Quarterly Family Weekend Workshops

Circle Tree Ranch drug and alcohol rehabilitation center offers the families of our students the opportunity to participate in Quarterly Family Weekend Workshops. Historically, our addiction treatment programs have employed workshops and retreats as valuable techniques allowing a person time to reflect, refocus, grow and change. Family Weekend Workshops are designed to give those in substance abuse treatment and their families a period of uninterrupted time together in a safe, nurturing environment to learn about chemical dependency, relationships, feelings, healthy expression, and to expand their perspectives by listening and learning from each other.

Throughout the weekend we emphasize those techniques which allow family members to objectively review how they have coped with alcoholism, chemical dependency, drug abuse and related problems: addressing stress, self-empowerment, and setting boundaries ultimately leading to personal growth. We aim to create a non-threatening environment conducive to healing of relationships, and fostering recovery from substance abuse and alcohol addiction. Voluntary self-disclosure, and acceptance of accountability which allows a structuring of relationships, are possible when individuals feel secure and experience the sense of “sanctuary” provided throughout the weekend workshop.

Circle Tree Ranch Family Weekend Workshops employ family reconstruction techniques developed by Virginia Satir, which emphasize finding one’s self-worth and seeing the family system with a new understanding. The use of these techniques has helped individuals uncover family myths and secrets – not just for the individual who is the explorer, but also for the role-players and the observers. There are times when the unrelated reconstruction of one event sheds light on another. Most individuals who take part in Family Weekend Workshops want to find answers to unanswered issues in their lives and gain a better understanding of the drug and alcohol recovery process.

Some techniques used by Circle Tree Ranch faculty during Family Weekend Workshops are:

• Seminars, including audio and video presentations focused on addiction treatment
• Sociograms (circles of influence), multi-generational studies, such as genograms (family maps), role playing, and family sculpting (perception of family relationships and issues)
• Groups centered on holistic treatment
• Telling one’s life story
• Verbal and non-verbal exercises
• Reading and writing assignments
• Ceremonial and recreational activities

Participation in Family Weekend Retreats provides an opportunity for individuals to take responsibility for their own process. Those in drug and alcohol treatment and their families wishing to grow and change are provided with a sanctuary where they can learn more about each other in a few days than in any other period of their lives.