Family Support

Helping Family Members

Turning Point recognizes that successful recoveries are dependent on family support. That’s why we now offer support for family members, including workshops and personal counselling.

Family Education Series Workshop

This two-day workshop is a hands-on, experiential program that will help family members take control of their family situation.

Karima Habibali, co-leader of the workshop along with Sonya Sethi-Rankin, says role-playing and exercises help work through feelings that are common among family members of substance abusers. “We want to normalize the feelings associated with addiction, and to help family members connect with and support others who are experiencing the same feelings,” says Karima.

This program is designed to provide an overview of your situation, recommend support that may be required, and create an action plan that prepares you for your loved one’s return once they have completed the program. We want to ensure that you are aware of your own actions and reactions, and how they play a role in your loved one’s recovery. We believe family members can benefit from this direction and education, helping them makes healthy decisions going forward.

We want you to understand that the only person you will ever have control of is yourself. That is where the works starts. See  Are you an enabler? To learn more, or to register for an upcoming workshop, call
1-877-523-8369.

Family Empowerment Workshop

Contrary to what you may have seen on TV, an intervention should not be an ‘ambush’, and it shouldn’t be done by a stranger. It’s important to understand that an intervention, whether direct or indirect, is simply a concerted and educated effort to help your loved one understand that you love and care for him, but won’t allow him to continue with his damaging behaviors.

Turning Point has developed a four-hour Family Intervention Workshop that empowers family members, bringing them together through communication and understanding to establish clear expectations of each person’s role in helping the user.

The workshop is conducted by a professional addictions clinician in partnership with Turning Point co-founder Tammy Francoeur, who offers insights and comfort based on her own personal experience with substance abuse.

With their guidance, each family member prepares a letter to their loved one explaining activities they will no longer tolerate, finance, or participate in if the addict doesn't agree to treatment. Family members work together to develop a strategy that clearly sets out each person’s responsibilities.

• The substance abuser must "hit bottom" before seeking help
• Family members are powerless to help until he is "ready"
• Putting pressure on your loved one will push him over the edge
• He no longer cares about family
• Stating consequences for his actions will push your loved one away forever.

Family Counselling

Are you feeling overwhelmed and alone in dealing with a loved one’s addictive behaviours? At Turning Point, we understand that addiction is painful for family members, and that too often they are ignored in the healing process. You must help and heal yourself before you can help others Turning Point offers individual and group counseling for family members, and is available regardless of what stage of the process your family is at.

Call our toll-free line 1-877-523-8369 – for information.

Are you an enabler?

Family members want to be helpful when a loved one shows signs of addiction. Here are some examples of behaviours that are enabling rather than being helpful:

• Making excuses for their irresponsibility
• Not setting boundaries
• Lying on their behalf to cover up
• Cleaning up their messes
• Accepting their excuses, or believing their lies
• Allowing the addict to depend on you
• Not seeking help for yourself

Call our toll-free line 1-877-523-8369 – for information.