A Safe Place to Start a New Journey
Healing is rarely linear, especially when family members are involved. Family dynamics are always shifting, and so are you. Addiction doesn’t just affect the person struggling with substance use disorder (SUD)—it touches the whole family unit. That’s why family therapy is such a vital part of addiction recovery.
At New Leaf, we understand that supporting a loved one through substance use disorder requires more than just clinical treatment—it requires communication, understanding, and a safe space to process feelings. Family therapy for addiction helps everyone involved: parents, siblings, partners, and even extended family, by providing tools to navigate these challenges together.
Our family therapy services are grounded in evidence-based treatments and delivered by licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), clinicians, and social workers trained in addiction treatment. Through addiction therapy sessions, family members learn how to communicate more effectively, address unresolved conflict, and support each other’s mental health and well-being in a way that promotes long-term healing for the entire household.
Addiction is a particularly confusing and insidious disease—and for those on the outside looking in, it can feel very frustrating and upsetting. Family members may catch themselves thinking, “Why don’t they just stop?”
This is why family therapy isn’t just about “talking it out.” It’s about cultivating understanding, and creating a foundation for long-term recovery and emotional well-being. Some of the ways it helps include:
Every session is tailored to your family’s unique needs. Whether your loved one is in residential treatment, outpatient care, or navigating aftercare, your whole family can feel supported and empowered.
Substance use disorders are often fueled by relational stress, past trauma, and breakdowns in communication. For many clients, the family system has been a source of both pain and support. At New Leaf Detox, we believe that addressing these dynamics directly—with guidance from a professional family therapist—can lead to deeper, more sustainable recovery outcomes.
Each family therapy session at New Leaf Detox is tailored to the specific needs of the client and their loved ones. Sessions are facilitated by our skilled mental health therapists with years of experience in substance use, mental health issues, and family systems. Some of the methods we use include:
To address negative thinking and behavioral patterns within the family, developing healthier responses
To strengthen attachment and emotional security
To explore how roles and interactions reinforce substance use or conflict
To ensure sessions are sensitive to past experiences of harm
To allow families to connect with others going through similar experiences
To offer a private space for individual family members to process emotions and gain coping skills
To help family members and clients process trauma stored in the nervous system
By combining these approaches, family therapy addresses both the immediate effects of substance abuse and helps lay a strong foundation to strengthen and support the family unit as a whole.
Depending on the family’s goals, sessions may include:
Whether in-person or through telehealth (when appropriate), therapy services are delivered in a safe space where each family member is treated with compassion and respect.
New Leaf Detox accepts all PPO plans, which can cover up to 100% of treatment costs. Contact our team today for a free, confidential verification of your benefits.
Addiction is rarely an individual struggle. Parents, siblings, partners, and, unfortunately, even children can experience stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion as a result of one person’s struggles. Family therapy for addiction recovery helps everyone involved learn how to support each other while protecting their own mental health.
Therapy sessions may focus on:
When families come together in a safe, supportive environment, it not only strengthens the person in recovery but also promotes the well-being of the entire family.
When one family member struggles with substance use, the entire system often suffers. Parents may feel guilt, partners may carry resentment, and siblings may experience confusion or fear. In some cases, untreated mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD exist alongside addiction, further complicating family dynamics.
Family therapy provides an opportunity to address these co-occurring issues in a constructive and collaborative way. Through psychotherapy, clinicians help families:
By treating the emotional and relational wounds that addiction leaves behind, we make space for healing not just the individual—but the entire family system.
When families come together in a supportive, safe space, it really makes a difference. Family members can reconnect, talk openly, and feel understood in ways that addiction can make incredibly difficult.
Family therapy gives you a place to work through feelings, celebrate progress, and face challenges together. It’s about helping each person, and the family as a whole, feel stronger and more connected.
Family involvement can:
We integrate holistic approaches into therapy, including mindfulness practices, stress-reduction techniques, and support groups, so families can heal right alongside their loved ones.
While New Leaf Detox specializes in detoxification and residential care, we integrate family therapy into both levels of treatment whenever clinically appropriate. During detox, therapy sessions may be limited to psychoeducation or brief family check-ins, especially as clients begin stabilizing.
Once clients transition into residential treatment, more in-depth family counseling can begin. Families often participate in therapy sessions alongside the client, learning how to:
Therapists work closely with case managers and clinicians to ensure each family’s involvement is meaningful, trauma-informed, and aligned with the client’s overall treatment plan.
Family therapy isn’t just about venting feelings—it’s a structured process designed to help families rebuild. At New Leaf Detox, common themes in family counseling include:
These topics are addressed with care and clarity, allowing family members to move from confusion to connection, and from frustration to empowerment.
In addition to family dynamics, romantic relationships are often deeply affected by addiction. Couples may experience betrayal, emotional distance, or role confusion—especially if one partner has been in the position of caretaker or enabler.
Our family therapy approach can include couples therapy when appropriate. Led by licensed clinicians, these sessions focus on:
For many couples, therapy becomes a turning point—not just in the recovery journey, but in the overall health of the relationship.
In some families, the client is a teenager or young adult, and the addiction may have surfaced during adolescence. In these cases, our family therapists are specially trained to work with both the individual and their parents or caregivers to ensure developmentally appropriate interventions.
We also support parents of adult children, as well as siblings who may feel forgotten or overwhelmed. Every family dynamic is different, and our therapy services are always personalized to ensure everyone feels seen and heard. We also recognize that some families may have neurodivergent members—such as children with autism, ADHD, or social-emotional challenges—and tailor therapy accordingly to promote inclusion and mutual understanding.
Our treatment center in Orange County provides a safe, private space for families to heal together. Sessions are conducted by licensed family therapists, social workers, and other qualified providers who understand the unique challenges of addiction.
We focus on:
A calm, supportive environment allows families to focus on growth and healing without fear of judgment or pressure.
Our Orange County rehab is not a quick-fix treatment center. We believe in slowing down, listening deeply, and designing family therapy that actually leads to meaningful change.
Here’s what sets us apart:
Our therapists work hand-in-hand with your clinical team to provide seamless care.
We have qualified LMFTs and social workers to facilitate sessions and help you with expert guidance.
Every session is trauma-informed and emotionally supported.
Family therapy is not an afterthought—it’s a core part of our treatment plan.
Whether your family is dealing with long-held resentments or recent crises, we create a space where healing can finally begin.
Addiction can isolate and divide—but recovery has the power to bring families closer. At New Leaf Detox in Laguna Niguel, we invite you to begin again. Whether your loved one is entering detox, already in residential treatment, or navigating life after care, our family therapy program can help rebuild the foundation you’ve all been missing.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let our licensed professionals guide you through the conversations, boundaries, and breakthroughs that lead to lasting change. We offer therapy sessions in-person at our treatment facility and work closely with families across Orange County, including Irvine, Tustin, and the surrounding Southern California area.
Reach out to our admissions team today to learn more about our family therapy offerings. Call now or fill out our confidential form—because healing your loved one means healing your family too.
Family therapy brings loved ones together with a trained therapist to improve communication, rebuild trust, and understand how substance use disorder affects the whole family. Sessions are tailored to what your family needs most—sometimes everyone is involved, sometimes just a few.
Healthy family involvement can make a real difference in addiction recovery. With clearer communication and better coping skills, families feel more connected and better prepared to support long-term healing.
Absolutely. Many families come in feeling stressed, confused, or drained. Therapy gives you a safe space to talk openly, set boundaries, and get support for your own well-being, too.
Yes. At New Leaf Detox and Treatment in Orange County, family therapy can be integrated into any level of care—residential treatment, outpatient programs, detox, or aftercare.
Just reach out. We’ll help you understand how family counseling fits into addiction treatment and walk you through the next steps at your own pace.
