Webster Place Family Program

Alcoholism and addiction are a family disease. We want to welcome family members to Webster Place and let you know that you play an important role in the recovery process. Just as addiction follows a predictable, progressive course with the alcoholic or addict, it also does with the family. It is very frustrating to helplessly watch a loved one struggle with this disease. Not really knowing what to do, the family typically reacts to the alcoholic or addict in ways that actually enable the problem drinker to continue drinking.

FAMILY HEALING STRATEGIES SESSION: One component of the program at Webster Place is focused on helping families recover, and become part of the solution. Through the services of noted Family Addictions Consultant, Diana Clark, JD, MACP, Webster Place Recovery Center offers families a unique program to educate and provide family members with the tools needed to become healthy when a family member is ill. The workshop is for families and is held on-site at Webster Place Recovery Center in a private conference area. This half day workshop is designed for family members who have a loved one at Webster Place. The goals of this program are:

• To educate families about addiction as a disease
• Encourage participants to examine their roles in the family dynamics.
• To provide strategies for identifying and addressing addictive behavior

This program includes a Power-point presentation, worksheets, group discussions, experiential exercises. The workshop curriculum includes Disease of Addiction, Co-Dependency or Co-Addiction, Family Roles, Denial, Enabling, Healing, Healthy Boundaries, Accepting Powerlessness, Surrender, Support, Family Resources, Recognizable levels of stress and pain.

The "Family Healing Strategies" session is included in the Webster Place resident's fee, and there are no additional charges for families of residents. If space allows outside participants may attend for a charge of $100 per person. To register for this monthly half-day session (Sunday morning, 9AM to 12 Noon) please call us for the current schedule: 603-934-2020.

FAMILY DISEASE: Alcoholism and chemical dependency affect all of the alcoholic's and addict's relationships; marriage, love affairs, parents, children, friendships, and employment. It especially affects those who are closest to the alcoholic or addict and those who truly love and care about the alcoholic or addict. That is why alcoholism and chemical dependency is called a family disease. It does not affect the alcoholic or addict alone -- compulsive drinking and drugging can so affect those who love an alcoholic or addict that they themselves can begin to suffer many of the same symptoms of alcoholism or chemical dependency. Extreme irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, hopelessness, loss of control, rage, fear and a compulsive focus on alcohol are not uncommon. Like the alcoholic or addict, they can deny that they have a problem and can become quite ill before admitting that it is not only the alcoholic or addict who is sick and needs help. They are sick and need help too and like the alcoholic or addict, need to recover from the effects of this devastating, insidious disease.

These well-meaning people have often exhausted themselves by arguing rationally with an irrational illness expecting rational results. In fact they have been pleading, arguing, threatening, placating and trying to exert control not over a person but over a drug -- and they always lose ground. The untreated family with the disease of alcoholism or chemical dependency has a systemic interest in maintaining the disease. Each member of the family seems to evolve into a survival role that, unintentionally, helps maintain the dysfunction. This is why it is referred to as a family disease. Treatment for alcoholism or chemical dependency, therefore, should include the entire family. The good news is that there is help available to assist in healing the family wounds and to facilitate help for the alcoholic or addict. Without help, the disease of alcoholism or chemical dependency will continue to follow a predictable, destructive path for the alcoholic and the family.

AL-ANON: Al-Anon is a 12-Step program adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Al-Anon has only one purpose -- to help families and friends of alcoholics. That is why Al-Anon is almost always recommended as an effective treatment for the family member. Healing can begin to occur at meetings where members who have shared common problems can give each other insight and understanding and help each other put the focus where it needs to be -- on the person who cares and not on the alcoholic. By sharing experiences, strength and hope, a person who has been affected by a loved one's drinking or drugging can begin to detach with compassion from the alcoholic's or addict's behavior. Family attitudes and distorted perspectives change. An understanding fellowship can help relieve feelings of fear, confusion, guilt and anxiety, and coping methods can be found, encouragement can be given to the alcoholic and slowly a sense of serenity can be achieved. With the spiritual help of others, attitudes can change which will aid recovery.

There is a public Al-Anon meeting at Webster Place, on Wednesday nights at 6:15. It uses the standard Al-Anon format, is self-supporting, and uses Al-Anon approved literature. There are also Al-Anon meeting in most communities across the country.