Summary
Contents
Group Activities for Families in Recovery offers therapists a wealth of activities designed to help families struggling with addiction address problem areas of functioning, and ultimately shift from dysfunctional patterns to healthy living. Written by expert practitioners in family-oriented substance abuse treatment programs, this text focuses on group therapy as a key component to treatment.
Beginning with a brief overview of the issues involved in working from a systemic family therapy perspective of addiction, the text discusses practical guidelines for working with families in groups and how to best utilize the exercise in the book. The collection of 30 group activities are suitable for a variety of family-oriented substance abuse treatment groups. They are divided into seven sections covering the key issues of:
1. Family Structure; 2. Family Identity; 3. Sober Fun; 4. Toward Health; 5. Anger Management; 6. Healthy Communication; 7. Parenting
The activities are varied and include topics presented through expressive arts (drawing, writing, acting), game-playing, problem solving, enactments, worksheets, and roleplaying. The activities can be used individually, incorporated into another program, or stand alone as a 16-week (or longer) program. They can also be adapted for use in groups where children or present, or for adult-family groups.
Families in Recovery I: Activity Title: What's True and What's Not? Family Goals and Relapse Issues: Activity Mode: Psycho-Educational (Handouts/Worksheet)
Families in Recovery I: Activity Title: What's True and What's Not? Family Goals and Relapse Issues: Activity Mode: Psycho-Educational (Handouts/Worksheet)
Rationale
Many family members we work with are relieved when we frame addiction as a “family disease” that impacts not only the individual substance abuser but also everyone in the family. We refer to “early recovery” as a stage not only for the substance abuser but for the family as well. We identify unhealthy patterns family members have become entrenched in as the family learned to function around an addiction, as well as goals for moving toward changing those patterns. We talk about common experiences, “myths” family ...
