Family Therapy at Abbington House
Supporting the people behind the person in recovery
Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, it affects the entire family. Parents, partners, siblings and children often carry the emotional weight of addiction silently, trying to hold everything together while feeling powerless, hurt or unsure of what to do next.
At Abbington House, we believe that family members deserve support too. Our dedicated family therapy programme helps you understand what addiction really is, learn how to set healthy boundaries, and start to recover your own emotional wounds.
Our 16-week programme helps families through honest conversations, offering education and tools to manage the emotional impacts of addiction.
Why Family Therapy Matters in Recovery
Addiction is often called a “family illness” not because it’s anyone’s fault, but because it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It affects relationships, communication, trust, and emotional safety within the entire household.
When families are involved in recovery, outcomes improve dramatically. That’s because:
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Unhealthy dynamics can be addressed before they lead to relapse
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Loved ones get the tools they need to support, without enabling
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Boundaries are rebuilt, so each person can recover their sense of stability and peace
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Shame and isolation are reduced, creating space for healing.
Family therapy helps everyone take a step back, reflect on their role and understand that addiction is a condition, not a character flaw. It creates space for honest conversations, education and – most importantly – connection. And it offers something essential that’s often missing during active addiction: hope.
What We Offer at Abbington House
Our weekly family therapy group is a cornerstone the Abbington House approach. We know that families thrive when they feel heard, informed, and supported, so we’ve created a space that offers exactly that.
Key features of our family programme:
Weekly online group session (accessible wherever you are)
Facilitated by members of the Therapy Team
Open to all family members – parents, partners, siblings, adult children
Available to families of current and past clients
Focus on communication, boundaries, education and emotional wellbeing.
This is not just a support group. Our family support sessions are run by our therapeutic team at Abbington House.
What to Expect in Our Family Support Groups
We understand that opening up about addiction can feel daunting, especially when you’ve spent so long trying to stay strong for someone else. That’s why our family group is designed to be a safe, structured and compassionate space.
You can expect:
A warm, non-judgemental environment
Psychoeducation about addiction and how it impacts the brain and behaviour
Honest, facilitated conversations about your experience
Opportunities to ask questions and get clarity
Tools and language for setting boundaries that protect you
The chance to listen to others who’ve been in similar situations.
You’re not expected to fix anything, or anyone. This group is about you having somewhere to reflect, decompress and gain the support you deserve.
Topics We Explore Together
Each session is different, but over time, our family therapy group explores a range of topics designed to help you move from confusion and fear into clarity and calm.
Some of the areas we cover include:
Understanding addiction as a health condition, not a moral failure
How to support someone without enabling their behaviour
How to rebuild trust when it’s been damaged
Emotional regulation and self-care during your loved one’s recovery
The role of codependency and how to navigate it with compassion
How to prepare for the possibility of relapse, without panic
Healing family dynamics that may have been strained for years
How to cope with grief, anger, or exhaustion in a healthy way
Ways to reconnect with your own identity and wellbeing.
Even if your loved one isn’t in treatment yet, you can still benefit from this support. Addiction impacts families long before help is ever sought, and you deserve help too.
The Benefits for Families
For many people who attend our family group, it’s the first time they’ve felt seen, heard, or understood in months, sometimes even years.
Family therapy helps by:
Breaking down shame and secrecy
Providing language and tools to manage difficult conversations
Giving you a support system outside of your loved one’s addiction
Helping you recover emotionally, regardless of their progress
Reducing the risk of repeated enabling or emotional burnout
Encouraging healthy, honest boundaries that allow both sides to grow
You may be feeling like everything is your responsibility and leave knowing that you matter too.
Who Can Attend?
Our family therapy group is open, flexible, and inclusive. We welcome:
Families of current clients in residential rehab
Families of former clients
Partners, parents, siblings, adult children, and other significant loved ones
Those preparing for a loved one to enter treatment
Why Families Keep Coming Back
Many families begin attending our therapy group during their loved one’s treatment, but choose to continue long after discharge. That’s because the benefits often extend beyond addiction recovery. For many, the group becomes a trusted space for reflection, growth, and connection.
Here’s why families stay involved:
Ongoing support through life’s ups and downs
Recovery can bring unexpected challenges, from rebuilding trust to navigating emotional reconnection. The group provides a consistent place to talk it through.A sense of community
It’s incredibly powerful to sit among others who’ve been where you are – who understand the guilt, the fear, and the relief.Tools that apply to everyday life
Many of the insights from family therapy – boundaries, emotional regulation, communication – help improve all kinds of relationships, not just the one with your loved one in recovery.Continued access to the Abbington House team
Families appreciate knowing that the therapeutic connection doesn’t end when treatment does. You remain part of our wider community.
Some families attend for a few months. Others for a year or more. There’s no obligation, just ongoing access to compassionate, practical support.
How to Join or Learn More
Whether your loved one is currently in treatment, finished months ago, or not yet ready to seek help, you are welcome here.
If you’re a family member of a current or past client, get in touch with us and we’ll share access details for the weekly family group.
If you’re thinking about treatment for someone you love, we’d be happy to talk you through how our family support works and what you can expect.