Family Therapy and Family Support in Connecticut
Extended Care at No Cost
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not a bystander in their recovery. Families carry the worry, the phone calls, the broken promises, and the hope. At High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, Connecticut, family members are part of the treatment we provide, and there is no additional cost for it.
What Our Family Program Includes
Family involvement is built into treatment here rather than added on, and no additional costs are associated with the care we provide to our guests' families and loved ones.
Family Education Workshop
An in-person workshop held once a month, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., lunch included. You may attend even if your loved one has been admitted for fewer than seven days. Once they have been in residential treatment for at least seven days, you may also stay for visitation afterward.
Family Sessions With Your Loved One's Therapist
A minimum of one session is offered during a standard 28-day stay, and additional sessions may be possible if your loved one extends beyond that. Who takes part is your loved one's decision. Contact the front desk or their therapist to schedule.
Al-Anon Meetings on Campus
Held once a month in our conference room, alongside seasoned Al-Anon members who have lived what you are living now. Contact the front desk for the next date.
Family therapy also runs inside the clinical program as one of the modalities our clinicians use, described on our therapy in Connecticut page. Our family resources page collects meeting locators for Al-Anon, Alateen, Nar-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and Coda.
Who the Family Program Is For
Most people reading this page are not the person who needs treatment. They are the spouse, the parent, the adult child, or the sibling trying to work out what to do next.
The family program is for you if:
- You are trying to decide whether residential treatment is right for someone you love.
- Your loved one is already at High Watch and you want to understand your role.
- You have been managing this alone and you are exhausted.
- Your family has been through treatment before and you want the homecoming to go differently this time.
- You need support of your own, separate from your loved one's recovery.
What to Expect: A Family's Timeline
- Before admission: We talk through fit, level of care, and benefits verification. Ask questions, gather insurance information, and start the admissions process.
- The first week: Medical stabilization in our detox center if clinically needed, then residential treatment. Give your loved one room. Attend a workshop and start going to Al-Anon.
- After seven days: Visitation becomes available. Many families pair their first visit with the monthly workshop.
- Through a 28-day stay: Clinical work deepens, including dual diagnosis treatment where indicated. If your loved one includes you, this is when the family session happens.
- Discharge planning: The team builds a continuing care plan. Learn it before discharge day, not after.
- After treatment: Step-down care may include our virtual intensive outpatient program, Hope House sober housing, or alumni programs. Support the plan without managing it.
Timelines vary by clinical need. Your loved one's treatment team will confirm what applies in their case.
Do's and Don'ts: Supporting Recovery at Home
DO's - How to Help
How can I best support my loved one while maintaining my own well-being?
Remove mood-altering substances from the home.
Learn the warning signs of potential relapse and discuss these openly with your loved one while they're in treatment.
Recognize signs of wellness - Know what healthy recovery looks like and celebrate these positive changes.
Support the treatment plan - Understand that ongoing treatment and 12-step meeting attendance are essential for maintaining sobriety. Learn more about our residential treatment program and continuum of care options.
Support the treatment plan - Understand that ongoing treatment and 12-step meeting attendance are essential for maintaining sobriety. Learn more about our residential treatment program and continuum of care options.
Practice healthy communication - Listen actively, be patient, and remember that trust takes time to rebuild.
Set and maintain healthy boundaries - You are not responsible for your loved one's choices or sobriety.
Take care of yourself - Seek your own support through Al-Anon, therapy, or other family resources. Consider our alumni programs for ongoing support.
Plan sober activities - Find new ways to have fun together that don't involve alcohol or drugs.
DON'Ts - What to Avoid
Don't enable - Avoid making excuses, providing money without accountability, or rescuing your loved one from consequences.
Don't use substances in front of your loved one during early recovery.
Don't expect immediate trust - Understand that rebuilding relationships takes time and consistent actions.
Don't control their recovery - You cannot manage their sobriety; only they can be the guardian of their recovery program.
Don't ignore your own needs - Neglecting your mental health and well-being helps no one.
Don't isolate yourself - Connect with other families going through similar experiences.
Don't give up on communication - Even when conversations are difficult, keep the lines open.
Questions to Consider as a Family
As you navigate your loved one's recovery journey, these questions can help guide your thinking and conversations:
How can I best support my loved one while maintaining my own well-being?
What boundaries do I need to establish and maintain?
How can I communicate my concerns without being controlling?
What signs of recovery progress should I look for and celebrate?
How can I rebuild trust while protecting myself?
What support do I need for my own healing?
How can our family create new, healthy traditions and activities?
Maintaining Recovery Over the Long Term
Taking Care of Yourself
Your recovery matters as much as your loved one's. Family members carry years of vigilance, and that does not lift the day someone enters treatment.
Al-Anon meets on our campus monthly, and our family resources page lists meeting locators across Connecticut and the surrounding states. Many family members also work with a therapist of their own. None of this is a failure of loyalty. It is what makes you able to stay in the relationship for the long run.
Talk with someone today: You do not have to have the right words ready. Call and tell us what is happening.
