At Serenity Knolls, we are fully committed to helping men and women achieve sobriety and reclaim a sense of hope for the life that recovery has to offer. In choosing Serenity Knolls as the place to break free from the grips of addiction, adults of all ages have the opportunity to truly transform their lives and experience a brighter, sober future. Due to our deep belief in the importance of ongoing support for both families and residents throughout the recovery journey, Serenity Knolls offers its weekend family programing as a life-time, no cost benefits to alumni and their families alike.
About Our Weekend Program
Family programming at Serenity Knolls
Our team of addiction specialists understand the obstacles that can emerge alongside substance abuse. Many of our dedicated staff practice a program of recovery themselves, and are prepared to help the residents at Serenity Knolls do the same.
By engaging in a variety of therapeutic interventions, each person who comes through our doors will learn how to make the changes needed to live a sober life one day at a time. We also seek to involve loved ones in the treatment experience whenever possible. As such, we feature weekend family programming designed to give family members and friends the education and support they need to understand their loved one’s struggles, as well as their own struggles. Addiction is creates a powerful and often destructive dynamic within the family system, which is why Serenity Knolls believes it is important to give the entire family the opportunity to recover.
Family Circle
Confronting denial, accepting responsibility
Family members and residents are invited to observe and participate in our powerful family circle group designed to aid in the process of breaking patterns of denial and misunderstanding and opening communication among residents’ family members and loved ones. Whether your loved one struggling with addiction resides with you or not, their behavior can have a lasting negative impact if not addressed. One of the most effective ways to move beyond denial is to listen to others’ observations of problematic behavior. With this in mind, family members come together with their resident to discuss the effects addiction has had on them and give their loved one the opportunity to take responsibility for their behavior. Facilitators Victoria Granucci, Ph.D., and Jon Granucci, MS, MFTI, skilled at helping families focus on communication and expressing feelings and emotions without blame in order to begin the process of healing the system. Time and again residents and families alike leave the group feeling a renewed sense of optimism for what their relationship can become.
Partners In Recovery
Strengthening the system
Chemical dependency affects not only the person who is abusing drugs or alcohol, but also the lives of everyone close to them. Partners in Recovery is a group for parents, spouses, friends, adult children, or any other significant people in a recovering person’s life. During this group, facilitator Joan Driscoll, Ph.D., provides information about chemical dependency to help loved ones regain their own sense of perspective and step out from the shadow of addiction. At Partners in Recovery, you will learn about topics such as: the roller coaster, the first step, your own denial, feelings, family rules, shame and grief, responding to the disease, what I can do, and taking action. As well, you will have an opportunity to share in the experience, strength, and hope of other families and friends of those struggling with addiction, and together discover that you are not alone.
Recovery, Denial, & Codependency Talks
Fostering healthy boundaries
For one Saturday each month, Serenity Knolls welcomes David Fulghum, CAS as their guest speaker and educator. David has worked in the treatment setting for over 25 years and possesses a deft ability to speak from the heart about difficult matters. David’s lectures encompass topics such as codependency, denial, and the importance of ongoing support for those in early recovery and their families. This session is for residents as well as family members.
Medical Aspects of Addiction
Heal the body and mind
At Serenity Knolls, families and residents are invited to learn about the physiological aspects of addiction and what happens in the brain during substance use and abuse. During this session, conducted by Serenity Knolls’ Medical Director, Molly Bourne, M.D., attendees will hear how substance use disorders are similar to other chronic diseases that require daily management. The goal of the session is to encourage individuals to let go of the blame and shame surrounding addiction and approach the disorder with the compassion and tools needed for the mind, body, and spirit to heal.
