Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health
Regional Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Tagaytay City

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROGRAM
I. TITLE

FAMILY THERAPY

II. RATIONALE

The effects of substance addiction arent limited to the addicted person, and the causes
of substance abuse can be varied and complex family issues can contribute to and perpetuate
the illness of addiction. In fact, addiction is sometimes referred to as a family disease.
Dysfunctional families, characterized by impaired communication among family members,
dysfunctional pattern of living and problem solving (co-dependency) and an inability of family
members to set appropriate limits or maintain standards of behavior, are associated with poor
short- and long-term treatment outcome for patients with substance use disorders. In order for
the drug dependent to fully recover from substance abuse, the family must also undergo
treatment in order to address the maladaptive behavior that allowed a loved ones addiction to
grow and flourish.
The family systems perspective contends that the most effective way to work with
individuals is in the context of their families. Family work has become a strong and continuing
theme of many treatment approaches but family therapy is not used to its greatest capacity in
substance abuse treatment. As reviewed by Miller et al., most attention has been paid to
behavioral coping strategies, 12-step approaches, and confrontational interventions, all of which
are associated with high rates of treatment entry for patients who receive the intervention.
However, in helping family members engage their significant others in treatment, concerned
significant others and identified patients are more likely to follow through and show better results
with less confrontational approaches.
Family therapy programs help drug dependents and the family by providing much
needed education on the disease of addiction, and each family member can fully understand
why the role they assumed contributed to an addicts abuse issues as well as their own personal
issues. Family therapy that addresses interpersonal and family interactions leading to conflict or
enabling behaviors can reduce the risk of relapse for patients with high levels of family
involvement. Family therapy are also useful for promoting psychological differentiation of family
members, providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas about the treatment plan,
developing behavioral management contracts and ground rules for continued family support,
and reinforcing behaviors that help prevent relapse and enhance the prospects for recovery.
There are evidences that these approaches can improve the psychosocial functioning and
decrease the likelihood of substance use in children living with a parent abusing alcohol or other
substances. Studies also show that treatment approaches that involve the family have better
engagement, higher rates of success, and increased aftercare participation.
Successful treatment, therefore, incorporates the family of the person struggling with
addiction. As what Napier indicates in his groundbreaking book Family Crucible (1979), working
directly with the totality of the forces that influence the individual is such a logical idea that it is
hard to deny its validity.

III. OBJECTIVES

There are two main goals in family therapy. One goal is to help everyone give the right
kind of support to the family member in behavioral health treatment, so that recovery sticks and
relapse is avoided. The other goal is to strengthen the whole familys emotional health, so that
everyone can thrive. Specific objectives for family therapy are unique to each family, and these
objectives may change over time. The family decides for itself what to focus on, and when.

Family Therapy Objectives

Distrust Reconciliation Sadness Support

Guilt Forgiveness Anger Peace
Stress Strength Conflict Agreement
Frustration Understanding Crisis Resolution
Despair Hope
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
Regional Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Tagaytay City

IV. PARTICIPANTS

Note: Parents may have difficulty understanding the rationale and effectiveness of using play
and art techniques in family therapy sessions. They may view games, drawings, and puppets
merely as sources of entertainment for children. They may also feel uncomfortable,
embarrassed, or silly participating in playful family therapy. It is helpful to meet with parents
prior to the first family session to explain the value of using play and art activities in family
therapy and to help them embrace this approach

There are no pre-determined standards on what constitutes a family. A family unit may consist of
two unmarried partners, a traditional nuclear family, a blended family, or a group of people who
share a home and a strong emotional connection.

Participants attend therapy sessions with at least one significant other, typically a parent (if the
participant is under 18) or a cohabitating partner. Treatment typically consists of 6 sessions over
6 months; sessions initially are 90 minutes monthly and gradually decrease to 60 minutes
monthly as participants progress in therapy.

Patients allowed to participate in Family Behavior Therapy must be in the Pre-Reentry Phase.
Pre-Reentry Phase (6th to 8th month)
Patient must be evaluated by clinical staff to qualify for the pre re-entry phase.
Patient must establish short-term and long-term goals about social reintegration.
Patient must display insight into life problems.
Patient must be involved in managerial and supervisory roles. And can effectively run the
house as coordinator/senior members.
Patient must focus on career, educational and other productive pursuits to increase self-
sufficiency.

V. WORK PROGRAM

Lowenstein, Liana. Favorite Therapeutic Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families:
Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Interventions. 2011

NAME OF ACTIVITY MODALITY GOALS MATERIALS FACILITATOR

A. Engagement and Assessment Interventions

1. Boat-Storm- Family Gather information about the family Large sheet of

Lighthouse i.e. issues pertaining to danger and white paper or
Assessment rescue poster board
Create an opportunity to express Markers
feelings such as fear, helplessness, Paper or pencil for
hopelessness, bravery, etc. each family
Identify ways to access support member
2. Colored Candy Family Gather information about the client Packs of candy
Go Around and family with assorted
Increase open communication colors (e.g.
Identify areas of change or Skittles)
improvement to be addressed
3. I am, I think I am, Individual Assess the clients self-esteem and
I dont think I am world view
Discover the positive and negative
beliefs the client has of himself
Increase values vocabulary
4. Lifeline Individual Learn more about the clients life Large piece of
from his perspective paper
Markers
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
Regional Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Tagaytay City

Increase the clients ability to Scissors

organize his sense of self Glue
Develop the clients ability to express Magazines
feelings about his self, life events, Scrap items for art
and significant people purposes
Develop the clients awareness of
his choices in creating the future
5. Magic Key Individual, Verbally identify key issues to Paper
Group address in therapy Markers
Increase awareness of losses Pencil or colored
Verbally express denied or pencils
disconnected feelings about prior Crayons
losses
Expand therapeutic dialogue about
the issues that matter most to the
client
6. Mirroring Activity Individual, Increase attunement between two or
Family more individuals
Improve self-control
Improve ability to follow directions
from someone else
7. Recipe for Family Increase self-awareness related to One sheet of
Success individual and family needs scrapbooking
Identify strengths and weaknesses paper
within the family Pen or marker
Develop future goals for treatment Scrapbooking
sessions decorations
related to cooking
Supplies to create
a chefs hat

B. Treatment Interventions

1. Anger Menu Individual, List at least eight ways to express Menus from
Group, anger several local
Family Discuss appropriate ways to express restaurants
anger Paper
Discuss with parents ways anger Markers
can be expressed in the home Folder
Reduce inappropriate expressions of
anger and replace with appropriate
ways of expressing anger
2. Exploding Individual, Learn, practice, and implement Balloons (two for
Balloons group, appropriate strategies for expressing each participant)
family anger Large sheet of
Identify how holding anger inside paper
can lead to problems Tape
Marker
3. Positive Individual, Improve self-esteem by identifying Construction paper
Postings Group, and expressing positive qualities Crayons/markers,
Family about oneself through writing and colored pencils
verbalization Post-it Notes/
Promote positive interactions with sticky notes
others through a discussion about
ones positive qualities
Promote positive self-talk through
verbalization of positive self-qualities
4. Youre a Star Individual Improve self-esteem by increasing Large piece of
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
Regional Office IV-A (CALABARZON)
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Tagaytay City

awareness of loved ones, paper, preferably

caregivers, and helpers cardstock
Provide a method of coping with Markers
future emotional issues glue
5. Family Family To focus on the positive qualities Magazine
Strength within the family Scissors
Genogram To create more a more positive Paper
family atmosphere Pen or marker

C. Termination Interventions

1. Aloha Lei Group Increase affect expression Premade Leis

Increase open communication Scissors
surrounding the ending of String
relationships Threading needle
Provide positive experience of Fabric flowers
closure and the termination of Plastic spacers
relationship
2. How I Felt the Individual, Review therapeutic gains Markers
First Day Group, Discuss the mixed feelings that Pencil or pen
Family usually accompany termination Paper folded in
half
3. My Wish for Group, Increase positive self-statements Wood star cut-out
You Family Encourage compassion for others Markers
Experience a positive termination Paint
from family therapy
4. Termination Individual, Validate that the therapeutic Blocks or books
Party Family relationship is built on trust for each
Honor the clients progress in participant
therapy Personalized gift/s

VI. BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS:

VII. COMMITTEE:

Program Facilitator
Program Coordinator
Resources and Supplies
Documentation and Evaluation
Logistics (Registration and Facility set-up)