Aurora, Colo. (Aug. 22, 2017)—While the Betty Ford Center Children's Program includes expert individual counseling, it also relies on the power of peer groups to help children who are dealing with the often painful experience of living with a family member who has a substance use disorder.
"In a facilitated group setting, children encourage each other to open up about their experiences," says Jerry Moe, National Director of the Betty Ford Center Children's Program, which helps boys and girls ages 7-12 affected by addiction in their family be healthy and safe.
"We know that kids learn from each other, which makes the three- or four-day counseling weekend program so successful."
Interaction among children underpins a solid cornerstone in the counseling program, serving to:
- Break the silence
A family member in active addiction can lead children to avoid situations where their "secret" might be discovered. Such children wrongly believe they are the only one in the world experiencing shame, fear and confusion. As a result, boys and girls in such situations may limit their social interactions and isolate. In our group environment, peers see that others are just as scared and angry as they are, and then they realize they are not alone.
- Facilitate the sharing of experiences
Counselors in our groups instruct children to draw pictures, write stories or talk about what their family lives have been like with a parent or sibling hurt by addiction. This enables them to open up to others, possibly for the first time in their lives.
- Encourage ongoing support
Once a child has revealed his or her vulnerability, the shared experience kindles deeper trust and friendships among the children who attend the program. As a result, they rely on each other for support after the program, sharing telephone numbers and contacting each other when problematic situations arise or good news is happening.
"Denying a child the chance to experience peer support is tantamount to sentencing a child to a life of isolation," says Moe. "It really takes a group setting for children to begin building a level of trust with both adults and other kids."
Formal research supports the effectiveness of group therapy in cases where children come from homes where addiction is present. A 2014 study by the Treatment Research Institute on the Betty Ford Center Children's Program process indicated that children highly appreciated and valued the group environment. Some children said the opportunity gave them the insight that they are not the only ones who live with addicted family members.
"Working with children hurt by addiction in group settings has proven to be quite effective time and time again, both in school and community programs," says Sis Wenger, President and CEO of the National Association for Children of Addiction. "These youth learn they are not alone and gain essential living skills to positively cope with the many challenges they face."
(For photos, video clips and additional information, see the Betty Ford Center Children's Program Press Kit.)
About the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. It is the nation's leading nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center. With 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care for youth and adults. It includes the largest recovery publishing house in the country, a fully-accredited graduate school of addiction studies, an addiction research center, an education arm for medical professionals and a unique children's program, and is the nation's leader in advocacy and policy for treatment and recovery. Learn more at HazeldenBettyFord.org and on Twitter @hazldnbettyford.
About NACoA
The people hurt most by alcohol and drugs don't even use them; they are the children of addicted parents. The National Association of Children of Addiction believes that none of these vulnerable children should grow up in isolation and without support and works to bring hope and help to them. NACoA is the national nonprofit membership and affiliate organization working on behalf of children of alcohol and drug dependent parents. Its mission is to eliminate the adverse impact of alcohol and drug use on children and families. In a word, NACoA helps kids that are hurt by parental alcohol and drug use. Visit www.nacoa.org for more information.
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