Nearly half of Americans have a family member or close friend who’s struggled with drug addiction, according to the Pew Research Center. Drug addiction doesn’t just impact the individual struggling with addiction, it also can greatly interfere with their relationships and family dynamic. In this article, you’ll learn more about the various communication activities for family therapy to know about if you are considering seeking support through family therapy.
At East Coast Recovery, we are a leading Massachusetts addiction recovery center that offers personalized treatment to help clients safely and effectively progress along their road to recovery. No two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a range of addiction treatment options and therapies so you can receive the best possible care for your unique road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your unique recovery journey.
Why Is Family Therapy Important?
Before diving into the various communication activities for family therapy, it’s important to understand what family therapy is and how it can help your addiction recovery journey. Family therapy is a safe space where you, a licensed therapist, and your family members share their honest feelings about their relationship with you and other family members attending the therapy session.
Because addiction can be extremely harmful to your relationships, family therapy offers people in recovery the opportunity to rebuild these relationships in a safe environment. Family therapy not only helps rebuild your relationships, but your family is oftentimes one of the greatest support systems. And, having family members who you can lean on and keep you accountable along your recovery is important.
4 Communication Activities for Family Therapy
Communication is key in any relationship, especially relationships with your family members. Oftentimes, a disconnect in communication can interfere with one’s relationships. Below are several common communication activities for family therapy to know about.
Active Listening
Active listening helps fully understand each individual’s thoughts and feelings– without interruption. All too often it can be easy to only think about your own opinions and thoughts that you forget to hear, listen to, and understand another person’s opinions and perspective. Therefore, active listening exercises aim to make space for each family member’s thoughts and feelings to be listened to by everyone so each person feels not only heard but understood.
Conflict Resolution Role-Playing
Another communication activity for family therapy is conflict resolution role-playing, where an individual identifies a past conflict they may have had with another family member and role-play the situation as a way to resolve any similar future disagreements. This allows for both sides to better understand the other, as well as alleviate similar future disagreements.
Positive Affirmation Exercises
Positive affirmation exercises and letting your family members know how much you love and appreciate them are other great ways to help rebuild your relationships with others. For example, family members can share what qualities they admire in another family member, or how they are grateful for each family member and list specific qualities or past experiences to show why you are grateful for them.
Routine Family Meetings
Scheduling routine family meetings where your family comes together to check in with one another and resolve any ongoing conflict is another healthy communication activity. Your licensed therapist during your family therapy may recommend that your family meet all together on a more regular basis (outside of just your family therapy sessions) as a way to facilitate more regular communication and resolve conflict on the spot, rather than letting disagreements pile up.
Help Is Available at East Coast Recovery
Family therapy can be an effective treatment option to help individuals in recovery rebuild relationships that may have been fractured at the hands of their addiction. There are a range of communication activities, from conflict resolution role-playing to active listening, and more that can help rebuild your relationships and support your overall road to recovery.
At East Coast Recovery, our team of compassionate addiction specialists and mental health professionals are here to help you every step of the way along your unique recovery journey. You should never have to suffer in silence with your addiction– help is available! We offer a wide range of addiction treatment options and programs so you can receive the tailored support you need to lead a healthier, happier quality of life. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
