Education and Support for Parents/Guardians of Teens Currently in Treatment at Muir Wood
Family Therapy:
Family Therapy is a core component of the Muir Wood treatment model. Parents/primary caregivers of teens currently in treatment at Muir Wood are required to participate in weekly family therapy sessions. Family therapy at Muir Wood follows an attachment-informed and family systems-based approach to addressing ruptures in the parent-child relationship and establishes safe and healthy patterns of communication and support seeking. Your child’s therapist will contact you regarding your Family Therapy weekly schedule.
Huddle Calls:
Families will also have a weekly “huddle call” with their child’s therapist and other members of the treatment team as needed. The focus of the huddle call is to provide an update on progress towards treatment plan goals, while providing Aftercare recommendations as well as support in setting up aftercare services. In fact, Aftercare planning at Muir Wood begins upon admission. Your child’s therapist will contact you regarding your huddle call schedule.
Virtual Parent Support Program:
In addition to weekly Family Therapy and huddle calls, our Parent Support Program is a virtual service, held over Zoom on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, that allows parents to participate in the treatment process from the comfort of their own homes. Family education and support is provided three times per week, as outlined below, and includes two psycho-education seminars which we call the Parent Class along with a weekly Parent Support Group.
This multidisciplinary, educational, and peer support program is designed to promote the well-being of the parents of a young person with mental health and/or substance abuse disorders. Through education, guidance, and peer support, participants learn that they can’t control their loved one’s mental health issues or substance use, but they can take responsibility for their own health and happiness and become a more effective source of support for their child during and after treatment.
Monday’s Parent Class – Every Monday, 6-7:15 p.m. PST
Parent Classes are facilitated by our Director of Family Services, Rawland Glass, LMFT, and meets twice weekly. The class covers a sequence of five topics over the course of 6 weeks, each designed to allow parents to join on a rolling basis. The five topics are outlined below. This class is held on Monday and Thursday. Participation is considered mandatory.
Wednesday’s Parent Support Group – Every Wednesday, 6-7:15pm PST
The Parent Support Group meets each Wednesday at 6 pm PST over Zoom and is facilitated by Max Lachmann, SUDCC, one of our Recovery Counselors. Parents/guardians of teens in treatment and those who have completed the program are able to ask questions of our clinician while seeking and sharing insight and advice from and with one another.
Thursday’s Parent Class – Every Thursday, 6-7:15pm PST
The Thursday Parent Class is facilitated by our Director of Family Services, Rawland Glass, LMFT, and is a continuation of the Monday Parent Class.
The 5 topics of the Monday and Thursday Parent Class include:
Topic #1: Codependency
Parents/guardians explore the nature of codependency and how it is activated by trauma. Families are taught how trauma affects the brain and leads to parenting responses that interfere with healthy attachment patterns.
Topic #2: Recovery from Codependency
Parents/guardians are encouraged to look at how they are showing up with each other and are taught how to rebuild connections with themselves and with others. This requires learning skills such as mindfulness, tools for processing emotions and promoting integration. Recovery of the family leads to the rebuilding of trust and the ability to productively resolve issues with others.
Topic #3: Family of Origin
This topic aims to reduce blame while increasing understanding of the “family of origin” environment that influenced poor choices. We discuss the four aspects of the family system and how each person has affected each other person, as well as the underlying beliefs that drive interactions and behavior. For parents/guardians, these are primary factors that affect their parenting, attachment styles, and the development of codependency.
Topic #4: Interactions and Communication
Parents/guardians learn to develop a strategic approach to communication that is deliberate and purposeful rather than random and reactive. We discuss strategies parents/guardians can utilize to move from a controlling approach to one that seeks to rebuild trust and attachment.
Topic #5: Addiction and Relapse
In this class, we explore parental mindset, identify specific steps to prepare and then respond to relapse that promote recovery rather than conflict and a return to using.
Post-Treatment Support for Your Child:
The Alumni Client (Teen) Support Group
The Alumni Support Group is a weekly check-in for teens who have completed our residential treatment program. This group offers a safe and supportive space for alumni to reconnect, share their progress, and talk about any challenges they might face as they transition back to daily life. Led by an experienced facilitator, the group strives to provide ongoing mental health support after discharge and, when substance use is a concern, prevent relapse. The group includes guided discussions, peer interactions, and therapeutic check-ins to keep alumni connected to their progress and offer encouragement. This regular support helps reinforce the positive changes made during treatment and supports continued healing. Your child will receive a weekly invitation to the Zoom group via email. NOTE: WE CANNOT INVITE YOUR CHILD TO THIS WEEKLY GROUP IF WE DO NOT HAVE THEIR CONTACT INFO. YOU MAY SEND US THAT INFO USING THIS FORM.
For questions about our Family Program or these education and support sessions, please contact Rawland Glass, LMFT, Director of Family Services.
We also encourage you to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the Family Handbook.