Virtual Family Support Group

STR Virtual Family Support Group

We view addiction as a family disease that impacts everyone. Family recovery means everyone is doing something to manage the impact of substance use disorder. Family recovery is hard and certainly a commitment, but we promise to be there with you each step of the way. Nobody needs to make this journey alone. Not only do we offer weekend in-person family programming, but we also offer virtual family support groups via Zoom.

When are the free virtual family support meetings?

  • Wednesdays:  8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • Saturdays: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm –Every 3rd Saturday of the month, we have our Empower Hour Monthly Coaching Sessions. See the topics below for more details. 

Get Access to the Free Virtual Family Support Group

Sign up for our free virtual support group and we will email you the Zoom login credentials.

Saturday Empower Hour Topics 

10/21/23 – Boundaries, Limits, Leverage and Using a Contract to Assist Family Recovery
This session discusses what it means to set healthy boundaries. Recognizing the difference between boundaries, limits and how to use leverage and contracts without giving in to manipulation. If you feel you are constantly walking on eggshells around your loved one and your patience is maxed out, this session is for you!
11/18/23 – Addiction as a Family Disease
You cannot be close to someone and see them suffering and hurt without feeling something yourself. Join us as we uncover the impact addiction can have on each family member and the damage years of drinking or using drugs can have on you, the family member. And why family recovery/wellbeing is so vital.
12/16/23 – The Family Has a Crucial Role to Play in Early Recovery
Research shows when the family gets well, the loved one has a better chance of getting well. Learn ways on how to help a loved one choose recovery as we emphasize the BALM 5 Tips ( drop expectations, focus on yourself, be a loving mirror, set boundaries and get support) and the 7 C’s.
1/20/24 – Understanding Change and Encouraging Motivation to Change
Often, we have a loved one with an active use disorder and all we want is for the use to stop. We ‘put them in treatment”, expecting everything to be all better. If only it were that simple. This session helps us understand the stages of change and ways to communicate that can help your loved one move from one stage to the next.
2/17/24 – Behaviors Make Sense
In this session we take a brief look at the Invitation to Change Approach to understanding how your loved one’s behavior makes sense to them. Understanding what someone gets from using can lower your fear and anxiety and invites connection and collaboration between you. It will also help you take their behavior less personally and feel more empathy toward them. Instead of thinking that they are irresponsible or torturing you, you can recognize the underlying loneliness, insecurity, depression, or boredom.
3/16/24 – Effective Communication
Trying to have productive, caring, effective conversations in an environment of stress, worry, anger and fear is extremely challenging. It can even feel impossible at times. The damage to relationships from a Substance Use Disorder is usually built on broken promises and wanting to push each other away creating a lot of emotional reactions and responses. The spell of emotions is you think you are going to feel this way forever. In this session we will be coaching on finding a peaceful, caring and an understanding approach to conversations with our struggling loved ones.
4/20/24 – Stress Better
You can’t change the fact that life is stressful and caring for someone with a substance use disorder “ups the stress anti”. During this session we will offer practical tools to bounce back from stress with more clarity, perspective, and energy. We will also explore root causes of our stress and techniques for reducing stress and ways to create a life of balance and ease.
5/18/24 – When Mental Health and SUD Intersect
The relationship between substance use disorders and mental illness is intricate. One can exacerbate the other, and vice versa. Understanding the nuances and challenges faced by individuals with a dual diagnosis can lead to more effective interventions, better support, and ultimately a more positive outcome for the individual on their recovery journey. We will discover how we can support our loved one while looking at our own challenges with understanding this dynamic.
6/15/24 – Keeping your Focus on Yourself and Off your Loved One Will help you Both
How does one justify taking their eyes off of a suffering loved one and putting their attention on themselves? Or if you are saying to yourself, “ it has been so long since I focused on myself, I don’t even know what it means anymore,” then this empower hour is for you. Join us as we explore how keeping the focus on yourself and taking it off of your loved one will benefit you both.
7/20/24 – Understanding the Brain Science of Addiction/Use Disorders and PAWS
Addiction is a brain disease and it matters!! Discover why accepting addiction as a disease matters. This session will include a robust discussion on how an addiction impacts on the brain, what are some common beliefs which challenge the disease model of addiction, and why it is important.
8/17/24 – 10 Common Myths about Addiction and Recovery
Join us as we explore the 10 most common myths about addiction and recovery. We will gain a clearer understanding of the damage these beliefs can have on us and our loved one. We will also explore the reality behind each myth.
9/21/24 – The Importance of Letting Go Without Giving Up or Giving In
This session is about letting go of results without giving up on your loved one or the situations, and not giving into their challenges or their manipulations. We will also explore how to maintain a presence of ease and peace when the demands and challenges before us seem to outweigh our resources.

Marianna “Mace” Cooper-Drew, MA, LPC

Family Program Clinician Mace is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over twenty years experience in community treatment services. She has a passion for helping people and is committed to individuals and families impacted by trauma, loss, substance abuse, and neglect. As Vice President of Behavioral Health Services for one the largest providers in Southeastern PA. she has the opportunity to provide consultation and supervision to therapists, clinical administrators, and interns. Mace also maintains a private practice in Bucks County working with individuals and couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy. A certified anger management specialist, she is also trained in TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; ESFT (Eco-Systemic Family Therapy); the ARC (Attachment, Regulation, Competency) Model. Mace’s work at StR includes developing and leading our Family Program, Anger Management Curriculum, and Trauma informed Resiliency groups. Always passionate about ensuring quality clinical care, promoting self-motivation, and learning, she is left believing that “sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” (Brene Brown).

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