Author: Alex Thompson

Therapy for Spouses Partners of Alcoholics Types & Benefits

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether or not your spouse’s problem with alcohol is a reason to get a divorce. Here are some ways to help your spouse — and yourself and family members — along the road to recovery. But for some people, alcohol use can turn into alcohol misuse and even alcohol addiction. Even if you are noticing just a few of the signs from the list, there are ways you can provide support for your loved one and point them in the right direction to find help. Another major part of the recovery process for addicts is the building of support groups, both in and out of treatment. Family therapy is typically conducted just with the family members on their own and then with the family members and the addict.

1. Strengthening the family system also prevents substance use disorders and mental illnesses from harming children’s lives as they grow.
2. Family therapy is also a great way for the family members of the addict to share with the addict themselves exactly what they went through as a result of the addiction.
3. That doesn’t mean that there is nothing or no one out there to help the family members get through those difficult times.
4. For some people, their spouse’s alcoholism may become a reason to seek divorce.

Family therapy sessions allow the family members to work through their problems that have been created due to the addict in a safe space. When it comes to picking a time to have a conversation, make sure it is during a time when there are no distractions and you have plenty of time to talk. It’s also important to make sure your partner is sober and has a clear head during the conversation. There are, however, a few things that you as a spouse can do if you are living with someone who you suspect is suffering from addiction. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing disease involving compulsive consumption of alcohol despite the harms it causes to your health and relationships. A spouse can confront the addicted person through a personal conversation or intervention.

What Not to Say to Your Partner

If your spouse doesn’t want help, it can be challenging for your relationship. It’s crucial to express compassionate concern and seek individual help yourself. Therapy for spouses is one surefire way to help fight alcohol addiction. It may be tempting to keep the addiction private, defend your partners’ destructive behaviors, or protect them from the consequences of their actions. This could be in a one-on-one conversation or an intervention with others who are concerned about the person. If you never tell them how their actions affect you, they will likely never know.

The first step can be reaching out and calling an alcohol hotline for advice. Your information will be kept confidential, and you can get the necessary resources to move forward. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.

We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. If you identify any of these signs in your spouse, their drinking may be a cause for concern. This means you can’t take care of them when they’re hungover, make excuses for their behavior, or bail them out of jail if they are arrested for drunk driving.

If not done carefully, confrontation can end badly, especially if the person is a functioning alcoholic in denial or someone who has a history of verbal or physical abuse. In general, it may be smart to have other people present when confronting the alcoholic. First, it’s a good idea to wait until your partner hasn’t been drinking. Choose a quiet moment in a private setting with few distractions, such as at home or on a walk. Remember to stay calm, be patient, and take a few deep breaths to help yourself stay on topic.

Strengthening the family system also prevents substance use disorders and mental illnesses from harming children’s lives as they grow. A family history of alcohol abuse increases the risk of future substance abuse and mental health struggles for children. With the help of a trained mental health professional, you can identify your spouse’s triggers and help them find healthier coping mechanisms. This way, you can support them along the road to recovery and find ways to help yourself. Some spouses hold onto memories of the person they first knew and cling to hope that this person will return on their own. In reality, an alcoholic spouse will likely not get better on their own, so doing nothing is not a wise option.

Rehab for Women Near Temecula, California – New Directions for Women

Because of parental influence on their children, most of these approaches were developed for adolescents and work best in that treatment setting. However, even during therapy focused on teenagers, the adults’ struggles with substance abuse, including AUD, may come into play. Therapy for their child or sibling may help the adult seek treatment for their own struggles with alcohol or drugs. Most rehabilitation programs focus on group therapy, especially for those struggling with co-occurring disorders. Unfortunately, few programs currently offer family therapy as part of addiction treatment, although it is more likely to be part of the treatment plan for adolescents. While this may sound like an awful option, it is the decision that many people with alcoholic spouses choose.

That doesn’t mean that there is nothing or no one out there to help the family members get through those difficult times. Let’s take a look at some of the options that are available when it comes to help for spouses of alcoholics. While you might encourage your spouse to seek individual therapy, joining couples or family therapy is also good. In fact, many alcohol addiction treatment centers offer family counseling as part of their program to provide support to the loved ones of the addict while they learn how to embrace a sober lifestyle. At The Recovery Village, we know how challenging it can be to cope with having an alcoholic spouse.

The therapist will not only be able to help them with their current problems, but they will also go over what to expect when their loved one finishes treatment and returns home. The therapist will discuss how their loved one will be different upon completing treatment as well as go over things that they can do to welcome the addict back home after treatment and go about their lives in a new way. When it comes to dealing with a spouse that is an addict, the most important thing to remember is that their addiction is not your fault. No matter how they may act around you or treat you, or even how you might feel about yourself, nothing that you did caused them to become an addict.

How to Talk to Your Partner about Their Alcohol Use

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. One of the biggest aspects of addiction treatment is counseling and therapy. Through the use of both individual and group therapy sessions, the person suffering from the addiction learns not only what led them down the path to addiction, but they also learn how to prevent it from happening again. Therapy is also looked at as a great way to build up a support system while the addict is in treatment and away from their family and loved ones.

Try not to enable your alcoholic spouse by excusing their behavior or caring for them when hungover. A spouse of an addict can choose to do nothing; it’s a common option but often a bad idea. Everyone who is in a therapy session or 12-step meeting is there for the same reason, and that’s to get clean and sober.

Types of Therapy for Alcohol Addiction

When everyone is looking to achieve the same goal, it makes it easier for everyone not only to support one another but also to achieve the goal. Family therapy is also a great way for the family members of the addict to share with the addict themselves exactly what they went through as a result of the addiction. They can let the addict know all the pain and suffering that was caused as a result of their actions and their addiction and do so in a safe environment while working with a trained addiction counselor.

Neither you nor your spouse should have to go through this process to cut back on or quit drinking alone. When this happens, all members should address the effects of alcoholism on themselves individually and as a family unit. Sometimes this means attending Al-Anon meetings, while other times, it means removing yourself from the situation. New Directions for Women hosts an on-campus Al-Anon meeting on Wednesdays. This is an option that is available to the families of all patients, both past and present. At New Directions for Women, we believe that the entire family must be treated as part of the process of attaining life-long sustained recovery.