TLC Newsletter 01.2025
Families Finding Strength Together: Group Therapy for Friends and
Family Affected by Addiction
Watching someone you love battle addiction is heart-wrenching and often one of the most painful experiences imaginable. You see the person you care about slipping away, replaced by behaviors and consequences that bring heartbreak, worry, and frustration. Addiction doesn’t just impact the person using substances; it tears through families, leaving behind feelings of helplessness, anger, and grief. For many, this pain becomes a quiet, personal struggle, and the idea of finding relief or understanding seems out of reach.
Families often endure the highs and lows of addiction alongside their loved ones, yet their own needs for healing and support are cast aside. Efforts are primarily focused on helping the person with addiction through treatment, therapy, or self-help programs, while family members are left to manage the emotional fallout on their own. According to recent data, approximately 48.7 million people in the United States are living with a substance use disorder (SUD), directly impacting the lives of millions of adult family members each year. Families deserve help too. They need guidance and support to find healing and recover from the effects of the disease as well. With this in mind, the group “Families Finding Strength Together: Group Therapy for Friends and Family Affected by Addiction” was developed.
Who Is This Group For? This group is open to anyone who cares about someone affected by substance use disorder, including parents, grandparents, children, siblings, friends, and coworkers. If you have been impacted by someone else’s addiction and want to educate yourself while gaining skills to process your experience, this group is here to support you. Participants may join at various stages—whether before their loved one begins treatment or after engaging in family therapy while their loved one is in treatment or counseling. The group’s mission is to provide a space for ongoing growth, support, and education, empowering individuals to navigate their experiences and strengthen their relationships.
What Is This Group About? Group is a safe, compassionate space where you can share your experiences, challenges, and emotions with others who truly understand. This group is not for the person with addiction but for you—the person navigating the trauma and complexities of loving someone in the grips of this disease.
If your loved one is actively using substances or struggles with relapse, the group offers guidance and support to help you cope. For those who have started the healing process through family therapy during their loved one’s treatment, the group helps deepen your understanding and provides ongoing support as your loved one begins their recovery journey. Ultimately, this group empowers you to find your own healing.
What Can You Expect? This group provides:
Support: Connect with others who have been in your shoes, building a network of encouragement and understanding.
Education: Gain a clearer understanding of addiction and its effects on relationships and families.
Coping Strategies: Learn tools to manage your emotions and maintain your well-being while supporting your loved one constructively.
Resources: Explore additional programs like Al-Anon that can further support your journey to healing.
Why Join? Many family members feel isolated or unsure of how to navigate the challenges of addiction. This group helps you:
Build resilience and rediscover hope.
Set healthy boundaries to foster better relationships.
Prioritize your emotional and mental health without guilt
Educate yourself on the family disease of addiction
Groups are intentionally kept small to create a more individualized and supportive atmosphere. Support is provided on an ongoing, consistent basis while your loved one is continuing their substance use or they are navigating the challenges of recovery after primary treatment. Recognizing the toll addiction takes on families, this group aims to provide the care and empowerment you deserve, complementing the recovery journey of your loved one, individual therapy for yourself and/or Al-anon meetings. This group helps to fill the gap where current treatment options are lacking.
How to Get Involved Meetings are held weekly on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and are open to anyone affected by addiction.
Contact Information For more information or to join, please reach out to Anne Claussen at (402) 256-7883 x 6 or anne@tranquillotuscollaborative.org. All inquiries and participation are confidential.
You don’t have to face this journey alone. Join us in finding strength, understanding, and hope as we navigate the challenges of addiction together.
