Therapy that views the family as a system where each person’s behavior affects the others.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Focuses on patterns like scapegoating, enabling, communication breakdowns, and unspoken rules that keep addiction going.
What to know:
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The goal isn’t to blame the family but to change unhealthy patterns.
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Can improve outcomes by getting everyone on the same page.
Example:
In family systems therapy, parents learn to stop covering up for their adult child’s drug use and instead set firm boundaries.