Jerri Jorgensen, co-founder and family liaison at Desert Solace residential addiction treatment center, explains how boundaries can keep families together in the face of addiction.
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Addiction has a lasting effect on the whole family, not just the person struggling with the addiction. Because of this, addiction treatment is often more effective when it focuses on healing the bonds between family members as well as helping the addict find new ways to cope with negative emotions.
Jorgensen explained that, by teaching both Desert Solace’s clients and their spouses about healthy boundaries, she’s seen relationships blossom through the recovery process.
Related: Inpatient Porn Addiction Treatment Facility Desert Solace Explains ‘The Law Of Nonresistance’
Boundaries are clear expectations for behavior that two parties agree to uphold. In addiction treatment, these boundaries often center around ways to help the person who struggles with addiction avoid their addictive substance or behavior.
A boundary might be “let’s not keep alcohol in the house anymore, even for cooking,” or “let’s move the computer into the common area of the house so there isn’t privacy built into screen time.”
Jorgensen explained that boundaries “are critical, and boundaries aren’t punishment — they are for our safety.”
“You should tell them, ‘I’m setting this boundary because I’m still invested in our relationship,’” Jorgensen said. “‘I want this to work, so I’m willing to take a journey, but I’m willing to look at myself and my own self-limiting beliefs and get the help that I need.’”
By setting clear boundaries, Desert Solace hopes that both clients and spouses will be able to honestly discuss what they need to feel safe and happy in their relationship. By clearly stating their expectations of one another, couples can hopefully avoid some of the miscommunications and feelings of betrayal that sometimes turn into shame and self-loathing, feeding addiction.
Jorgensen also noted that boundaries help people figure out what makes them happy, versus what they think they should want or think they need to “live up to.”
“We don’t look at things as right, wrong, good, or bad. Is it working for you?” Jorgensen asked. “Sometimes we just get this tunnel vision that we think it has to look a certain way,” she continued. “Our lives don’t have to look any certain way.”
By helping clients build a social support system alongside other core coping skills, Desert Solace staff aim to break the cycle of addiction, building a strong foundation for recovery. Jorgensen’s hope is that, through communication and healthy boundaries, both clients and their loved ones can understand one another better and stay open to the addiction treatment process.
Desert Solace is an inpatient addiction treatment center in St. George, Utah. Desert Solace specializes in the treatment of pornography and sex addictions. Additionally, they offer treatment programs for gaming, gambling and substance abuse. Their inpatient facility for porn, sex, gaming, gambling and substance addictions features professional, licensed counselors, a top-rated chef, equine therapy and more. Desert Solace believes in involving the clients family in the recovery process.
451 N Meadow Dr.
Dammeron Valley, UT 84783, USA
info@desertsolace.com
(435) 817-1351