For Your Loved Ones
We are truly excited to be a part of your loved one’s recovery. We know you have many treatment options and we feel deeply privileged that you are looking at Launch Centers to help you navigate the challenges of sobriety, healing and personal transformation. One question you might be asking is, “How is Launch different? “
From the day of admission, Launch prepares you or your loved one for success outside of treatment. We provide support in navigating their purpose in life- and we give them the tools and the confidence to change their trajectory.
While sobriety and treatment issues are addressed daily, so too is preparation for future success and independence. We feel confident that if your loved one stays the course with us, you will look back a year from now and marvel at who they have become and who they are becoming. At Launch we believe that deep fundamental change is possible and that it begins with your commitment to self and your engagement in the work. We will strive to give the tools and skills that will launch them as a sober and thriving member of the community. And that is our commitment to you.
The Components of Family Recovery
In family work, we look at some of the following:
- Attachment styles
- Communication styles
- Goal alignment
- Family history
- Transgenerational effects (trauma, substance use, divorce, etc)
- Role modeling
- Family roles and power dynamics
- Cultural considerations
- Healthy Boundaries
- Enabling
- 12-step philosophy
- Codependency
- Self care
In our experience, we have found that clients who leave treatment with a sense of passion and purpose tend to stay sober longer and leave with a higher sense of self-esteem. It’s easier to stay on the path of recovery when you have found something that really speaks to you. Our attention to life skills development also lends itself to long-term recovery. Day-to-day activities such as tracking bills, looking for an apartment, or trying to find a job can seem intensely overwhelming for the average person, so it is understandable that people struggling to succeed struggle with these day to day tasks as well. We believe learning these simple life skills are just as important to a client’s treatment plan. It helps them reenter the world more confident and prepared.
Not sure what level of care is right for your loved one? Is your loved one suffering from addiction? We are happy to provide a free assessment, and you can learn more about the services and levels of care we offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does your program do?
Launch is an intensive outpatient program treatment program that provides professional, evidence based treatment for people who struggle with drug and/or alcohol addiction, eating disorders, and co-occurring or dual diagnosis disorders.
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Does what you do work, and for whom?
Our individualized program works for any person who truly wishes to put in the effort. We meet every client halfway and will provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed, but in the end a successful treatment episode is achieved by their commitment to do the work and the families commitment to support the work. The treatment team, the client, and the family must all be in alignment.
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How will you determine what my loved one needs?
Each client is assigned a case manager and a therapist who work together with the client to assess the client’s needs and best treatment options for them. You may be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire.
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Will you help my loved one find the right level of care, even if you cannot provide it?
Launch believes in providing the most comfortable and supportive environment possible for our clients to begin the extremely challenging journey into personal recovery, however we understand that some clients require a different level of care than we provide to best help them in this journey and we do our best to help them find the necessary care. Sometimes, a client’s condition may change, and we may have to refer them to a higher level of care. We will provide appropriate referrals and will help facilitate necessary connections.
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Do I have a say in my loved ones care? Can I tell you when it isn’t working?
If your loved one is stating that they are unhappy with treatment, we ask that you reach out to the team to address this. One of our top priorities is to ensure that your loved one feels empowered and encouraged to use their voice when concerns or questions arise. As a treatment team, we address discomfort in the new environment. We collaborate with your loved one and your family to assess habitual coping mechanisms within the family system that have allowed your loved one to get their needs met. Creating a new structure for life and creating growth can often be uncomfortable, so some discomfort is to be expected. We would encourage you to engage with our family therapist to determine which concerns are “valid” and which are “habits.”
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Do you employ persons who are trained to provide services for people like my loved one?
Yes, we have fully trained professionals, some of whom have been through similar struggles with mental health or substance abuse. Because of the professional training our staff receives, and the years of personal recovery each of them has been though, Launch staff is able to provide understanding, motivation, and a shared purpose with each client.
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Will you tell me all of this, and what it costs, before I enter care?
Before entry into our program, costs are discussed and we work with insurance companies to see what coverage they can provide. We work so that there are no hidden costs after entry. However, down the line, there may be additional services that we recommend as treatment add ons. These services will be optional and are only meant to act as extra support should the family want it.
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Will you be able to update me about my loved ones progress?
It is our goal to have both families and clients highly involved during the treatment process. We aim to repair ruptures in the family unit. At admission, the client’s therapist will explore family relationships and encourage the client to involve family members. Involving loved ones in treatment helps build a strong social support network that will support the client’s short and long term goals. Encouraging the client to communicate their needs and feelings of guilt or shame can be very empowering for the client. However, this may not be possible based on the client’s wishes. We comply with all aspects of HIPAA and maintain ethical practices, and if your loved one does not sign a release of information for you, we will be unable to give you any sort of updates, or can only provide limited updates. In the event that your loved one is unwilling to release information, we encourage you to reach out to them to encourage them to open the lines of communication.
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What is an intervention?
Sometimes we may recognize a problem before our loved one does. Those who are in active addiction, or who are unstable, may not be aware of issues or may not be ready to “give up” their lifestyle. In these moments, some families seek out “interventionists” or those that can help intervene on their loved one. They will help facilitate a space for the family to discuss all of their concerns, and will help the client see that there are issues that need to be addressed for their own wellbeing. It is not uncommon for clients to be unwilling to commit to treatment, or sobriety, and it may take some time for them to come around.
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How do I know that my child needs treatment?
There are often many tell-tale signs that your loved one may need treatment. Please fill our survey here to see if your loved one is exhibiting any signs. Take the survey, here.
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I need more help outside of family therapy, what should I do?
We provide all of our families access to a family therapist while their loved one is in our program. However, we encourage families to engage with many other outside resources. We highly recommend that family members have their own primary therapist, attend family weekends/family programs, or find and attend local al-anon meetings. A strong community with give you incredible amounts of support and advice when things seem too difficult to bear.
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What if my loved one relapses?
We do everything in our power to prevent relapses, but addiction is a powerful disease. Those that have used for many years or that have co-occurring mental health disorders may think “quitting” is impossible. Just because someone relapses, does not mean that they have failed or we have failed. It means they are simply still learning, and need further treatment and psychotherapy.
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Will I still be able to talk to my child?
We do not hold phones or prevent families from communicating to loved ones. However, there may be certain cases where we highly recommend families and clients DO NOT communicate with each other outside of scheduled family sessions. If this is the case, your family therapist will walk you through the reason behind this and prepare you for this. Oftentimes, this is to help repair your relationship. Setting time to hit pause can allow your child to process their internal emotions and it teaches them how to self-regulate and communicate their needs when they are not in a heightened state. This is also powerful for the parents or caregivers as is a time to practice not going back into old habits that were unhelpful for the family.
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Should I enroll my loved one in a transitional living home or sober living?
We highly recommend that all clients that are enrolled at a PHP or IOP level are also enrolled in a transitional living home. Making the transition to a new way of life is very difficult, and removing old triggers and stressors is important to building a new foundation for the rest of your life. It also takes the stress off of you, so that you can work on taking care of yourself and rebuilding your relationship with your loved one.
Recommended Reading List
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Al-Anon Basic Text
The daily meditations, affirmations, and quotes from “One Day at a Time” help families encourage their recovering alcoholic loved ones to help themselves. Al-Anon has an incredible impact on families affected by alcoholism and is a vital part of recovery.
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The Courage to Change (Al-Anon)
The daily meditations, reminders, and prayers from Courage to Change help families encourage their recovering alcoholic loved ones and point to Al-Anon’s impact as a vital part of recovery.
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It Takes a Family by Debra Jay
Counselor and interventionist Debra Jay shows alcoholics, other addicts, and their loved ones how to work collaboratively and as individuals to take on the roles and responsibilities that support long-term sobriety.
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The Lost Years by Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry
A child caught in the horror of alcohol and drug addition. A mother helplessly standing by unable to save her. The Lost Years is the real life story of just such a mother and child, each giving their first-hand accounts of the years lost to addiction and despair.
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The Family Recovery Guide: A Map For Healthy Growth by Stephanie Brown
This book teaches how to sustain supportive relationships with the recovering addict without undermining the focus and determination he or she needs to beat addiction and build a healthy life.
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Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
In a crisis, it’s easy to revert to old patterns. Caring for your well-being during the coronavirus pandemic includes maintaining healthy boundaries and saying no to unhealthy relationships.
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In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate
Dr. Maté presents addiction not as a discrete phenomenon confined to an unfortunate or weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs throughout (and perhaps underpins) our society; not a medical “condition” distinct from the lives it affects, rather the result of a complex interplay among personal history, emotional, and neurological development, brain chemistry, and the drugs (and behaviors) of addiction.
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How to Raise and Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims
A provocative manifesto that exposes the harms of helicopter parenting and sets forth an alternate philosophy for raising preteens and teens to self-sufficient young adulthood.
Families and Friends Expectations
Launch is a professional space where clients will be working on various projects and activities related to individual goals. Families and friends will be expected to honor their time at Launch as they would anyone at work; contact is possible, but limited, to not interfere with productivity and progress. Please do not pull your child from scheduled treatment sessions.
We also encourage all families to be a part of the client’s journey. We recommend that parents and spouses attend local Al Anon meetings. It is not just recommended, it is vital for you to ensure that your loved one can be successful in their recovery. Al Anon meetings help you process what is happening , just as your loved one is. Being knowledgeable about Al Anon provides another avenue of communication between parent and child or between spouses.
Discharge Policy
Understand that your child may be discharged under the following circumstances
- Successful completion of the program and treatment plans.
- Use or possession of alcohol or other drugs on Launch Centers property.
- Acts of Violence, threats, possession of weapons, or intimidation.
- Stealing or unauthorized use of the property
- Romantic or Sexual fraternization between patients.
- Violation of local, state, and federal laws.
- Medical or psychiatric stabilization is required.
- Nonpayment for services
Each individual is unique, as are the circumstances related to the above offenses. Discharge is not automatic, it is considered a last resort, and is at the discretion of the treatment team. If patients are under the influence, they will not be admitted to group and must have an alternative method of transportation home.
Professional Relationship
Although sessions with Launch Centers staff may be emotionally and psychologically intimate, it is important for you to realize that we have a professional relationship rather than a social one.
We will attempt to facilitate you in your process of solving problems by making use of techniques that are based on tested theories and methods of change. We will offer you choices and help you to decide what is best for you. You should also know that if any Launch Center staff sees you out in public, we will keep your identity confidential by not addressing you unless you speak to us first. We are unable to accept personal gifts. Our duty is to care for you and our other patients in the professional role of treatment providers.