Family + Relationship Therapy
Family & Relationship Therapy
At Opal, we value relationships and recognize the research-backed benefits of including family and relationship therapy as part of a client’s treatment plan. Our Family & Relationship Therapy and Group offerings provide opportunities to strengthen relationships and establish healthy, effective relational boundaries. Clients are encouraged to include anyone they identify as family or key supporters in their recovery journey.
Our goal is to create supportive experiences for clients and their loved ones, helping to ensure that the progress made at Opal extends into everyday life. By equipping families and supporters with knowledge and tools, we aim to foster environments that reinforce and sustain long-term recovery.
Key support system could include: parents, family members, partners, spouses, friends, roommates, etc.
All clients are assigned a Family + Relationship Therapist and this Therapist is the main point of contact for loved ones and support system of clients.
Family + Relationship Offerings
Family + Relationship Therapy Sessions
Weekly. Times vary. Virtual or In-Person.
Includes client and their chosen support systems.
Goals: Foster understanding, communication, and shared healing.
Family + Relationship Group
Weekly Tuesday Evening 5-6pm. Virtual.
For support system of clients in Opals' PHP or IOP programs. No clients present.
Group alternates from week to week between discussions/process and group learning/teaching.
FAQ's
There are a couple of ways that adolescents (under 18 years old) can begin treatment at Opal:
Adolescent-Initiated Treatment (AIT)
This is the most common path. In this case, the adolescent is actively involved in the admission process and gives their consent to begin treatment after completing an assessment and determining that Opal is an appropriate fit. Families are welcome to be involved in the process once a Release of Information (ROI) form has been signed.
Family-Initiated Treatment (FIT)
Another option is for a parent or legal guardian to initiate care through Family-Initiated Treatment. This allows a family to begin treatment for a limited period, with the goal of helping the adolescent feel supported in choosing to continue care as recommended.
Helpful Resources
Here are some links to help you better understand these pathways and what they might look like in practice:
A support system could include: parents, family members, partners, spouses, friends, roommates, etc.
Please contact your Family + Relationship Therapist.
- Communication
- Opal’s Nutrition Philosophy
- Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Exercise + Eating Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and Eating Disorders
- How to support your loved one’s eating disorder recovery
All clients at Opal are in the groups together. There are no separate groups for different age groups.
Please check out our Resource page here.
You also might enjoy listening to our podcast, The Appetite– a podcast about all things food, body, movement and mental health.
Resources for Families and Loved ones
- Parallel Process: Growing Alongside Your Adolescent or Young Adult Child in Treatment by Krissy Pozatek, MSW (not specific to ED treatment but good info re: learning alongside and supporting kids)
- 10% Happier with Dan Harris, Ep497: How to Deal With Emotionally Immature People (Including Maybe Your Own Parents) and Ep713: How to Stop Obsessing Over Your Body and Eat Sanely in a Toxic Culture w/ Virginia Sole-Smith
Workshops/Support Groups:
Coming Soon!!! (Should be end of May):
- Outpatient Family + Relationship Therapy Support Group with Nikki Wolf (nikki@wolfheartcounseling.net
)
Online Resources: