The Family Program showed me how much I have to gain from taking emotional risks; how much I have to gain by stepping out from behind the walls of planning and self-protection; how much I have to gain by facing the disease and how it affects me. Through all of this I found pieces of myself, my spirit was rejuvenated and my relationship with my husband was renewed. In one single moment, we were new again, full of hope, possibility and love.
Your loved one is in treatment at Burning Tree. The disease of addiction leaves many emotional scars on the addict and those close to them. Research and our own experience tell us that the chances of successful long-term recovery increase dramatically when the family participates in the healing process. Your participation in the recovery process is imperative.
Your presence will help establish the foundation of your loved one’s recovery and for the long-term health of your whole family. You may approach our program with some anxiety and apprehension, especially if you have attended other family programs that were not beneficial or were unpleasant, however most family members report that they leave our Family Program with a sense of relief, renewed hope, and realistic expectations about recovery.
Please be aware that clients sometime experience a desire to shield family members from becoming involved in this experience. Please do not let your loved one make that decision! The clinical team has determined that it is important for you to attend.
The Family Program is designed to assist clients, family members, and significant others to develop a greater understanding of the impact of addiction on their relationships. Specifically, the program provides hope for and realistic expectations about the recovery experience following treatment. Family members and significant others are requested to attend the program.
There are numerous hotels near Burning Tree. We will provide you with maps and phone numbers for specific locations. Staff would be glad to assist you in answering any questions about lodging.
The following is a general schedule of the Family Program:
Gates open at 8:15 a.m. Breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided all three days. You may join your loved one for the breakfast buffet each morning as early as 8:15 a.m. Dinner is provided on Wednesday night only. You are on your own for dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. If clinical staff deems it appropriate, your loved one will be able to go on pass with you on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
We strongly recommend that participants attend Al-Anon, Families Anonymous, and/or CODA meetings prior to the family program. Al-Anon provides support to family and friends of alcoholics. Families Anonymous provides support for parents of alcoholics and drug addicts. CODA provides support for individuals in codependent relationships. You can locate the nearest meetings by consulting your local telephone book or Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
In order to respect the confidentiality of all clients and family members engaged in treatment, cameras, video cameras, and tape recorders are not allowed on the facility grounds.
To minimize disruption to the group as a whole, we ask that all participants commit to attend the entire Family Program. Full benefits only come from participation in all the activities. The content and format of the schedule is designed to build so that each component builds on the previous activities. In addition, the material and experiences occur during a very short period of time. Please make other arrangements for work-related activities to eliminate the distraction of cell phones and pagers, even during breaks.
While visiting Burning Tree, all visitors must abide by posted guidelines and respect other client’s confidentiality.
Clients and visitors are prohibited from taking walks or otherwise isolating themselves from Burning Tree staff.
Burning Tree clients and visitors are not to demonstrate inappropriate public displays of affection.
All visitors are required to read our confidentiality statement.
All visitors must sign in and out of our guest book.
All visitors are required to wear name badges during all visitation periods.
Visitors are not permitted to enter into the dorms or client rooms.
Because of the intensity and content of the material discussed, we do not recommend that children under the age of twelve attend the Family Program. Unfortunately, we cannot provide any assistance with local childcare services, so childcare arrangement must be made prior to the start of the Family Program.
Family Program participants are required to abstain from alcohol and other mood altering substances for the duration of the Program. Exceptions are medications prescribed by physicians.
All of these experiences are a by-product of the difficulty involved in making the changes necessary for true sobriety to take root.
You cannot make someone recover. But you can make recovery the most appealing option for your client. Learn how to best support and love. Keep yourself emotionally, physically and spiritually well. That’s the best and most that can be done.
You Did Not Cause It.
You Can’t Control It.
You Can’t Cure It.