Family Services | South Carolina
Addiction impacts the stability of the home, the family’s unity, mental health, physical health, finances, and overall family dynamics.
Addiction can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful damage with long-lasting effects. This is why addiction is often referred to as a family disease. At Waypoint Recovery Center, we want to address the whole family system to optimize success.
When a family member is struggling with a substance use disorder, the stress can often push a family to the breaking point. A family member’s use of drugs or alcohol impacts the stability of the home, the mental and/or physical health of individuals, the state of the family’s finances, and the overall health of a family’s dynamics and unity.
In order to do so effectively, we provide several ways for the family to engage:
Individual Family Sessions
Individual Family Sessions are provided during the last two weeks of residential treatment. The client and their counselor will set up a time for the family and client to speak via telephone after the initial 14-day blackout period. This session will be an opportunity for the client and family members to discuss progress in treatment, and discuss family expectations for the client after discharge, discharge plans for ongoing treatment, and how things will be different going forward.
Family Planning After Discharge
Discharge planning throughout treatment is very important. The family plays a big part in assisting the client in determining what is the best course of action to continue the sobriety journey after leaving Waypoint. That may include an Intensive Outpatient Program, such as the one Waypoint provides in North Charleston; traditional outpatient services, or perhaps the individual and family have determined that longer-term treatment in a sober living environment is best.
The client’s treatment team will provide recommendations for after-care and the Waypoint Discharge Planner will work with the client and family to secure those services.
Family & Peer Support
Waypoint is also pleased to offer peer and family support services through UTURN. This service is provided to all families automatically and clients will be provided with a certified peer support specialist who will be available to them for support for 30 days after discharge.
Addiction is a disease that impacts all members of a family. Treatment is just the first step in the healing process. Waypoint will be the starting point for that healing process.
Family Orientation Group
Family Orientation Group: Via Zoom Tuesdays from 6 – 7 pm
On Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m., a member of our clinical staff will facilitate a Family Orientation Zoom call. (See Zoom instructions below.) During the call, we will answer questions about the program and provide information about things like the program schedule, possible consequences of your loved one leaving early, and how to write an impact letter to your loved one.
Impact letters will be used in a therapy session with their counselor. This is an opportunity for you to communicate to your loved one how their substance use has impacted you and your family. A template for writing impact letters is on our website and the counselor may also send this to you.
Family Zoom Groups
Family Zoom Groups: Saturdays from 1 – 2 pm
Waypoint conducts Family Sessions via Zoom every Saturday from 1-2 pm. This group is not only comprised of current family members but family members whose loved ones have graduated from the program. (See Zoom instructions below.)
Zoom Meeting Instructions for Family Group on Saturdays and Family Orientation on Tuesdays.
MEETING ID: 217 983 6763 PASSCODE: waypoint
Instructions:
Enter the meeting ID and passcode in Zoom…
- In your web browser, go to zoom.us/join
- Enter the meeting ID provided by the host/organizer.
- Click Join. A pop-up window will prompt you to open or download the application.
- Do one of the following:
- Launch the meeting on the Zoom client if it’s already downloaded on your device.
- Click Cancel in the pop-up window, then click Download Now to download Zoom before joining.
- Click Cancel in the pop-up window, then click the Join from Your Browser link if you do not want to download Zoom before joining the meeting. Note: You are not required to download Zoom before joining, but you will have access to limited functionality if you join from your browser.
- If prompted, allow Zoom to use your microphone and camera.
- Enter a display name, then click Join.
- (Optional) Select the Remember my name for future meetings check box.
- If prompted, enter a meeting passcode, then click Join again. You will join the meeting as a guest.
What is the 14-day Black-out period?
Usually, the family and the client need time to initially “disconnect.” That is why Waypoint has a 14-day blackout period where no contact is allowed between the client and their family. This may seem harsh, but this has shown to be the most effective way for the client to focus entirely on their sobriety and for the family to have a couple of weeks where the family can relax and take a breath, knowing that their loved one is in a safe place getting the help they need.
Immediate family members (when the client signs a release of information) will receive a weekly update from a member of the clinical team. If there are any incidents or emergencies during treatment, the family will receive immediate notification.
Contacting Us About Your Family Members
We recognize you may be anxious about how your family member is doing while here. Often family members will call the unit to get an update in between the weekly update by the clinical staff. Those calls ring at our nurses’ stations and the nurse may not always be able to answer if they are engaged in taking care of our clients.
Therefore, an email where families may request an update has been put in place. If you email the family update email, someone will respond to you within 24 hours – usually much quicker. That email address is WP-FamilyUpdate@wprecoverycenter.com
You may also call the assigned counselor directly.
