Family Program

Message from Chief Medical Officer, Jason ZW Powers, M.D.

“First, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of your healing process. It is amazing to watch others grow. Addiction is a family disease. When a loved one has addiction, we all have it and recovery from addiction is not a spectator sport. The best gift we can give one another is to do our own work. When the parts are healthy and when we reach our potential, our relationships are deeper, more long-lasting, full of love and healthy for all our efforts. Finally, remember that we don’t get to this point overnight. We must give ourselves freely to the process and stay on path. There is no finish line. As long as we continue to forge ahead on the road to health, love, and healing, we will enjoy the fruits of the the labor. Be patient because time takes time.”

Introduction – Family Weekend

Spirit Lodge’s Family Program is a vital part of our overall programming because the disease of addiction affects the family system, as a whole. At Spirit Lodge, we know the importance of caring for the family, as well as the family member or friend, who is addicted.

Spirit Lodge offers an intensive family weekend to help begin the family on its journey of recovery and healing. Each month, Dr. Valerie Andersen leads a three-day weekend program that is supportive, educational, and healing. Dr. Andersen’s experience working with families in recovery, coupled with her passion, helps many families take the first step.

Spirit Lodge’s Family Program helps guests and their families/friends come together and start the process of effective ways family members can support one another. It is not just the person abusing alcohol and/or drugs who is affected by chemical dependency. The loved ones are affected, as well. So often, living within the chaos that addiction creates, family members experience their own loss. This loss may be emotional, financial, or physical. Living with an addict often robs the family of hope. The staff at Spirit Lodge can help you regain your life as the loved one of a recovering addict.

Family Program

The Family Program includes lectures and films about various dynamics of the disease of addiction, family roles, and establishing healthy boundaries; group therapy sessions; discussion groups; and other activities. Group therapy sessions allow participants to share feelings and concerns about how the disease has affected them. Discussion groups help participants understand their own powerlessness and inability to manage the disease. With addiction, often times effective communication has ceased to exist. Families, couples, and children no longer know how to share what they are thinking and feeling with their addicted family member. Family weekend can begin to restore healthy communication, deal with hurt feelings, and explore relationships.

Family members also are exposed to our Recovery Fitness program, so wear your comfortable clothing and join in!

Spirit Lodge will provide family members with education so they may return home and continue to love through addiction. Many family members choose to begin a long-term program of recovery by joining Twelve Step support groups on their own. We help to explain the benefits of Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Families Anonymous, and Alateen. The inclusion of minor children in the Family Program will be determined by the Spirit Lodge counseling staff on a case-by-case basis.

Living with Addiction is Traumatic

By Chris Davis, LCDC

“Family members may develop unhealthy patterns of coping as a reaction to their loved one’s substance abuse. With education and support, family members can begin to recognize dysfunctional behavior and begin to act in ways that truly support their loved one. Family members experience relief when they discover that they did not cause the problem, they cannot control the problem, and they cannot cure the problem. They can begin to care for themselves and stop the “dance of addiction.”

I am often inspired by the courage of family members on their way to recovery. Watching families heal, being part of their recovery is a rewarding and healing experience. I am honored to participate in your famiy’s recovery.”

Sample Family Weekend Schedule

Families Attend All Three Days, All Sessions

Friday

• Welcome!
• Introductions
• Orientation
• Family Education “ Loving through Addiction”
  presented by Spirit Lodge Executive Director Dr Valerie Anderson
• Break
• Family Meetings with Counseling Staf
• Dinner
• Al Anon Meeting for Families / AA Meeting for Guests
• Family “Dessert Social” & Visitation

Saturday

• Family / Guest Education and Demonstration “Recovery Fitness”
• Break
• Family / Guest Education “Science of Addiction”
  presented by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Powers
• Break
• Family / Guest Education “Cross Addiction”
  presented by Dr. Jason Powers
• Lunch
• Family / Guest Education “Family Roles”
  presented by Chris Davis, LCDC
• Break
• Family / Guest Education “Addiction and the Family”
  presented by Chris Davis
• Break
• Family / Guest Process Group
  facilitated by Dr. Valerie Andersen and Chris Davis
• Family Dinner at Spirit Lodge
• Family / Guest Evening Activity, Interactive Game

Sunday

• Family / Guest, Family Letters Process Group
• Break
• Holistic Family Meditation
• Family / Guest “The Fishbowl of Forgiveness”
• Lunch
• Family Meetings with Counseling Staff

Family Feedback

Kylie D. – “This weekend taught me more about myself and my family than I ever thought possible. It was like being in a room full of people who finally get ME…the hero child!”

Laura S. – “Learning about why my husband uses drugs – the effects drugs have on his brain and learning that I am not the cause – has been so helpful. Dr. Powers was amazing. I wish your family weekend was longer!”

Jim B. – “You have truly given us the ground work to move ahead with confidence and knowledge. We now know what it takes to start on our path of Family Recovery.”

Carol R. – “Every lecture was interesting! We learned so much more about this terrible disease of addiction and how it affects EVERY one of us…we all suffer until we get the help we need.”

Leo R. – “Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in a program like this!”

Tamara H. – “I am so grateful for the Spirit Lodge. Watching my dad on Sunday with the group was wild. I saw the dad that I grew up with. It’s going to be awesome to get more of him back everyday!”