Family Counseling Explained

At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we provide outpatient services that help our patients overcome their addictions and substance use disorders. There are several types of counseling services that we offer, including individual one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and family counseling.  

Family counseling is a form of counseling that helps the patient work through the obstacles that are causing the substance use. By having a strong focus on the patient’s family’s strengths and resources, our counselors work with the patient to provide a plan for recovery.  

Family counseling can result in a huge impact on the patient’s life, as this form of counseling helps to repair and rebuild relationships between the patient and their family that may have been damaged due to the substance use disorder. We recognize how substance use disorders can really affect all members of the patient’s family, and that repairing these relationships is key for a successful recovery. Being that our patients are attending our outpatient program, there is a high chance that the patients are living with these family members. Therefore, it is vital that our family counseling services repair the relationships between the patients and their families. 

This form of counseling involves having the patient’s counselor meet with the patient and at least one other member of their family. This allows the counselor to teach the family member methods and skills that they can use to provide proper support to the patient. 

All members of the patient's family can be involved in the family counseling treatment – this includes spouses, partners, and parents. An interesting fact here is that the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence considers addiction a family disease. Therefore, it is crucial that during the patient’s treatment process and recovery journey, we involve the family members that could make a significant positive impact on that patient’s recovery.  

As a result of this, there are many benefits that can positively impact the entire family. This includes recognizing the issues at home that could contribute or bring on substance use, learning more about addiction as a disease, educating family members on how to provide proper support, repairing damaged relationships, and learning ways to manage stress. 

Other benefits include reducing feelings of isolation, enabling stronger communication between the patient and their family members, rebuilding trust between family members, and educating both the patient and their family on how to prevent a relapse. This counseling is not only beneficial for the patient – family members will feel supported as they will receive guidance, support, and a judgment-free environment to share and express their feelings and concerns. The common theme here is that the benefits of family counseling serve to improve the lives of both the patient and their families, enabling a greater chance of a successful recovery. 

It is important to note that family counseling is not the only or main treatment method that a patient should receive. Consistent individual one-on-one counseling with the patient’s counselor is key for a successful recovery. Additionally, as mentioned above, our group therapy is also very helpful for our patients. 

Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, provides outpatient services to patients suffering from substance use disorders and addictions. We provide total and complete treatment under one roof, which includes behavioral health, psychiatric, wellness, and medication-assisted treatment services. Our mottos at Victory are “patients come first, everything else follows” and “let recovery be your victory”. By following our mottos each and every day, we ensure that our patients will succeed, allowing them to live a better, healthier life.  

For more information on our family counseling services, as well as all the outpatient addiction/recovery services that we offer, visit our website www.victoryrp.com