How Can I Support My Child Through Treatment?

Supporting your child struggling with addiction or behavioral health issues is a trying time for any family. While you may not know where to start, the role of a parent is crucial in supporting your child's journey towards recovery and throughout the healing process. Many parents express not knowing how best to help their child through treatment—should you give your child space, or should you continuously check in? The short answer is, both (depending on your child). Finding a balance between offering encouragement and support, and giving the treatment team the space to work with your child is key. Here, we will explore how to best strike that balance, and the dos and don’ts of supporting your child in their recovery journey.

Understanding Your Role in Your Child’s Journey

Families impacted by addiction or mental illness often don’t know how to best support their loved ones through treatment. When you see a person struggling, especially your own child, your first impulse is to want to help them. However, there is a fine line between helping and enabling your child. Making sure that you are encouraging them and validating the difficulties they are facing is a significant part of your child’s recovery, and can help set a baseline of support and understanding that will be crucial when they eventually transition out of treatment.

Additionally, working with your child and their mental health provider to establish and maintain open lines of communication that are judgment free, and encouraging honesty and trust without pressure are both ways you can be helpful. For example, Your child comes to you and tells you that they are feeling the urge to use drugs or alcohol. Instead of responding from a place of fear and berating them, offer praise for vocalizing these urges, and encouragement to use coping mechanisms put in place by their care team or even contact their providers for assistance.

Your role in your child’s recovery is to support them, love them, validate their big feelings, and create a home environment that supports their recovery journey. You should also default to deferring to their treatment team when it comes to coping mechanisms, specific treatments, and medication management.

The Balancing Act: Involvement vs. Giving Space

When a child is going through mental illness or addiction treatment, it is important to maintain open communication AND be sensitive to their needs.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when determining if your child needs support or space:

Observe Behavior

Pay attention to your child’s verbal and behavioral cues. Are they withdrawn and isolating themselves? Or, are they seeking comfort and support in dealing with addiction or mental health treatment? If they seem to be withdrawing, they may need space to process their feelings and the journey they are on to recovery. However, if they are reaching out to you for support they may need some comfort or even just a listening ear.

Respect Their Boundaries

If your child expresses a need for space, respect their boundaries. Let them know that you’re here for them whenever they are ready to talk, but avoid pressing them to engage.

Be Direct

Sometimes the best approach is to be direct and ask them what they need from you. Encourage open and honest communication by expressing your concern AND your willingness to support them no matter what. Asking “do you want help, or do you just want to vent?” can also show that you’re aiming to be respectful of their boundaries, and want to meet them where they are at.

Consult with Professionals

If you are unsure of how to best support your child, spend time consulting with their treatment team. Therapists, counselors, and doctors can provide valuable insights based on their expertise in the field AND their knowledge of your child’s specific case. Ask how you can get involved in treatment. For example: attending family therapy sessions, or check-ins with your child’s treatment team.

Consider the Severity

If your child’s mental health issues or substance abuse are severe enough to be potentially life threatening, it may be necessary for you to take on a more active role in their recovery—even if they initially resist your help. Pay close attention to look for symptoms of addiction or mental illness and report these back to their treatment team as needed.

Balance Support and Independence

Strive to strike a balance between supporting your child and allowing them to maintain a sense of independence. Encourage them to take ownership of their treatment while reassuring them that you’re here to offer guidance if needed. Many times, just knowing that they have support and approval from their parents is a great baseline in treatment.

Each case and each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Continuously assess how their treatment is going, and adjust your approach accordingly to ensure they have the love and support they need through this journey.

Educating Yourself On Your Child’s Condition

Educating yourself about your child’s condition and the treatment options in their mental health or addiction recovery is key. When you know more about what your family can expect, you can best offer support and guidance whenever they need it.

Here are some resources to help you and your family learn more about your child's addiction and mental health conditions:

Gaining knowledge about your child’s specific condition can not only educate you and your family on how best to support your child, but also empower you to advocate to find the best treatment programs for them. Please contact us, and we’re happy to share additional resources that are more specific to your child’s case.

Utilizing Resources and Seeking Support

If you have a child who is struggling with mental illness, taking drugs or drinking, it is important to lean on experts and those who are going through a similar journey. Utilizing resources at your child’s treatment center such as family therapy, family support groups, and educational workshops can not only further educate you on how to best support your child, but also how to best support yourself through this trying time.

Additionally, finding other parents whose son or daughter is struggling with mental illness or addiction recovery can be an additional support system. Connecting with folks facing similar challenges and mutually supporting each other can make you feel less alone, and gives you the opportunity to help them by sharing what you’ve learned along the way.

Curating Balance and Support

Having a child who is struggling with addiction or mental illness means offering support, educating yourself, and knowing when to give space or take a more active role in their recovery. It is important to not only lean into supporting your child, but to also ensure that you are utilizing resources to take care of your own wellbeing. Keep the idea of “putting your own mask on first, then offering assistance” in mind—if you aren’t taking care of yourself, it is almost impossible to take care of others. Oftentimes, just reinforcing how much you love and support your child can be a huge help in their recovery journey. With the right support, education, and treatment resources, you can make a positive impact on your child’s recovery and help them through this trying time.

Work With Insight Northwest Recovery

At Insight Northwest Recovery in Eugene, Oregon, we know that the journey of overcoming addiction or mental health challenges is unique. We approach each client with the understanding that treatment is never one-size-fits-all. We understand that your child’s experience is deeply personal, and we approach every case with genuine warmth, empathy, and understanding. Navigating addiction and recovery with a loved one can be painful, uncomfortable, frustrating, and extremely chaotic. At Insight Northwest Recovery, we approach our clients with the belief that addiction is not a moral failing; rather it is a disease that can be treated and recovery can become one of the biggest strengths and assets. We believe that those who have experienced addiction and mental illness are some of the most resilient, talented, kind, passionate, and hard-working people we know.

Whether your loved one is using substances or struggling with mental illness, our treatment facility can assist your family with the challenges you’re facing. We speak the language of recovery and approach families in a non-judgmental, warm, and client-centered way.

Let us help you take the first steps to recovery today

Dani ChambersInsight Northwest Recovery