Challenges in Engaging Parents in the Drug and Alcohol Treatment: The Professionals’ Perspective

Abstract

Addiction treatment centers often fail to involve families in treatment. The aim of the present study was to explore the challenges that Greek mental health professionals encounter in their work with parents of drug and alcohol abusers. A qualitative study design was adopted, and five focus group discussions were conducted with 27 drug and alcohol professionals. The thematic analysis of their accounts revealed the key difficulties that professionals encounter in their collaboration with parents that included parental lack of involvement or over-engagement in treatment, unrealistic expectations, ambivalence or opposition to change, ethical dilemmas, and alliance issues, as well as collaboration challenges among therapists. Findings highlight the challenges of a family approach in the treatment of addiction, and underscore the value of clinical supervision in addition to specialized training, to help professionals work on their anxiety, anger, guilt, prejudices, and deception, when engaging parents in the treatment of their addicted child.

Going Online: The Affordances of Online Counseling for Families Affected by Alcohol and Other Drug Issues

“…A wide range of support services are available to families including telephone support lines, family peer support groups, online resources, workshops, information sessions, and individual, couple, or family counseling. Despite this, families often have difficulty accessing formal services or being involved in their relative’s treatment (McCann et al, 2017; Misouridou & Papadatou, 2017). This difficulty can be caused by a lack of local availability or knowledge of services, existing services being targeted toward people who use drugs rather than their families, or a reluctance to seek support due to shame, fear, and the stigma surrounding addiction (Copello & Orford, 2002; Frye, Dawe, Harnett, Kowalenko, & Harlen, 2008; McCann & Lubman, 2017a, 2017b).…”

Changes in Professionals' Attitudes and Approaches to Parents in the Drug and Alcohol Treatment

“…Regarding professionals’ emotional responses, it appears that high levels of anxiety can also lead them to misconceptions which can be the result of countertransference (10, 11) rather than a pragmatic understanding of family dynamics (6). Such misconceptions and related countertransference reactions may tempt the professional to give up on the family which in turn, increases the likelihood of family’s giving up on the member with addiction problems (12).…”

“…mainly of psychodynamic or systemic orientation) and personal psychotherapy as well. The focus groups facilitator paid special attention to group dynamics (6). …”

“…Furthermore, it appears that family members in contact with drug and alcohol services several times describe feelings of stigma and insignificance which undermine the experience of meaningful and reciprocal relationships and a sense of belonging and trust (5). On the other hand, mental health professionals oftentimes remain reluctant and wary of working with parents of addicted individuals (3, 6). Research into the subjective experience of addiction treatment indicates that collaboration with parents is filled with distressing challenges that can be clustered in two over arching categories: difficulties associated with parental engagement, alliance, and communication issues, and difficulties associated with intra and inter-team collaboration (6).…”

“…On the other hand, mental health professionals oftentimes remain reluctant and wary of working with parents of addicted individuals (3, 6). Research into the subjective experience of addiction treatment indicates that collaboration with parents is filled with distressing challenges that can be clustered in two over arching categories: difficulties associated with parental engagement, alliance, and communication issues, and difficulties associated with intra and inter-team collaboration (6). …”