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Family members and close friends can play an important role in addiction recovery. They may also need support themselves, especially where trust, communication, stress or boundaries have been affected by alcohol or drug use.

Recovery Scotland is an information and referral support service. We do not provide family therapy directly, but we can help people understand treatment options and discuss suitable providers where appropriate.

What Is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is a form of therapy where family members work with a qualified therapist to improve communication, understand patterns and address conflict or stress within the family system.

In addiction treatment, family therapy may help loved ones understand addiction, support recovery, set healthy boundaries and rebuild trust where appropriate. It should be delivered by a qualified professional or treatment provider.

The Benefits Of Family Therapy

Family therapy may help some families:

  • Improve communication.
  • Understand addiction and relapse risk.
  • Explore boundaries and expectations.
  • Address resentment, guilt or conflict.
  • Support safer routines after treatment.
  • Plan how loved ones can offer support without taking over responsibility for recovery.

The suitability of family therapy depends on the person, the family situation and the provider’s assessment.

The Practices In Family Therapy

A qualified therapist may use different approaches depending on the family’s needs. These may include communication exercises, boundary work, relapse prevention planning, reflective exercises, CBT-informed approaches or structured family sessions.

Before choosing a provider, ask who delivers family therapy, whether sessions are included in treatment, how confidentiality works and what support is available after treatment.

When Is The Right Time For Family Therapy?

There is no single right time for family therapy. In some cases, family involvement can be helpful early in treatment. In others, it may be better after the person has stabilised or after safety concerns have been addressed.

A treatment provider or qualified therapist should assess whether family therapy is appropriate and how it should be approached.

Finding Family Therapy Support

If addiction has affected your family, Recovery Scotland can offer confidential guidance and referral support. We can help you explore treatment pathways and, where appropriate, connect with suitable treatment providers.

Any therapy plan, clinical assessment or admission decision is made by the provider.

John Gillen - Director & Author at Nova Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: June 17, 2026

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.