Family Re-entry Workshop
Restart offers a two day family re-entry workshop which is designed to educate family members on the nature of addiction, help clients in recovery reconnect with family members in healthier ways, address underlying issues which may impact the recovery process, and set explicit healthy boundaries for a client’s re-entry back into the community. This workshop is generally held towards the end of the client’s Retreat Center stay. A typical two-day workshop agenda is as follows:
DAY 1 – FRIDAY
9:00 AM – 10:30 am Impact of Addiction
Restart therapy staff meets with the client and his or her family in a family therapy session to address the impact the client’s excessive technology use has had on the family system. This allows any unexpressed or held thoughts, feelings and emotions to be aired and discussed in a healthy forum. Clients share the experience of being at Restart, and talk about the impact excessive technology use has had in their life. Parents and/or partners, share their thoughts and feelings about the process, and the pain and/or suffering caused by the participant’s behavior. Misconceptions about addiction or excessive technology use are identified and discussed, research findings on the nature of addiction are explored, so that both client and family members have similar understanding about the process of recovery.
10:30 PM – 4:30 PM Reconnect with Family
Prior to the family workshop, the client and their family plan an outing they would like to do together away from the Restart facility. This is a time for the client to reconnect with his or her family, talk about their mutual experiences, and enjoy spending time with each other. Many choose to attend local attractions and events which they have engaged in during the recovery process. Past planned outings have included the Museum of Flight, Mt. Rainer, Pikes Place Market, Boeing Field, University of Washington Campus, and the Space Needle.
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Relapse Prevention Planning
In this session, the client shares his or her relapse prevention plan with the family. The plan is evaluated and a discussion ensues about the plans likelihood of being successful. Together with the therapist, clients and their family members engage in a conversation about the type of boundaries the client can expect when he or she returns home, the type of support that will be offered, and the overall reaction to the clients overall recovery plan.
DAY 2 – SATURDAY
9:00 AM – 10:30 am Relapse Prevention Planning Revisions
Restart therapy staff meets with the client and his or her family in a family therapy session to discuss any concerns they have with the client’s relapse prevention plan, and any other concerns that may have arisen from the previous sessions. Detailed plans about the client’s plans for re-entry back into the community are firmed up, and any other concerns regarding the clients return are discussed and addressed.
10:30 PM – 4:30 PM Reconnect with Family
Client once again spends the day with family off-site reconnecting.
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM Recovery Celebration
Client returns to the Restart center and prepares dinner for his or her family and fellow participants. Family members are welcome to assist or observe as the client prepares the meal. Afterwards, the client shares the videos he filmed of his experiences in the “real” world with his or her family, staff and participants. Staff and participants share some closing thoughts on the client’s recovery efforts.
If you are interested in participating in the Parent Workshop program, please include the enrollment form with the application package along with payment.
