing emotional support, education, resources during times of crisis, and problem-solving skills are among the fundamental aspects of effective family psychoeducation programs that have been developed. (Murray-Swank & Dixon, 2005)
The essential components of all evidence-based family psychoeducational models are joining, education, problem-solving, structural changes in treatment, and multifamily contact. (Murray-Swank & Dixon, 2005) A practitioner is aware of the potential for cultural differences in socializing and tailors the socializing portion of the joining sessions to the participants’ cultural settings. The practitioner assists family members in better understanding their loved one and what they can do throughout their education. The practitioner uses appropriate behavioral, cognitive, and communication skills to address challenges created by the condition while working with the family to identify strategies for dealing with challenging situations. The practitioner collaborates with the family and the consumer to make a strengths-based environment in which all members are respectful of one another, resulting in the best environment for recovery. Participation in local family support groups is recommended in multifamily and single-family settings to reduce social isolation and stigma. (Murray-Swank & Dixon, 2005)
Overall, one of the most significant rehabilitation resources for a person with a severe disease is the love and support of family. In many high-income countries, family-centered rehabilitation treatment is a top emphasis. To assist service planners, practitioners, family members, and persons with mental health issues, a family-focused recovery framework is required and guarantees that such care is entrenched within practice guidelines.
References
Murray-Swank, A. & Dixon, L. (2005). Family psychoeducation as an evidence-based practice. CNS spectrums, 9, 905-12, 10.1017/S109285290000972X.