As you read through this blog you will see that I include both Family Recovery Coaching and Family Recovery Counseling. I do this intentionally, as I see both as critical resources for families who are struggling with addiction, trauma, and mental health issues. I want to start this blog with definitions of both kinds of…
Transform therapeutic recovery into a family healing journey with our 7 powerful techniques.
When a loved one grapples with addiction and trauma, the ripple effects often extend far beyond the individual, enveloping the entire family in a whirlwind of emotional and psychological turmoil. Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma, can profoundly impact family members, altering their lives and perspectives in significant ways. This blog post delves into…
Welcome back to part 2 of this blog series on compassion fatigue as a common experience of families who are struggling with a loved one’s addiction and trauma. As was stated in the first blog post, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when…
Understanding Family-Based Compassion Fatigue: A Guide for Families Coping with Addiction and Trauma Welcome to part 1 of our 4-part series on Compassion Fatigue in families dealing with a loved one’s addiction and traumatic stress. Families facing these challenges often focus intensely on the needs of the affected individual, but it’s crucial to recognize that…
Dear Reader, My recent blog posts have highlighted a recurring theme: families frequently seek recommendations and help for a loved one’s addiction, but often struggle to implement the suggested actions. Why is this such a common issue? Many addiction professionals have opinions on this. For me the answer is secondary trauma associated with the day-to-day…
Dear Reader, In my last blog post, I discussed how families dealing with a loved one’s addiction and trauma need to shift their perspective from merely supporting the struggling individual to embracing collective recovery, understanding the complexities involved, and engaging in new, healing behaviors. I suggested that families often ask for help, but they evaluate…
Dear Reader, In my 42 years as an addiction counselor, family therapist, and traumatologist, I have worked with countless families grappling with their loved ones’ mental health issues, addiction, and trauma. What strikes me most is the shared experience across these families: the love, fear, and confusion about what to do next when they feel…
Introduction In the realm of addiction and trauma recovery, one might wonder why family healing is emphasized so frequently. After all, isn’t the responsibility for change primarily on the family member struggling with addiction? While this question is valid, it’s essential to delve into the reasons why family healing plays such a pivotal role in…
In the family program provided by the Michael Barnes Family Institute @ NRT, our goal is to help families move from “we are a family with a loved one in recovery from addiction” to “we are a family in recovery from addiction and the trauma experienced by our family system.” This is an important distinction,…
