Family Counseling in Addiction

By Dr. Ahmed

Albehairy , M.DPsychiatry Consultant

Psychotherapy vs. counseling

Psychotherapy: is an intentional interpersonal relationship used by trained psychotherapists to aid a client in problems of living. It aims to increase the individual's well-being.

Psychotherapy vs. counseling

Counseling:

it involves facilitatating personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, , educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns.

The aims of counselling

Counselling can help people:

• discuss their problems honestly and openly,

• deal with issues that are preventing them from achieving their goals and ambitions, and

• have a more positive outlook on life

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

• disease model of addiction.• Motivational skills training.• Signs of enabling.• Main concepts of follow up .• Lapse and relapse.• Role of the family in each therapeutic step.• Role of the key person.• Trust vs. mistrust • How to deal with patients cravings.• More frequent questions from the family.

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

• disease model of addiction.

disease model

reward system

personality disorders and changes.

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

• Signs of enabling.• Obsessively thinking or ruminating about what to

do to get others to change behaviors. • Protecting someone from the consequences of

their addiction. • Constantly cleaning up the chaos to keep the

status quo. • Ignoring mood-altering substance abuse

patterns. • Creating lies or excuses for other's drug using or

drinking patterns.

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

• Signs of enabling.• Nagging or starting arguments then ignoring

drug use and drinking. • Allowing the person in active addiction to live in

the same household when they are abusive or continue with destructive behaviors.

• Tolerating individuals driving under the influence of mood-altering substances

• Ignoring people's self destructive behaviors for fear of starting arguments

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

Coping with Relapse

• Process.

• Handling crises and emergency situations.

• Indications for referral to family therapy.

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

Handling craving• Encouraging the individual to express craving• to them• Not panicking, as craving can be handled in

ways• other than using drugs• Understanding that the process of craving is• temporary.

Emphasizing issues in Family Counselling in Addiction

Handling craving

• Giving him/her something to eat or drink. The• craving is often reduced when a person’s hunger• or thirst is quenched• Talking it through when craving occurs• Distracting the individual by playing a game,• reading, going to a movie, listening to music or• going out to visit some relatives, etc

Family Therapy

• confessions and confrontations.• Parenting skills.• Discussions skills.• Solving problem skills.• Anger management in the family.• Family firmness.• Therapeutic alliance ( patient , family and

therapists).

Thank you