EP05 Workshop 18 - The Family vs. Addiction - Claudia Black, PhD

Description:

Beginning with a historical view of addiction in the family, Dr. Black will identify the many challenges of working family systems. The workshop will include a variety of intervening strategies to engage family members as a part of the recovery process.

Educational Objectives:

1. To list three predominant dynamics of the legacy of addiction within a family system.
2. To describe specific strategies of intervention in working with families affected by addiction. 

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Welcome and Overview

• Session divided into two parts, with focus on practical family-based strategies for addiction and trauma recovery.

Addiction, Trauma, and Family Impact

• Addiction often coexists with trauma, creating long-term harm in families.

• Children in addicted homes face chronic stress, abuse, and emotional abandonment.

• High risks include anxiety, depression, school problems, and higher healthcare usage.

• Addictive patterns often repeat across generations.

Personal Stories and Case Examples

• Alice: Raised in an abusive home, developed sexual and substance addictions early.

• William: Learned rage from his father; used anger and alcohol to cope with shame.

• Jan: Grew up amid violence, lost her mother to alcoholism, struggled with addiction.

• Jake: Faced family addiction and trauma, turned to drugs after family breakdown.

• Kay: Alcoholic and compulsive gambler, using addiction to manage deep trauma.

Addiction in Historical and Social Context

• Addiction in families dates back over a century, with long-documented impacts on children.

• National traumas (e.g., 9/11, hurricanes) compound personal and familial trauma.

• Early intervention and systemic support are critical.

Understanding Family Roles and Rules

• Dysfunctional family rules (e.g., "don’t talk") suppress emotions and reinforce secrecy.

• Children adopt roles like hero, scapegoat, or lost child to survive.

• These roles often carry into adulthood, shaping relationships and addictive patterns.

Forms of Abuse in Addicted Families

• Abuse includes physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, and neglect.

• Emotional abandonment creates deep, lasting wounds.

• Abuse often goes unrecognized due to normalization within the family system.

Control, Enabling, and Family Dynamics

• Family members often enable addiction through control and denial.

• Enabling can take sweet, silent, or aggressive forms.

• Grieving the loss of control is a key part of recovery.

• Balance is needed between letting go and remaining engaged ("the concept of some").

Therapeutic Approaches and Strategies

• Effective treatment addresses affective, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual needs.

• Use structured exercises to identify enabling, control, and unhealed pain.

• Help families practice tough love and recognize personal powerlessness.

• Include both education and emotional processing in family sessions.

Addiction as Coping and Reinforcement

• Alcohol and drugs offer temporary escape from emotional burdens.

• Substances can become tools for emotional regulation, creating dependency.

• Psychological reinforcement (e.g., relief, empowerment) contributes to continued use.

Relationships and Repeating the Legacy

• Many repeat childhood addiction dynamics in adult relationships.

• Patterns may not be obvious at first; dysfunction escalates over time.

• Emphasis on awareness and breaking relational cycles is critical.

Family Involvement in Recovery

• Family therapy is essential—not just for education, but for healing.

• Recovery plans should include goals for each family member.

• Encourage commitment to change, rather than waiting for invitations to participate.