Showing compassion with a purpose. Addiction is a family disease. The spouse, partner, children, parents and siblings are affected by the addict’s actions. They have hid, lied, enabled, yelled, stolen, flushed and inhibited the actions of the addict for years. Now they need to start to rebuild trust. This is a very difficult task in itself, but they also must stop acting co-dependently with the addict. Acting in a non-co-dependent manner is a behavior that is as different for the family, as it will be for the addict. Luckily, there are Recovery Coaches for Families. Melissa works with several top family recovery coaches with marriage and family therapist backgrounds that provide family recovery services and work with the family during the first months of the recovery process.
Interventions. Not many people can handle the intensity of an intervention. An intervention is a meeting which the entire family and friends tell the addict what harm the behavior, drug or alcohol has done to them and how much they want to addict to seek treatment. An intervention of a loved one takes an emotion toll on family and friends that participate. But, the goal is common: the client must go into treatment. MK Recovery Coaching recommends certified, experienced interventionists that use the care, consideration and focus that is required to meet this goal. Intervention is arguably the most critical element of family recovery services.
An intervention is a delicate moment in the life of a family. Most decisions to go to a treatment facility are not often made by the individual addict/alcoholic. Many times the family decides that an intervention is necessary. If you have ever seen the reality TV show “Intervention” you have witnessed the most troubling aspects of an intervention. If handled well, the addict/alcoholic will know they need help. A certified interventionist will be recommended by MK Recovery Coaching, but many things must be put in place prior to the intervention. MK/RC will assist the family in careful preparation selecting the right treatment center. Insurance companies have to be contacted, and the insurance companies evaluate the treatment center’s costs for coverage. This often takes a week prior to the intervention. Transportation needs to be arranged, plans for driving, airplane tickets or train tickets must be purchased. Then, the intervention happens and hopefully, the individual finally decides to seek treatment. The person will leave immediately after the intervention ends for the treatment facility and either the recovery coach drives the individual to a treatment center that is close, or escorts the person on an airplane or train. It is advised the coach go with the individual to ensure a sober client enters the treatment facility, rather than a family member.
What happens in treatment centers? The individual will be monitored closely during the treatment center’s entry process, usually a detox is required of 5-7 days. There is usually a period of no communication with family or friends that last up to two weeks. Cells phones, computers are not allowed in many treatment centers. Calling cards are used to contact family once the blackout period has ended. Family visits and therapeutic weekends are usually planned mid-way in the treatment stay. Melissa will communicate frequently with the client to ensure throughout the 30 or 90 day stay that the facility meets their outlined services and a positive result will be met. At the end of the treatment period, the individual and their therapists create an aftercare plan, and usually a recovery coach is part of this plan. Melissa can return to the treatment center and escort the individual home.
What happens once the addict returns home? Families are urged to attend AlaNon, ACoA or AlaTeen during the treatment stay so they can talk to other people and families about their experience and gain some of their strength and hope in dealing with a recovering person in their home. Yes, things change. The family has to change as well as the addict. To help facilitate the change, MK Recovery Coaches can be retained on a 24-hour basis for a prescribed time, to guide and slowly adjust the recovering addict back into their world, to work as a cushion between and addict and the family, as both parties adjust. The world is a scary place after an extended stay in the safe environment of a treatment center. Returning an addict to the same world that caused the individual to ‘use’ in the first place, is tricky. Families are often just as scared. There are no guarantees. If you want to hope for the best, then Melissa will be there to guide the individual, the spouse and the family through this difficult time.
If you are interested in purchasing Melissa’s book on recovery coaching, click below.
Recovery Coaching
A Guide to Coaching People in Recovery from Addictions
(Second Edition)
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