If you are considering treatment options for your teenager, you may have considered the impact of family therapy. Family therapy may be a beneficial tool, but it is one you should consider pairing with other substance abuse treatments.

Want to know how family therapy can help? Here's how your teen may benefit from family therapy.

Family Therapy Shows How Addiction Is a Family Issue

One of the biggest benefits of family therapy is that it will show how the family dynamic might contribute to teen substance abuse. For example, you may find that one parent who also lives with substance abuse disorder may also need individual treatment to encourage a teenager to pursue treatment as well.

Additionally, teen substance abuse often begins, in part, due to dysfunctional family behavior. Therapy may be able to fix some of these issues early on by improving communication skills for everybody.

Family Therapy Encourages Parenting

Often, parenting needs some reinforcement. Therapy can help with this. For example, both parents may be at a loss as to what to do about a child's poor attendance at school. Therapy can focus on helping parents fulfill their goal of getting their child back to school so that there is a focus.

Children with parents who are active participants in their therapy treatment may also have higher self-esteem and confidence, which can help with teen substance abuse. Family therapy can also show parents how to use positive reinforcement and motivational techniques to promote a healthy substance-free life at home.

Family Therapy Can Be Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment

Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment, you can still benefit from family therapy. If your child gets outpatient treatment, the family will attend treatment together. If your child lives at a treatment center, the rest of the family may visit once a week for sessions.

Family Therapy Helps Each Party Communicate Clearly

One of the biggest struggles in a family is sharing openly. Teens often feel as if they have to keep secrets, but treatment with the whole family can clear the way for open communication. Together, you can build the skills necessary to discuss the factors that may have led to substance abuse disorder. This skill will also be crucial for preventing relapse.

Teen Substance Abuse Treatment Requires Several Approaches

In many cases, teen substance abuse requires several approaches, family therapy being one of them. If you are considering a variety of treatment modalities, you should speak with a therapist about your options.