In many cases the family does not
play any role in our client’s recovery. This is sad to say but true. These
clients have “burned the bridges” of these relationships with not only family
but also with friends and co-workers. In some cases our clients have not had
contact with family for several years or more.
In other cases, we find
the client’s family is desirous of reconnecting with their loved one. As the
clients progress through the New Life Program, opportunities arise where they
begin re-connecting with family. This begins with letters, progresses to phone
calls and, when practical, clients are allowed visits from their family. In the
New Life Program clients learn to build healthy relationships and learn to be
productive members of their family in ways that are healthy for everyone.
The process of
involving the family with the clients program is complicated. Some of their
families are themselves struggling to overcome addiction and other personal
problems. In these cases, having the client return to quickly to the family can
actually set them back. When the family has contributed to the problems that
our clients experience, we find it is most helpful for clients to focus fully
on their recovery, and put off to a much later time the plan for reconnection
with family. Relationship re-building for many of these clients can take years
or in some cases may never happen.
When
the client’s family is healthy and willing to help with their loved one’s
recovery, progress that the client makes with Jericho Road can be reinforced by
the family. When client are able to return home to a family that is able to
communicate well and maintain healthy relationship boundaries, the success of
the client’s long term recovery improves greatly. At the end of the day, the success
of each client in the New Life Program is a matter between themselves and with
God. Jericho Road staff merely plays a supporting role as clients choose each
day to follow the narrow path with Him.
