Family programme

We consider it important to involve your immediate family members in your treatment. After all, having to cope with a person who has issues with gambling, gaming, alcohol, drugs or medication is not easy. Often, everyone involved is struggling with feelings of frustration, helplessness, lack of understanding, anger and sadness. People close to you are often seriously worried, which might put a strain on your relations. Addiction not only impacts addicts themselves, but also those around them. Relatives and loved ones have witnessed the destructive effects of addiction firsthand. For this reason, they too need help and advice.

It is also why we want to get in touch with our clients’ social system during treatment. Through our family programme, we help relatives and friends learn to cope with the effects of addiction and provide them with more information about what addiction actually is.

Family meeting

For all relatives, Connection SGGZ organises one family meeting that takes place during the client's treatment. This is a regular part of our family programme. The aim of this group event is to create understanding and provide insight into the disease of addiction. It also allows peers to share their experiences. Family and friends, including our clients themselves, consider this to be extremely positive and helpful.

Substance abuse treatment and family therapy 

We would also gladly talk with family members about what profound effects addiction has on their lives; this conversation always takes place with the client being present. During this conversation, we can help break certain habits and patterns within family dynamics. In this way, we assist in creating healthy relationships, giving our client and their family the best chance of recovery. These systemic therapy sessions only take place after a healthcare assessment has indicated your needs. They are therefore not a standard procedure when it comes to family therapy and substance abuse treatment. 

Contact during treatment

During the addiction assessment, we always ask our clients to appoint who we can contact during their treatment. If there is inpatient treatment at one of our clinics, the family is always involved. We do this by requesting a family letter describing what addiction has done to them. Discussing this letter with the client as part of the treatment has a positive effect on their progression. In addition, weekly phone calls between the client and their relatives are also possible. 

Privacy protection

As we only treat adults at Connection SGGZ, as a care institution we also have to comply with the applicable privacy act. This means, among other things, that we are not allowed to share medical information with others, including family members.  

Do you have any questions? 

We understand that this topic might raise questions, which is why we are here to answer them. Please contact us without obligation or head to ‘Mijn naaste is verslaafd’.