Structured Family Recovery?

Structured Family Recovery (SFR) is a positive, forward-looking program designed to help families support a loved one in recovery from addiction while improving their own well-being. It is a collaborative, action-oriented approach that involves the entire family working together as a team to build a sustainable recovery environment. 

Here are some key features of SFR:

1. Family-Centered Approach: Unlike traditional recovery programs that primarily focus on the addicted individual, SFR actively involves family members in the recovery process.

2. Weekly Meetings: Families and the person in recovery participate in structured weekly sessions. These meetings are typically guided by a certified SFR counselor and focus on open communication, shared accountability, and progress tracking. Families can also do SFR without a counselor, as the entire program is laid out in the book, It Takes a Family, by Debra Jay.

3. Twelve Step Integration: SFR incorporates principles from Twelve Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Al-Anon, providing both the individual and the family with proven frameworks for long-term recovery.

4. Goal-Oriented: The approach emphasizes setting specific, measurable goals for both the individual in recovery and their family. These goals help create clarity and motivation while addressing the broader impact of addiction on the family, as a whole.

5. Focus on Family Recovery: SFR acknowledges that addiction affects the entire family, not just the individual. It provides tools and strategies for family members to heal and break patterns of enabling or codependency.

6. Accountability and Support: Participants commit to mutual accountability, encouraging everyone involved to maintain their own recovery or self-care practices.

Structured Family Recovery is focused on the positive brain and moving forward (not delving into the past). SFR aims to rebuild trust, foster healthier relationships, and create a supportive environment that enhances the likelihood of sustained recovery for all involved. It was developed by Debra Jay and described in her book It Takes a Family: A Cooperative Approach to Lasting Sobriety, 2nd ed., Hazelden, 2021.

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Structured Family Recovery