Q: What are families experiencing when they first come to you?
When families and carers first come to us, they often haven’t even realised there is support available for them. Research shows that many families have been living with a loved one’s drug or alcohol use for around 8 to 10 years before they access a service.
By that point, they’ve often developed patterns of behaviour that aren’t helping them. For example, they may have no boundaries in place, or they may be enabling or rescuing in ways they believe are right – but that can actually feed the situation.
Q: What happens when someone first accesses support?
Initially, I carry out an assessment and offer one-to-one support sessions. People can come to see me face-to-face at either our Yate or Warmley hub.
During those sessions, I listen to their story and understand their situation. I’ll look at the relationship – whether it’s a child or a partner – because that influences how we approach the support.
It’s important that people have the space to tell their whole story. If I can see them before they join the group, it helps them get everything out first. When people come for the first time, you can really see and feel the impact of what they’ve been carrying.
Q: How do people respond when they realise support is available?
There’s often a real sense of relief. They’ve found someone who understands what they’re going through, and that’s incredibly important.
With any kind of support – whether it’s around addiction or something else – being with people who have been through similar experiences matters. Not everyone’s story is the same, but people can recognise the feelings in each other. That’s what makes it so powerful.
People realise, “I’m not alone.” And that’s something you don’t just think – you feel it.
Q: What role do the groups play?
The groups are a really important part of the support. I usually like people to have a one-to-one session first, because if someone has been living with these challenges for 8 to 10 years, it can be difficult to share everything in a group straight away.
We have around 15 people in a group each week, so having that space beforehand helps people feel more comfortable when they join.
In the group, people often hear other stories and start to put their own situation into perspective. Sometimes they feel relief that others understand. Other times they recognise similarities or differences in their own situation. It helps them feel less alone and more able to cope.
Get news from Developing Health & Independence in your inbox. See our privacy policy.
