At the moment, rates of teenage nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use are at a record low, according to AP Health reporting. And although the stats for harder substances, like cocaine and heroin, are also lower than in past decades, researchers are still seeing upticks in teens who use and experiment with them.
All of this is to say that young adults are doing better than they have in the past, but that shouldn’t make those who are struggling with substances feel like they can’t receive help. But for so many young people, it can be crucial that help come—at least at first—from home.
Family members don’t need to know about your recovery—or if your teenage or young-adult child is struggling with alcohol or substances. But what if, rather than feeling shame or suffering alone, you invited them on your healing journey with Waypoint Recovery?
This article will touch on one form of supplemental therapy for young adults and their families, why it can be helpful, and how our care teams can step in to support you.
What Is Multidimensional Family Therapy in South Carolina?
Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) is a specific type of therapy geared toward teens and young adults who live with substance use disorder (SUD), mental health problems, legal issues, emotional problems, or all four. MDFT isn’t specific to South Carolina; you can pretty much find a version of it anywhere or online. There are also MDFT programs that run through schools, juvenile delinquency centers, and community centers.
Now, MDFT is built for teenagers, but adults as old as 26 are also part of the MDFT target group. That’s because most health professionals now recognize that the range for young adulthood spans from 18 to at least 26.
When a young adult starts MDFT, they may have 45-90-minute sessions, 1-3 times per week, for up to 6 months. However, clients can receive additional support via phone and text between sessions. And all of those sessions aren’t always one-on-one. They can include family members and parents, too, in addition to individual sessions.
Any therapist who administers MDFT has at least six goals in mind every time they meet with a young adult:
- Assist them in stabilizing themselves and getting control over mental health conditions.
- Help them replace destructive coping mechanisms (using harmful substances, drinking in excess, having unprotected sex, and practicing other risky behaviors) with healthy mechanisms.
- Support them in building problem-solving and communication skills at home, in school, and in the workforce.
- Aid them in reducing their substance use.
- Improve the academic performance of school and college-age clients.
Of course, MDFT isn’t a cure for SUD or the many hardships that teens and young adults in South Carolina may face, but research shows that, at least some of the time, it can improve a young person’s educational and social well-being. So, it could be a helpful supplement for your teenager or adult child if they’re already in residential treatment for substances or mental health disorders that have gotten tangled up in substances.
Why Including Family in Recovery Can Help Everyone
It’s simple, really: Your family can actually strengthen your recovery. Plus, the more supportive people you make aware of your or your child’s substance struggles, the more support you can receive. So, if your child agrees — or better yet, invites you or other family members—to MDFT or any form of family counseling opportunity, seriously consider accepting it.
It’s a chance for everyone in your life to learn about SUD, how to control it, and how to improve your family life with boundary-setting, healthy communication, and renewed trust.
Waypoint Recovery Family Services in North Charleston
Including family in your care can also be easy when you’re working with Waypoint. We actually build family services into our care plans, and the last two weeks of residential treatment in North Charleston include individual family sessions.
We also offer a unique supplement, Multiple Family Group Therapy (MFGT), where families can gather, support each other, and learn more about what they’re going through from people who truly understand the situation. At Waypoint, we believe in MFGT because the data around it speaks for itself:
- It can help people with severe mental illness stay on track with their medication.
- It can be more effective than other approaches at reducing alcohol and substance use.
- Family therapy in general is proven to help improve family functioning.
You’re never too young or old to get help for substance use disorder. Waypoint Recovery Center offers residential treatment in North Charleston and outpatient care in Cameron. Contact us today to put your family on a substance-free path toward healing.
