What Are the Best Rehab Centers for Women With Children?

Getting help for addictions is rarely easy – and if you’re a woman with children, the process becomes even harder. Up to 40 percent of women with addictions delay or choose not to seek treatment because of concerns related to their children. To make it easier for women with families to get the treatment they need, a growing number of inpatient rehab programs are making children’s welfare a part of the recovery process.

Rehab Creates Conflict for Mothers

Studies show that residential, or inpatient, rehab offers the best chance for success in recovering from substance addiction. This kind of program gives substance abusers the opportunity to focus on recovery without the distractions and triggers of daily life, and to get the medical and emotional support they need to move forward. But for women with children, especially single mothers, choosing to go into inpatient rehab can create problems for the whole family

Many women worry that if they go into rehab, they might lose custody of their children, especially if they have no extended family to care for them during an inpatient stay. Some women are the sole support of the family – and entering a rehab program for weeks or months could create severe hardship. Still others are caregivers for elderly or disabled parents or other family members, and finding substitute care can be difficult.

Women-Centered Rehabs Recognize Unique Needs

Some residential programs in the U.S. allow children to stay with their parent.

Because concerns about their children keep women from entering rehab, or completing the program if they do, many women-centered residential rehabs are now finding ways to  allay those fears and help the whole family to heal.

Women-centered rehab programs make children’s issues a part of the larger work toward recovery. Being a part of their mother’s rehab experience helps children understand her efforts to end her addiction, and also supports children’s recovery from the impact of a parent’s addiction.

Children and Family Programs

When a parent is addicted, children are traumatized. When a parent must be absent for rehab, children are often sent to live with other family members or foster families. Family friendly rehab programs recognize that mothers benefit more from the program when they worry less about their children, so many residential programs are incorporating services for clients’ children into the treatment plan.

Residential Stays for Children

A number of residential rehabs for women only throughout the US have begun to allow children to stay with their mothers during the program. For longer rehab treatment programs, these facilities allow up to two young children to live on the premises, which eliminates a client’s worries about separation from her family and allows her to focus on treatment.

Children’s Counseling and Play Therapy

Children may not be able to talk about their feelings and experiences when a parent is addicted to drugs or alcohol, so women-centered rehab programs can offer therapeutic activities just for children, who may be either staying with their mother in rehab or visiting.

Family Counseling

Family counseling includes all members of a family affected by drugs or alcohol, and that can include children, partners and any extended family members who are caring for a client’s children or helping in other ways.

Benefits of Local Rehabilitation Centers to Families in Recovery

Visits to a Parent in Rehab

Many rehabs encourage older children to visit a parent in rehab and even participate in some of the activities there. This keeps families connected and eases clients’ worries about their children’s welfare.

Childcare in Outpatient Programs

When clients leave an inpatient program, they can continue their recovery on an outpatient basis. To make it easier to keep up with counseling, groups and other parts of the program, outpatient rehab programs can offer childcare and activities for older children on the premises.

Addiction affects not just the addict,  but also everyone in the family – and supporting the family increases a woman’s chances of recovery. The best rehabs for women with children recognize women’s unique issues in rehab and work with the family to remove the barriers that block the road to recovery.

Are you worried that your addiction is harming your family – but don’t know what to do? We’re here to help you find solutions. Call us at 800-430-1407Who Answers? for the answers you need right now.