The process of addiction recovery can be difficult for all involved, including the loved ones of someone with a substance use disorder. If you have a loved one who is entering into addiction treatment, there are several things you can expect. This article will dive deeper into the inner workings of treatment at Greenhouse.

What to Expect at Greenhouse

While staying at Greenhouse, your loved one will spend the better part of their time in group sessions, 12-step recovery groups, or therapy. Time spent in reflection is also encouraged. They may also spend some of their day completing assignments that pertain to their addiction recovery.

Your loved one will have several hours per day where they have free time or time to attend classes such as yoga that will help them to practice mindfulness while also strengthening their bodies. During these periods of free time, your loved one is free to call you.

Full, balanced meals are served 3 times per day. The day ends when the lights go off at 11 p.m.

During your loved one’s time in drug and alcohol treatment, they will work to create an aftercare plan so that both they and you know what steps to take when they come home.

What Is My Role?

Addiction impacts not only the individual but everyone who loves them. Families are also severely affected by this disease and can play a key role in the addiction recovery process.

Our staff knows the value of family integration into the recovery process and invites family members to come to Greenhouse on the first and third weekends of each month to take part in a full day of classes and groups with their loved one. They will learn about the disease of addiction and the vitally important role that family members play in their loved one’s recovery from addiction.

Many family members make the trip to Greenhouse from their home cities and find the trip and the program to be incredibly meaningful and transformative to their family system.

Your loved one’s primary therapist might also invite you participate in therapy at the facility or via Skype if they deem it necessary.*

* Due to COVID precautions, family therapy sessions may be virtual. 

Can We Talk on the Phone?

Cellphone use is not allowed for the duration of medical detox or the first 72 hours of residential treatment if the patient did not complete detox at Greenhouse.

However, once this blackout period ends, your loved one may call or Facetime you during free time outside of program hours, as long as they abide by the rules outlined in our cell phone and electronics policy.

When your loved one initially enters Greenhouse, they will be assigned a primary therapist who will be the family’s main point of contact from the facility. The therapist will be in touch with family members within the first 48 hours. They will then provide a weekly update, as long as they have signed a release of information form.

If you are not hearing from your loved one, you may contact the family therapist; however, please note that if the patient does not wish for information to be released, we cannot go against their wishes.

Family Visits

While on-site visits are on hold indefinitely, our general policy has been that we do not set a visitation schedule for family and friends. At the point that in-person visits are permitted, they will need to be coordinated through your loved one’s primary therapist. We do not allow spontaneous visits/drop-ins.*

Finding a Hotel

There are several hotels conveniently located near our facility, including:

• Crown Plaza Suite, Arlington*
• Residence Inn
• Hampton Suites
• Hilton

* You may be able to receive a discounted rate when you tell them you’re visiting Greenhouse.

Can I Bring Gifts to Greenhouse?

Yes, you may bring items to your loved one, but please do NOT bring:

• Any food or drinks.
• Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, body wash, Vaseline/lotions, etc.)
• Unwrapped/unopened cigarettes or vapes.
• Illicit drugs or alcohol.
• Suggestive clothing.

Items brought to the facility will need to be opened in front of a staff member.

What If My Loved One Wants to Leave?

We know how incredibly frustrating and difficult it can be to see your loved one finally accept the help they need, only to leave before finishing treatment. If your loved one insists on leaving Greenhouse, they do have that choice. However, we will do everything we can to keep your loved one on their path to recovery.

If they express an interest in leaving, against professional advice, we will attempt an intervention with our REACH team, which may consist of your loved one’s doctor, primary therapist, nurse, case manager, and potentially some family members. Other people may be included as deemed appropriate.

When Your Loved One Leaves Rehab

Finding addiction recovery is difficult process that often involves many setbacks and a lot of emotional ups and downs. Your loved one will need you as they transition out of a very structured and supportive treatment environment. Express empathy for what they’ve been through and what they may be feeling as they face a return to their everyday life. Avoid judgment and bringing up old wounds. If possible, continue family or couples’ therapy to continue working on resolving any relationship conflicts in healthy ways.

Your loved may feel overwhelmed when they leave the addiction rehab environment. You can support them logistically by helping them find and/or get to recovery meetings near them. You can also help them find other recovery resources as necessary such as outpatient therapy and recovery-related events in their community.

You can also support your loved one’s recovery by setting clear boundaries and making consequences for crossing those boundaries very clear.

What is the Discharge Process?

If your loved one has consented to the facility releasing information to you, we will keep you updated as to all the details of their discharge process and plan.

You will know the date and the steps your loved one will take upon exiting the program. We work with your loved one the entire time they are in treatment to develop a rehab aftercare plan for their aftercare. This may involve a transition to an outpatient rehab program, a transition to a sober living facility, or other steps. We can help facilitate the transition into the next level of care.

Your loved one will count on you to help them maintain their aftercare plan. You are not responsible for your loved one’s recovery but you can help to hold them accountable for sticking to their plan for recovery.

Understand Relapse and Recovery in Addiction

Relapse is a part of many people’s journey to recovery. Many people who do find long-term recovery experience relapse at least once on the way. Try not to view a relapse as a failure but rather an indication that some kind of change is needed, whether it’s an adjustment in the treatment plan, a renewed focus on therapy, a change in location, etc.

Discuss the possibility of relapse honestly with your loved one. Go over their relapse plan with them and help them follow it.

Avoid creating a tempting environment. For example, if they come home from treatment to live with you, do not keep drugs or alcohol in the house or use substances in front of them.

Watch for warning signs of impending relapse and get your loved one connected to support immediately.  Remember that should a relapse occur, Greenhouse allows your loved one to come back for a free 30 days of treatment (see details here).

Stay Involved

Substance abuse is often called a family disease because it takes a heavy toll on everyone who loves the addicted individual. Lingering conflicts and resentments in the family and other close relationships can contribute to relapse. Family therapy can help you resolve these issues and learn better ways of communicating.

Often, family members will stay in touch with their loved one’s primary therapist after treatment ends via email and phone calls. This is a great way to stay connected and ask questions and the therapist can be a valuable resource if your loved one’s emotional state or motivation begins to degrade.

Ways to Support Yourself

Addiction is stressful and traumatic for the family members of those who are struggling. It can take a toll on your health, job, finances and more. You need to attend to your own health by eating well, getting regular sleep, and setting healthy boundaries that you stick to.

You can also find meetings for family members of addicted persons, such as:

• Al-Anon – This group offers support for those who love someone struggling with alcoholism.
• Alateen – Essentially Al-Anon for young people, this group offers support for teens and adolescents whose lives have been impacted by someone else’s drinking.
• Nar-Anon – A 12-step program for individuals who love those struggling with a drug addiction.

Co-dependents Anonymous – This 12-step programs helps people overcome codependency and develop healthy relationships.

Family Support Team

At Greenhouse, our treatment program graduates, gain access to the American Addiction Centers recovery app. Recently we added a new digital feature that allows family members of current patients and alumni to join our community and get added resources.

Our new Family Support Team gives family members the option to:

• Post content and engage with other families.
• Track milestones during their loved one’s recovery process.
• Record positive reflections in a gratitude journal.
• Read and view inspirational content, including videos and podcasts.

Note: Our family track is separate from our alumni track, so family members and alumni can be open and honest in our support channels while continuing to maintain their privacy.

Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Dallas

Are you ready to reach out for help and start the addiction treatment process?

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and ready to take the first steps toward recovery, call us at . Greenhouse Treatment Center, American Addiction Centers’ drug and alcohol rehab center in Texas, is ready to help you get the treatment you need today.

Get started now by verifying your loved one’s insurance via our