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How Can Psychological Flexibility Transform Family Addiction Recovery?
Unlocking Psychological Flexibility for Family Healing
For families struggling with the devastation of addiction, recovery can often feel like an impossibility. The cycles of resumption of use, financial strain, and emotional turmoil leave many convinced that nothing will ever change. However, by cultivating psychological flexibility, families can begin to break free of these destructive patterns and rebuild hope for the future.
What is Psychological Flexibility?
Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to fully engage with the present moment without defense, and to persist or change behavior in the service of chosen values. Rather than remaining rigidly attached to avoidant coping strategies, psychological flexibility allows individuals to open up to difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences when doing so serves their goals and values. This adaptability and openness to the “now” is key in transforming not only the recovering addict, but the entire family system.
The Roles Family Members Get Stuck In
When addiction takes hold in a family, members often adopt rigid roles that, while intended as coping strategies, can perpetuate…
