Recognizing that family involvement in addiction treatment can lead to better outcomes for people struggling with substance use disorders, ETHOS Treatment LLC is launching a six-week program for families seeking to best support their loved ones — and each other — during this delicate time of vulnerability, growth, and transition.

“Family patterns and relationships are impacted severely by the presence of active substance use,” said licensed clinician Pat Brown, who leads the sessions. “Acknowledging that the whole family is now in recovery is the first steppingstone to building meaningful positive and sustainable change.”

The Family Program is designed for the loved ones of people currently engaged in therapy at ETHOS Treatment, with sessions billed to their insurance benefits per level of care. Those who do not have a loved one in treatment with ETHOS can work with Brown to figure out any necessary logistics before enrolling in the program.

The weekly sessions, which are held online on Wednesdays from 6-8 PM, arm family members with accurate, reliable information while showing them how to take care of themselves as they heal as a family.

“Our goal as an organization is to help families achieve wellness as a unit,” said Brown.

Each week, the group session includes an educational component on an important topic, coupled with the sharing of thoughts, ideas, and strategies — all designed to help make full family recovery possible. The series’ themes are:

Week One

Working with Active Addiction: How to support the person we love, not the addiction.

Week Two

Recovering Together: Stages of family recovery. Understanding each stage of addiction recovery.

Week Three

Guilt & Shame for the Addicted Person & The Family System: Identifying these attributes and working through solutions.

Week Four

12 Steps: What are the 12 Steps? How support groups work for our loved ones. How support groups can work for us.

Week Five

Family Roles in Addiction & Recovery: How addiction disrupts wellness in the family. Identifying past roles and future opportunities.

Week Six

Full-Family Healing: Bringing new practices to light throughout the family.

“We address families’ questions, including ‘How long should my loved one continue in treatment?’ and ‘Do I serve alcohol at this holiday party?'” Brown said. “We also help guide families through many of the difficult decisions, including whether at-home drug testing or use of breathalyzer is right for you. You are not alone. There are roadmaps and resources that can help you navigate the many trapdoors of recovery and help your family heal.”

With outpatient treatment centers in Philadelphia, West Chester, Plymouth Meeting, Collegeville, Broomall, Jenkintown, and Wyomissing, as well as telehealth, ETHOS Treatment helps adults and adolescents with mental health issues and substance use disorders through individual counseling, small group, and family therapy, all of which maximize the potential for long-term, sustainable recovery. Several locations also offer specialty programs for people with gambling disorders and eating disorders, as well as groups specifically for first responders and people who have experienced trauma. For more information about the Family Program, call 267-669-0300.