Group Activities for Families in Recovery offers therapists a wealth of activities designed to help families struggling with addiction address problem areas of functioning, and ultimately shift from dysfunctional patterns to healthy living. Written by expert practitioners in family-oriented substance abuse treatment programs, this text focuses on group therapy as a key component to treatment. Beginning with a brief overview of the issues involved in working from a systemic family therapy perspective of addiction, the text discusses practical guidelines for working with families in groups and how to best utilize the exercise in the book. The collection of 30 group activities are suitable for a variety of family-oriented substance abuse treatment groups. They are divided into seven sections covering the key issues of: 1. Family Structure 2. Family Identity 3. Sober Fun 4. Toward Health 5. Anger Management 6. Healthy Communication 7. Parenting The activities are varied and include topics presented through expressive arts (drawing, writing, acting), game-playing, problem solving, enactments, worksheets, and roleplaying. The activities can be used individually, incorporated into another program, or stand alone as a 16-week (or longer) program. They can also be adapted for use in groups where children or present, or for adult-family groups.
M. Joan Zimmerman, MA, LMFT, LCAS, has been working with substance abuse and families for nine years. Until recently, she supervised the Family Solutions substance abuse treatment program. This program was specifically designed to work with families with substance abuse. She was involved in initially designing the program, with broad input from a variety of community members and agencies, and has consistently led weekly Family Groups for the families the program works with. Currently, she is in private practice and teaches in the Human and Psychological Counseling department at Appalachian State University. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and an approved Marriage and Family Therapy supervisor. Jon L. Winek, PhD, LMFT, LPC, currently directs the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Appalachian State University, where he has been teaching since 1993. He has been involved with the theoretical development of the treatment program at Family Solutions, and continues to provide ongoing clinical supervision to the staff. He is the author of the DVD series, Systemic Family Therapy: From Theory to Practice, as well numerous book chapters and journal articles.
Part 1: Introduction Whole and Parts Origins Assumption Everyone is impacted Learn from listening and watching Child Focus Healthy caring not enabling Families and Substance Abuse - A Brief Overview Roles Rules Boundaries Family 'Esprit de Corps' (collective 'sense of self') Part 2: Structure of Family Group For Families With Substance Abuse Structure Recruitment Dual diagnosis Session length Screening Process and Structure of Therapy Avoiding resistance Locus of control from external to internal Confidentiality, legal and ethical issues Working With Expressive Arts Working With Blended and Diverse Families Group leadership Interns Part 3: The Curriculum Curriculum Section 1: Family Structure 1-1 Family Roles 1-2 Impact of Addiction on Family 1-3 How We Experience our Family 1-4 Family Cycles & History Curriculum Section 2: Family Identity 2-1 Family Identity I: Who We Think We Are 2-2 Family Identity II: Structure 2-3 Family Identity III: Who We Feel We Are 2-4 Family Drawing Curriculum Section 3: Sober Fun 3-1 Family Fun 3-2 Playing Together Curriculum Section 4: Towards Health 4-1 Healthy Helping 4-2 Doing It Differently 4-3 Relationships I - Healthy or Unhealthy? 4-4 Relationships II - Choosing a Relationship 4-5 Relationships III - Stages In Relationships 4-6 Private or Secret? 4-7 Families in Recovery I 4-8 Families In Recovery II 4-9 Healing Families 4-10 What Could Be Better? 4-11 Rebuilding Trust 4-12 Building Life-Long, Healthy Supports I 4-13 Building Life-Long, Healthy Supports II 4-14 Spirituality 4-15 Rules in Families Curriculum Section 5: Anger 5-1 Anger in My Family 5-2 Strategies to Manage Anger 5-3 Conflict in My Family 5-4 Making Arguing Work Curriculum Section 6: Communication 6-1 Working Together 6-2 Assertive Communication 6-3 What We Haven't Said 6-4 Our Different Experiences 6-5 Do You Hear Me? 6-6 We Are Grateful 6-7 Resentments - Taking Back the Power Curriculum Section 7: Parenting 7-1 When Daddy Drinks 7-2 What About the Kids? 7-3 What Do We Tell the Kids? 7-4 Consequence With Empathy
