Family
Program

At Hemet Valley Recovery Center and Sage Retreat, we understand and acknowledge that the disease of addiction affects the whole family. That’s why we offer comprehensive family education and recovery programming.

How Does Addiction Affect the Entire Family?

You may have heard the phrase “Addiction is a family disease.” That means chronic substance abuse will eventually affect every facet of your family dynamic.

No one can live in an alcoholic or drug-dependent family without it changing them. Research suggests addiction puts enormous mental, physical, emotional, social, and financial stress on families. The results can include lifelong emotional and behavioral health impairment among all family members. Hallmarks of addiction include dysfunctional behaviors like enabling and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as denial, deflection, and emotional withdrawal.

Fortunately, our family recovery program offers a path to healing for everyone involved.

Since the 1970s, chemical dependency treatment research has indicated that family involvement can significantly improve an addicted loved one’s chances of recovery. It also increases family cohesion and individual functioning. HVRC has developed a comprehensive program to teach our residents’ families the facts about addiction and recovery.

Family Addiction Treatment

To address addiction as a family disease and begin unlearning the dysfunction that perpetuates substance use disorders, we recommend as many family members as possible participate in our two-day intensive family week.

The groups address family members’ complex emotions, including confusion, anger, guilt, resentment, and stress. They also capitalize on the compassion and caring at the heart of your family. During these meetings, we encourage participants to listen to others’ experiences, while also finally being able to share their own. This process allows loved ones to develop stronger bonds with each other and move away from feelings of isolation and helplessness.

During these events, family members have opportunities to examine their feelings and behaviors. They will identify which ones are unsustainable and unhealthy for themselves and their chemically dependent loved ones. Through the group process, family members explore ways to change, and in doing so, to empower their addicted relative to accept personal responsibility and accountability.

The result is a happier, more educated, balanced family with a new understanding of themselves and renewed hope for the future.

Recovering as a Family

At Hemet Valley Recovery Center and Sage Retreat, we designed our Family Program to educate family members about the disease of chemical dependency. By participating, you will learn to recognize the disease and its effects. Just as substance use disorders distort reality denial and rationalization, families also suffer from a lack of insight.

We offer an intensive two-day program, during the program:

  • Lectures and group exercises help participants gain understanding and acceptance of chemical dependency as a family illness.
  • Family members gain new coping skills and tools to practice, thus unraveling the reactive, controlling, and enabling behaviors which unwittingly help maintain the disease.
  • The family begins to create an opening for recovery and healing by breaking the unspoken rules: “don’t talk,” “don’t trust,” and “don’t feel.”

Contact Us to Learn More

For more information about the Family Program at Hemet Valley Recovery Center and Sage Retreat, please contact:

Admissions & Assessment Department
1-888-918-1451

Family Therapist
Lisa Galvan, MS, LAADC-ICAADC: 951-791-4290