When treating teens with SUD and other disorders at the same time in Dedham, MA, the main ideas of family systems-based therapy are used to understand and deal with problems in the family that may contribute to SUD. This method focuses on how patterns in the family can both cause and be caused by problems in the family unit.

Some of the main ideas of family systems therapy that apply to treating teens with SUD and co-occurring disorders are:

Individuals are set apart from the system

In family systems therapy, people are encouraged to figure out what they need on their own, apart from who they are in their family. This is very important to stop codependency, which can be a sign of adolescent substance abuse disorder.

“Triangle”

In family systems therapy, the “triangle” theory says that a group of three people is the smallest interdependent system where family ideas can be used. This theory shows how important it is to know how the actions and behaviors of each family member can affect the whole family system.

Dependent children and the emotional patterns that come with them

Emotions are transferred after the birth of the first triangle, which is what dependent children and related emotional patterns mean. Understanding these patterns is important if you want to deal with the emotional problems that may be causing a teen to use drugs.

Ideas and things to think about for people of different ages

Understanding how a person’s family and culture shape their worldview and place in society is important for treating teens with SUD and co-occurring disorders. Family systems therapy looks at how problems that span generations affect how a person acts.

Members’ Hopes and Fears

When parents put their problems or feelings on other family members, this is called “family projection.” This can cause emotional imbalances, anxiety, and other problems that can lead to substance use disorder in teens.

Condition of the Heart and Availability

In family systems therapy, the parent-child relationship is affected by how the parent is feeling and how available the parent is. A parent who isn’t available emotionally can stop a child from developing a healthy sense of self. This can lead to adolescent substance use disorder.

In Dedham, MA, adolescent treatment for SUD and co-occurring disorders uses family systems-based therapy to deal with emotional problems that may be at the root of the SUD. By understanding the main ideas of family systems therapy, clinicians can treat both the individual and the family as a whole in a way that is both effective and holistic.