Family Repair Is Not a Side Effect of Recovery. It Is Part of the Work.

David van der Velde recently published an article that shared his observations on the healing that happens within families during the recovery from addiction by one of its members. In his article, he explores why family repair isn't a byproduct of recovery - it's part of the work itself. David has a well-informed insight into this issue as a cofounder and Executive Director of Awakening Recovery.

Addiction damages family systems in ways that are hard to name: years of fear, broken trust, emotional volatility, and exhausted love. SAMHSA and NIDA both recognize that thoughtful family involvement improves treatment engagement and long-term outcomes. But family involvement isn't the same as family rescue. Real repair often begins with boundaries, honest conversations, and time.

That's why the length and structure of recovery housing matters. A year-plus process, like what is offered at Awakening Recovery, gives residents (and their families) ample time to witness something deeper than abstinence: humility, accountability, consistency, and growth.

Read David's full article on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/family-repair-side-effect-recovery-part-work-awakening-recovery-xg1yc/.