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Our Family Program for Addiction
If you are suffering from your loved one’s addiction, you’re not alone. Addiction is an insidious disease, and its ripple effects are often felt deeply through the entire family unit. At Bridging the Gaps, we understand how important supporting family members is to the recovery process. Our family program aims to educate, support, and uplift family members as they navigate the complex path of their loved one’s recovery.
Our Family Program for Addiction
If you are suffering from your loved one’s addiction, you’re not alone. Addiction is an insidious disease, and its ripple effects are often felt deeply through the entire family unit. At Bridging the Gaps, we understand how important supporting family members is to the recovery process. Our family program aims to educate, support, and uplift family members as they navigate the complex path of their loved one’s recovery.
Family Roles in Addiction
The Benefits of Being Involved in Your Loved One’s Treatment
Family support and involvement play a crucial role in the recovery process for your loved one struggling with addiction. While professional therapy and treatment are important components, your involvement can significantly enhance the effectiveness of these interventions.
By including you in addiction therapy, we provide a support system for your loved one in their recovery journey. Addiction can be a lonely and isolating experience, and your support can make a significant difference in their motivation to stay sober. You can offer emotional support, encouragement, and hold them accountable in their recovery.
Your participation allows for a deeper understanding of addiction and its impact on your loved one’s life. You may have witnessed the progression of their addiction and can provide valuable insight into underlying issues or triggers. This information helps us develop personalized treatment plans that address these factors.
Involving you in therapy can lead to improved communication and relationships within your family. Addiction often strains relationships and creates tension, but therapy provides a safe and supportive space to address these issues. Through therapy, you can learn healthy communication strategies, set boundaries, and rebuild trust that may have been damaged by addiction.
Moreover, your participation in your loved one’s addiction therapy can also help you understand the recovery process better. Many family members are unfamiliar with the complexities of addiction, and therapy can educate you on the disease and its treatment. At Bridging the Gaps, our weekly family education program educates families on the disease of addiction and provides them with actionable strategies to help their loved ones through recovery. This increased understanding can lead to more empathy and support from you, which is crucial for your loved one’s recovery.
Involving you in your loved one’s treatment process allows for a more holistic approach to treatment, which we are very passionate about at BTG. Addiction not only affects the individual but also has ripple effects on their loved ones. By including you in therapy, we can address the impact of addiction on the family as a whole and support everyone’s healing process. This approach also helps prevent codependency or enabling behaviors that may hinder your loved one’s recovery.
Addiction Impacts the Whole Family
Addiction is a Family Disease
Meet Our Family Program Coordinator
Hi, I’m Gina.
As BTG’s Family Program Coordinator, it is my honor to help you understand your loved one’s addiction, mend and strengthen your relationships, and help you support your loved one (and yourself!) through this recovery process. Because it’s important that we get to know each other a little better, I’d like to tell you a bit about myself.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from The Pennsylvania State and Purdue Universities, specializing in psychology and addictions. I am a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant, Qualified Mental Health Professional Trainee, and Certified Trauma Professional. I am currently advancing my education and training to become a certified addiction professional within the military and veteran culture. I wholeheartedly support BTG’s education and engagement components in the recovery process, especially within the family unit. Addiction is insidious, impacting not only the clients but theirfamilies as well. I am committed to educating, supporting, and helping clients and their families repair their relationships throughout their recovery.
Remember, I am here for you as you work through early recovery with your loved one. I am happy to be a resource and support for you during this difficult, yet hopeful, time.
About Our Family Addiction Program
The Family Program at BTG
The family program at BTG aims to accomplish three ends: to educate family members on the disease of addiction, support family members as they work to heal relationships with their loved ones, and uplift family members as they continue to navigate their loved one’s new life in recovery. We accomplish these ends through three integrated yet distinct offerings: our family education program, our conjoint sessions, and our family aftercare program.
A common question we receive from family members at BTG is, “why can’t they just stop?” In our weekly virtual family education program, our family program coordinator, Gina Helveston, addresses important topics pertaining to the disease of addiction to help family members to better understand what their loved one is going through. Attendance at these weekly education sessions is required to visit your loved one on the weekend.
Our family program provides opportunities for our clients and their loved ones to mend relationships and begin to understand each other better. Family therapy for addiction aims to improve communication, increase understanding and empathy, and strengthen relationships within the family unit. It also helps family members learn how to support their loved one in recovery and cope with any challenges that may arise. Conjoint sessions are scheduled when considered therapeutically appropriate. They include our family program coordinator and the client’s counselor in order to facilitate a healthy, productive dialogue where everyone feels heard and respected.
The support doesn’t end when your loved one finishes treatment. Our family aftercare program allows family members to share their experiences, uplift each other as they face common challenges, and celebrate with each other when they progress in their healing process.
Healing from the Pain of Addiction
What is the Goal of the Family Program at BTG?
Recovery is Possible for Your Loved One
Our Holistic Treatment Methods for Addiction
Explore our comprehensive suite of holistic treatment methods designed to support a healthy recovery from addiction.
AA Meetings
Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meetings follow a 12-step program that helps individuals develop coping mechanisms and strategies for managing their addiction in a healthy way.
AcuDetox
Acudetox (auricular detoxification) is a therapeutic technique that involves the application of acupuncture or acupressure to specific points on the ear to help detoxify the body and calm the nervous system.
Amino Acid Therapy
Amino Acid Therapy uses specific amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, to help regulate brain chemistry and alleviate cravings and other discomfort associated with addiction and early recovery.
Group Education
Group education allows clients to learn more about the disease of addiction and develop cognitive and behavioral tools to avoid relapse, mend relationships, and establish healthy habits in recovery.
Group Psychotherapy &
Individual Sessions
Group psychotherapy is a small group of clients, led by a trained clinician, who come together to share their struggles, emotions, and experiences. Individual sessions allow clients to work with their assigned counselor to explore these themes further. Together, these approaches foster connection, mutual support, and deeper self-awareness while providing tailored strategies for personal growth and healing.
Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory explores how the autonomic nervous system influences emotional regulation, social connection, and stress responses. The theory identifies everyone has three primary states: the safe and connected "ventral vagal" state, the mobilized, fight-or-flight "sympathetic" state, and the immobilized, shutdown "dorsal vagal" state. Trauma can wire our brain for survival versus connection. Understanding these states can help individuals and clinicians address trauma, improve self-regulation and connection, and foster resilience in therapeutic settings.
Nutrition Education
Nutrition education teaches our clients the importance of a healthy and balanced diet, as well as how certain foods can impact their physical and mental health. It also addresses the specific dietary needs of those struggling with addiction, such as vitamin deficiencies or food sensitivities that may contribute to cravings and relapse. By learning to make mindful food choices, clients can support their recovery, improve energy levels, and foster overall well-being as part of a holistic approach to healing.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that identifies, processes, and releases emotional pain and trauma stored in the body and brain. Developed by Dr. David Grand, it uses a client’s eye position to locate "brainspots," which are linked to unresolved trauma or distress. By focusing on these spots in a safe, supportive setting, clients can access deeper emotional processing, facilitating healing and greater self-awareness. Brainspotting is particularly effective for individuals struggling with trauma, anxiety, addiction, and other emotional challenges.
Learn What Sets Us Apart
The BTG Difference
Roots of Addiction
In order to create a healthy, sustainable recovery from drugs and alcohol, it is important to address the root cause by rebalancing brain chemistry, utilizing comprehensive psychotherapy, implementing proper nutrition, and nourishing one’s spirituality.
Long-Term Care
Our long-term continuum of care allows our clients to progress through our program at a pace that fits the severity of their disease, allowing them adequate time to heal that is unique to their individual situation. Research has shown that clients who stay engaged in treatment for longer have better long-term results once treatment is completed.
Sober Living
Our supportive sober living allows clients to reintegrate into society safely, allowing them to utilize their newly-acquired life skills and coping mechanisms in everyday situations as they continue to benefit from a sober community. Our 3 residences provide the comforts of home with added support and accountability.
Client Testimonials
Read what our clients have to say about us
Recovery is Possible for Your Loved One
Addictions We Treat
From Residential Treatment to Partial Hospitalization, We Have You Covered
Insights for Your Recovery Journey
Explore our latest blog articles on addiction treatment, mental health, and holistic recovery strategies.
FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions about addiction and recovery.
Why can’t my loved one just stop doing drugs or drinking alcohol?
While it may seem like a simple solution, quitting substance use is not easy for someone struggling with addiction. The changes in the brain caused by substance use can make it difficult for individuals to stop using on their own, even if they want to. Addiction is a complex disease that often requires professional treatment and ongoing support to overcome. While it is treatable and recovery is possible, it is a lifelong disease of the brain that requires a continued commitment to stay sober.
How can I help my loved one conquer their addiction?
The best way to help a loved one with addiction is by encouraging them to seek professional treatment. You can also offer emotional support, but it’s important to set boundaries and take care of yourself as well. Educating yourself about addiction can also help you understand what your loved one is going through and how to best support them on their journey to recovery. Remember, it’s not your responsibility to “fix” your loved one’s addiction, but you can be a source of love, understanding, and encouragement in their recovery process. At BTG, our family education program helps family members learn about the disease of addiction, develop strategies for helping their loved one, and learn to prioritize their own mental health and wellbeing.
How long will the treatment process take for my loved one?
We understand the uncertainty of treatment duration can be unsettling when you’re missing your loved one, but unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. BTG’s treatment program is not defined by a certain number of days. Instead, our addiction treatment program is highly individualized, starting the client out at the appropriate level of treatment that fits the severity of their disease. Treatment progresses as the client progresses through their recovery, not once they’ve met an allotted amount of time. We believe there isn’t a magic number of days to achieve sobriety – crafting a long-lasting, healthy recovery takes time, effort, and patience, and those who have progressed through our long-term continuum of care can attest to this. Clients who begin at our residential level of treatment have the opportunity to stay with us for a year or more, gaining more and more independence and integrating further and further back into the world as they show positive signs of improvement. We maintain constant communication with family members to ensure they are aware of their loved one’s progress.
What is the difference between your integrative, holistic approach to addiction treatment and medication-assisted therapy (MAT)?
Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) utilizes prescription medications to help individuals recover from alcohol or opioid addiction. These medications may include drugs like naltrexone, which blocks the effects of alcohol or opioids on the brain and can help reduce cravings. While MAT may be an effective method for managing withdrawal symptoms, it does not address the underlying causes of addiction, like mental health issues or brain chemistry imbalances. The medications used in MAT treatment also often have strong side effects that decrease quality of life and often cause people to stop taking them. In fact, the MAT medication may become a new addiction.
On the other hand, holistic approaches to treating addiction aim to treat not only physical dependence but also any underlying psychological or social issues that may be contributing to the addiction. At BTG, our integrative, holistic approach includes a combination of counseling and psychotherapy, amino acid therapy to restore proper brain chemistry, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modifications that can help individuals develop healthier coping skills and address any underlying physical and mental health issues. In addition to providing psychological support, we also incorporate healthy sober living activities like yoga, as well as participation in 12 Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous to help establish a sober support system. By addressing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of addiction, a holistic approach can provide lasting results.How can I help my loved one conquer their addiction?
The best way to help a loved one with addiction is by encouraging them to seek professional treatment. You can also offer emotional support, but it’s important to set boundaries and take care of yourself as well. Educating yourself about addiction can also help you understand what your loved one is going through and how to best support them on their journey to recovery. Remember, it’s not your responsibility to “fix” your loved one’s addiction, but you can be a source of love, understanding, and encouragement in their recovery process. At BTG, our family education program helps family members learn about the disease of addiction, develop strategies for helping their loved one, and learn to prioritize their own mental health and wellbeing.
Insurance
Your Addiction Treatment Could Be Covered
If you do not see your provider listed, please contact us to learn more about obtaining coverage. We do not accept Medicaid at this time.
Contact Us
Reach Out to Us
We welcome you to call our Admissions Director, Sue Dennis, at (540) 535-1111 to discuss admitting yourself or a loved one fortreatment. However, if you would first like us to verify your insurance, use this form or get in touch via phone or email.