Drug Rehab Centers for Couples Near Me

Partnerships where both members of the couple use drugs are very common. The relationship itself can be damaged by substance use, regardless if the couple is committed to making the relationship work. Based on information from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), signs of trouble for the relationship include:¹

• Drug use or drinking is the only thing the partners enjoy doing together.
• Substance use leads to domestic violence on the part of one or both partners.
• The partners need to be drunk or high to demonstrate affection or talk about the relationship.
• The partners neglect common responsibilities, such as housework or childcare.

Worsening substance use can make it difficult for couples to resolve existing relationship issues, as it often introduces additional emotional distance between both people; this, in turn, could further drive maladaptive patterns of substance use. Treatment becomes increasingly important in the face of such a potentially perpetuated cycle.

Attending Drug Rehab Treatment Programs Together

One option for getting help together is to attend the same rehab treatment program. A number of treatment centers and facilities offer this option for couples who have a strong relationship and are equally committed to recovery. Motivation is a key factor to having couples in therapy together. 

As summarized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an individual’s motivation to change and recover from substance use is a vital element in treatment, which makes the person more likely to complete treatment with the focus and dedication needed to maintain long-term recovery.

Couples Inpatient & Outpatient Rehab

In a treatment program where couples can attend together, this motivation is reinforced through the couple’s continual reaffirmation of commitment to one another. Couples that attend inpatient treatment or outpatient rehab together may have the opportunity to attend treatments and therapy sessions together. This may provide the motivation and support that each person in the relationship needs to recover from substance addiction.

Couples’ therapy sessions in addiction treatment often address both addiction-related conflicts and other contributing issues within the relationship and its dynamics. This includes treating other mental health problems, resolving communication issues, and more.²

With couples therapy, each partner may undergo separate sessions—especially at the start of rehab—but for the bulk of treatment, the couple is treated together.²

Couples Therapy and Mental Health

Substance use affects relationships in ways that make it difficult to go back to the way things were before the substance use started. Even when a person completes treatment, the possibility of relapse is always present, and there are emotional and sometimes physical injuries that cannot be reversed or taken back. In addition, a couple might have developed relationship habits, such as enabling substance use or codependency on a partner’s substance use, that need to be reversed before either partner can move forward in recovery.

BCT teaches couples better ways to communicate and increases overall positivity. Couples that have undergone BCT:²

• Were happier and healthier, had fewer cases of separation, and were at a lower risk of divorce than does individual-based treatment.
• Experienced a reduction in domestic violence after BCT for both alcoholism and drug use.
• In some cases, incurred lower costs for treatment for substance use by attending rehab together.

One of the main goals of couples therapy in rehab is to help the couple develop a new relationship standard, including new ways of interacting and spending time together that support abstinence.

These new behaviors take time to learn, but they can deepen a relationship and provide ways for the couple to maintain a strong bond through supporting each other in maintaining sobriety.

Are Addiction Treatment Programs for Couples Beneficial?

Yes, when appropriate, couples therapy for addiction may havehas been shown to have multiple benefits, though more research is needed. These benefits may include:⁶

• Reducing the severity of substance use.
• Improved problem-solving skills.
• Improved communication skills in regards to negotiating effectively and the healthy expression of emotions.
• Recognizing unhealthy enabling behaviors and replacing them.⁷
• More effective parenting practices.

When are Treatment Programs for Couples Not Helpful?

There are situations in which it may not be a good idea for a couple to attend rehab together. These include situations the followings situations:

• One member of the couple has special treatment needs that require a special facility.
• A diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder has been made.⁸
• There is ongoing domestic abuse.
• Only one partner is interested in rehab.
• There is a lack of commitment to continuing the relationship after rehab.

Whether or not an individual enters rehab when a partner isn’t ready to do so can be a hard decision to make. However, it is important to remember that a person can never make a loved one ready for change. In this circumstance, getting into rehab alone is a step that can be vital for the individual who gets help, and that may also serve as an example to the partner.

Separate but United

Sometimes, attending rehab together may not be an option. In certain cases, each individual may have issues that need to be dealt with independently – issues that may not be managed as effectively if the couple is living in the same facility. In this case, the couple may be placed in separate living arrangements. This might be the case if there has been violent behavior between the partners, or if one partner has medical or psychological issues that warrant a more intensive level of care.

Still, if the couple is committed to making the relationship work, this situation can involve communication and therapy with the two partners together. A regular schedule might include couples therapy sessions multiple times weekly, along with the ability to visit one another. Otherwise, the two would be in separate parts of the facility, or even in separate facilities, for the main treatment program elements.

Couples in Recovery & Aftercare

Once the couple has completed rehab, and the partners are managing recovery together, they can offer each other a great source of support for future challenges. With commitment, they can keep each other on track, support each other avoid triggers and cravings, and remind one another about the tools and skills learned in rehab. 

A challenge may arise if one of the partners does relapse, as this makes it more probable that the other partner will relapse as well. However, with continued involvement in aftercare programs and a peer support group, the couple should be able to maneuver through these challenges and continue in recovery.

Addiction Treatment Rehab Centers for Couples

Recovering from addiction alone is difficult, and even more challenging if there are two of you. American Addiction Centers (AAC) offer personalized treatment for alcohol and substance use for you and your partner, and will help you build the skills to hold each other accountable and stay sober together. We welcome couples together, and when you walk into any of our facilities, you are family. We are committed to helping you and your loved one on the road to recovery. For more information or to get set up in a program together, contact us now at .

AAC is in network with many insurance companies. Your addiction treatment can be free depending on your policy.

Frequently Asked Questions