Issues like addiction, intimacy disorders, eating disorders and mental illness can tear families apart. If one member is struggling with addiction or behavioral health problems, the entire family is struggling in some way. Research shows addiction and mental health treatment is more effective when family members are actively engaged in the recovery process. The Ranch mental health treatment programs involve family members in our so that everyone can recover together.

What Is Family Therapy Like?

To help you and your loved ones begin to repair your relationships, we offer regular family therapy as well as family programs. Our family programs vary by inpatient treatment location. Family members learn how to best support you in recovery while taking care of themselves. Loved ones gain important skills and insights through family therapy and The Ranch’s family programs.

Recognize Signs of Relapse

An important part of relapse prevention is having loved ones who know when to step in when you’re struggling. At The Ranch, family members learn how to recognize signs of relapse. Patients and their families learn specific actions to take when there’s a risk of relapse.

Set Healthy Boundaries

Sometimes families and friends have trouble setting healthy boundaries when a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or behavioral health issues. Supporting your ongoing recovery requires loved ones to learn not to enable you in your destructive behaviors. Similarly, you’ll learn to set boundaries that support your recovery and emotional well-being. Clear and healthy boundaries and expectations benefit both you and your family.

Learn to Communicate Better

Family therapy helps you communicate honestly and effectively. You’ll learn how family dynamics come into play during interactions and how to manage those dynamics better. You and your loved ones will learn ways to communicate that help you really “hear” each other.

Get Guidance From Licensed Professionals

Entering treatment for addiction or mental illness may indicate relationships are also in disrepair. The Ranch’s family therapists will help you put attention back on your loved ones. They’ll guide you through difficult topics. Our counselors are trained in behavioral therapy treatment models that teach you healthy ways to interact and behave as individuals/families.

Connect With Others Who Understand

The Ranch residential mental health and addiction treatment programs allow loved ones to connect with other clients’ families. This helps loved ones feel less alone in their struggles. Hearing from others going through similar challenges can feel relieving. It can also help families gain new insights into their problems.

Learn About Useful Resources

Clients and loved ones receive mental health and addiction counseling during residential treatment. Patients and their families also learn about resources that support ongoing recovery. The Ranch can connect you to several recovery resources that heal the family and the individual. Depending on your needs, your personal recovery plan may include continuing care suggestions like:

• Family therapy
• Mental health and addiction counseling
• 12-step programs for you and your loved ones
• Alternatives to the 12 Steps like Refuge Recovery or SMART Recovery
• Sober-living housing/transitional housing
• Medication management
• Intensive outpatient programs or other extended care options
• The Ranch alumni group

The Ranch offers family recovery programs at two locations:

The Ranch Tennessee Family Program

The Ranch Tennessee offers a two-day educational workshop and an intensive four-day family program. We explore addiction, trauma, and mental health. Families affected by addiction, eating disorders, mental illness and sex addiction get resources to heal along with their loved one. Our goals are to help families:

• Work through conflict
• Establish healthy communication patterns
• Lay the groundwork for ongoing recovery

The Ranch PA Family Program

The Ranch Pennsylvania inpatient treatment center offers a monthly family day. Loved ones learn about addiction and mental health. They discover ways to support you while taking care of themselves. The day is filled with family education, role-playing and exploring resources for long-term family recovery.

Why Family Involvement Is Important

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recommends that families are involved in treatment. Studies suggest that addiction treatment is more effective when it includes family therapy. Family support plays an important role in the success of people recovering from addiction and mental health issues. Family participation can:

• Increase the chances people stay in treatment
• Improve social and family relationships
• Help prevent relapse

Family-based approaches address the client’s primary substance abuse or mental health disorder during the recovery process. Treatment programs focus on improving family communication and addressing conflicts. They also educate loved ones on co-occurring disorders or substance use disorders. There’s extensive research on the role of family programs in addiction treatment. While much of this research is specific to adolescents, similar principles apply to all ages and types of behavioral health problems. Drug and alcohol abuse and other behavioral health issues put the entire family under immense stress. The Ranch family programs are both educational and therapeutic. Activities and topics help families learn more about addiction and mental illness, while connecting them with people experiencing similar struggles. Knowing other families are struggling with the same issues can be empowering. In this supportive setting, family members affected by addiction and mental health issues:

• Begin to understand how communication patterns and interactions with their loved ones contribute to behavioral health issues.
• Develop healthy coping strategies, especially when feelings of anxiety and fear arise.
• Learn to effectively support their loved one in recovery while taking care of themselves.
• Recognize signs of relapse.
• Set healthy boundaries and expectations that support long-term recovery.
• Communicate honestly and effectively.
• Learn about the disease of addiction and co-occurring disorders that contribute to destructive behaviors.

Benefits of Family Programs

Substance abuse and mental illness can wreak emotional havoc on the family unit. Family therapy and education are key elements of The Ranch recovery center programming. Clients and their loved ones begin rebuilding their lives and relationships. Under the guidance of compassionate professionals, this safe, supportive setting fosters open communication among family members and facilitates the healing process. Family programs help participants move past denial and come to terms with extremely challenging, painful situations. Family members learn to identify and stop damaging codependent or enabling behaviors. In this safe space, members are able to share secrets and difficult emotions. Family programs break the stigma of addiction or mental illness, which clients not only face from peers but also from family members. Benefits of treatment programs for families include:

• Enables working through the chaos of addiction
• Fosters greater empathy and understanding
• Changes negative interaction patterns
• Improves listening and communication skills
• Teaches healthy coping skills
• Enhances problem-solving skills
• Enables setting healthy boundaries
• Improves conflict-resolution abilities
• Rebuilds trusting relationships
• Decreases the risk of relapse
• Helps loved ones understand addiction, dual diagnosis and mental illness
• Repair Your Relationships

Family members must also heal from the emotional aftermath of drug and alcohol abuse, intimacy disorders, eating disorders and mental illness. We’ll help you pick up the pieces and rebuild your life together. Call The Ranch’s recovery advisors today to learn about our family programs. We can help. 1.844.876.7680