Individual Therapy & Family Therapy
When you choose Sisu Healing Partners as your place to heal from substance use and mental health disorders, you’re choosing personalized and empowering care. That means that your care plan will be as unique as your needs. When it comes to therapy, you may benefit from individual sessions, family sessions, or a combination of both. Family therapy is a great addition to care plans if you’re looking to increase family involvement in the healing process.
Individual Versus Family Therapy
We are dedicated to holistic care that gives you the tools to turn adversity into opportunity. Our beliefs about therapy are a prime example of the Sisu philosophy. We believe therapy is not the result of failure or sickness but rather an opportunity to grow and flourish.
Some form of individual therapy is almost always beneficial to those in recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. This is because addiction is more than a chemical dependence; there are often underlying psychological and environmental issues that can contribute to the development of addiction. These are called risk factors.
Common issues that should be addressed in therapy include:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety
- Familial history of addiction
- Experiences with poverty
- Discrimination due to gender, sexuality, race, or religion
- The death of a family member or friend
Addressing these issues one-on-one with a therapist is a great first step to healing. However, sometimes, it may be necessary to include family members in the therapy process as well. If you would like your family to be involved in your recovery and part of your support system, it’s important that the family unit function with empathy.
Family therapy is especially crucial for families that have experienced dysfunction, conflict, and trauma as a result of addiction or mental health issues.
Therapy can help your family address issues such as:
- Enabling behaviors
- Generational trauma
- Boundary setting
- Communication problems
- Cycles of abuse and addiction
Individual therapy and family therapy can be used effectively in conjunction with each other. This gives the addicted individual a space dedicated to themselves and their progress. In individual sessions, they can focus on personal goals and issues they may not be ready to address with their family.
At the same time, family therapy gives them the opportunity to work with their support system to create stronger interpersonal connections.
Therapy Modalities
We facilitate connections with therapists and counselors who are trained in a number of therapeutic modalities. The one that you choose depends on your unique goals and needs and what you want to get out of your therapy experience.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Traditional talk therapy approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are well-tested, evidence-based approaches. In CBT sessions, you’ll typically talk one-on-one with your therapist about the challenges you’re facing through the recovery journey, past traumatic experiences, and any other topic that you feel should be addressed. Your therapist will then guide you through various mental exercises or engage you in reflective conversations. These approaches can be helpful for changing negative thought patterns, encouraging positive self-talk, and addressing co-occurring mental health issues.
Family Talk Therapy
Talk therapy is also a great tool to utilize in family therapy sessions, as honest communication is a cornerstone of healthy relationships. In family talk therapy sessions, the therapist will guide the session to talk about issues in the family unit. These issues might include enabling behaviors, abusive dynamics, or communication problems. Family members will be given the opportunity to speak honestly about their feelings while the therapist acts as a mediator for potential conflict. Your therapist may also make suggestions about how to communicate feelings more effectively, which are skills your family can use outside of sessions as well.
EMDR
Another therapeutic modality that we can connect you to at Sisu Healing Partners is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This technique is particularly helpful for individuals struggling with painful and traumatic memories. EMDR can help process trauma while reducing emotional impact and avoiding re-traumatization. Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders have reported positive results with EMDR therapy.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a relatively new form of therapy based on the principles of EMDR. This technique aims to identify, process, and release emotional and physical trauma stored in the brain and body by tapping into the psychophysical relationship between your brain and eyes. It’s similar to EMDR in some ways but takes it a few steps further. These evidence-based and holistic therapy approaches give you a variety of services to choose from.
Integrating Family Therapy Into Your Care Plan
Sisu Healing Partners believes that integrating family therapy sessions into the care plan is pivotal for long-term recovery. We know the profound impact family dynamics and relationships have on an individual’s well-being. Family therapy sessions provide a structured, supportive environment where individuals and their families can address and resolve underlying issues that contribute to dysfunctional patterns.
Family therapy is inherently interactive and collaborative, encouraging active participation from all members. During sessions, therapists guide families through goal-setting exercises, helping them identify shared objectives and individual aspirations. This collective goal-setting can help motivate everyone involved to work towards common outcomes.
Problem-solving activities are also a core component, encouraging families to develop effective communication and conflict-resolution skills. Through role-play scenarios and guided discussions, your family can learn to navigate challenges constructively. Skill-building exercises further empower your family unit, teaching coping strategies and emotional regulation techniques that support both individual and collective growth. This collaborative approach nurtures resilience, reinforcing positive interactions and fostering a deeper understanding among family members.
Change is a Click Away
A consultation is the first step to getting help for someone with addiction or mental health issues. Call Sisu Healing Partners at 503-847-9836 to learn more.