by Samantha Medina, MS, LCADC, CCS
Addiction affects not only the individual struggling, but the entire family. It can create patterns of stress, disconnection, and emotional pain. Yet, just as the family is impacted by addiction, it is also transformed by recovery when members engage in the journey together.
My work in addiction counseling is informed not only by clinical training, but also by personal exposure to the realities of substance use and recovery within families. Two individuals very close to me, my mother and my uncle, each experienced addiction, and their journeys deeply shaped my understanding of both the challenges and the possibilities of recovery.
My mother recently celebrated 12 years of sustained sobriety, a testament to the transformative power of commitment, support, and recovery-oriented care. My uncle dedicated much of his life to recovery as well, spending years sponsoring others in a 12-step program and working in addiction counseling services. Although he ultimately lost his battle with addiction, one he fought for much of his life, his dedication to helping others left a lasting impact on me.
At a pivotal moment in my own career, these experiences led me to pursue formal education and training in addiction counseling. Nearly eleven years later, I established a private practice at The Starting Point, the very place my uncle called home to his work. I bring to my work the same passion for recovery that I witness in my family, alongside a strong clinical focus on supporting families as they heal together.
I believe recovery is most sustainable when the whole family participates; learning, growing, and rebuilding trust along the way. It is from this belief that I, along with a team of fellow addiction therapists, developed Recovering Together: A Family Learning Experience. This 6 week course offers family members education and therapeutic support that will help them navigate through their family’s journey of recovery.
Family therapy and education provide a supportive and structured environment where families can explore their roles, strengthen communication, and develop healthy boundaries. Through shared understanding and a commitment to each member’s recovery, families can transform cycles of dysfunction into pathways of connection and healing. Recovery happens together, one step, one conversation, and one renewed relationship at a time.
If you are interested in learning more about Recovering Together please visit https://startingpoint.org/recovering-together-a-family-learning-experience/
