Behavioral health specialists who specialize in family dynamics and couples’ relationships will inevitably work with clients who have been affected by substance use disorders. With regard to the substance abuser, your responsibilities can include:
- Encouraging the individual to enroll in a treatment program
- Providing education regarding the disease of addiction
- Developing personalized relapse prevention programs
You’ll also work with or guide the family as a whole. Substance abuse and addiction affects the entire family and it substantially disrupts family dynamics. The family of a substance abuser needs to learn how to set healthy boundaries, how to rebuild a functional relationship with the addict and how to be supportive without becoming enablers.