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How Your Family Can Impact your Recovery Journey
In this episode, Dr. Vicki Loyer leads a discussion on Family Wellness Week at Sierra Tuscon, and the positive impact the support of friends and loved ones can have on a patient's journey.
Featuring:
Vicki L. Loyer, PhD, LMFT
Vicki L. Loyer Ph.D., LMFT, is the CEO/President of Blue Door Psychotherapy, Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, and a faculty member at Grand Canyon University. Dr. Loyer brings together the strength of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and the efficiency of Competency Focused Family Therapy to bring relief and skills to individuals and their families. She is a contributing author to Desert Leaf Magazine, Tucson, has published articles and books on premarital relationships and youth-at-risk, and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and past-president of the Arizona Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AzAMFT). Transcription:
Scott Webb (Host): One of the most challenging parts of residential treatment at Sierra Tucson or anywhere else is that residents are away from their families. My guest today, Dr. Vicki Layer and others have worked to design family wellness opportunities at Sierra Tucson, including in-person and online experiences to help residents and their families communicate and work collaboratively to reach recovery and treatment goals. This is Let's Talk Mind, Body, Spirit by Sierra Tucson. Sierra Tucson, a leader in the field of behavioral healthcare since 1983. I'm Scott Webb.
Scott Webb: VIcki, it's so nice to have you here today. We're essentially gonna talk about family Wellness Week and everything involved. But before we get to that, just wanna have you tell us about your experiences and how you found Sierra Tucson?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Well, I've been working with Sierra Tucson for decades now. Sierra Tucson has always been in the leadership in continuing education and supporting members of the professional community. So as a marriage and family therapist in Tucson, I started working with them pretty much out of the gate. They do a wonderful job of staying current in research and therapy styles. And so that's how I found Sierra Tucson. I've had a lot of friends and family members who have participated in Sierra Tucson in a number of ways, and I refer to them as a clinician in the community frequently. So I've had that opportunity to see their work from a professional perspective, from a personal perspective, and just find it to be quite a wonderful program to have available in our backyard.
Scott Webb: Yeah, I'm sure it is. And I've had the opportunity recently to talk about adventure therapy and equine therapy and talk about little horses, which is always fun. So I want to have you tell us today, tell us about the history of Family Wellness Week. What's involved and what do we need to know, sort of getting into this conversation?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yes. Well, family program is a very important component of healing for family members who are struggling with addiction or mental illness or trauma. And Sierra Tucson has always had a family therapy component. As a result of the pandemic, their on the ground family therapy started changing somewhat to accommodate the pandemic needs. So recently I started speaking with some of the treatment placement specialists and with Dr. Valerie Caden, who were trying to really fine tune the family therapy that is brought to Sierra Tucson.
So we developed a program that's actually three-pronged. It was really important to Sierra Tucson that we support families from the moment that their loved one admits into treatment. So, Dr. Caden thought it was extremely important that we had an ongoing conversation with families and friends. So each Thursday we present a 90 minute webinar and it's with a leader and a co-leader in family therapy. There are five topics and we cover things like family systems. We cover boundary maintenance, we cover effective speech.
We cover effective listening and we cover troubleshooting with family members. This gives family members an opportunity to learn along with their loved one who's in treatment, how to be validating, how to tolerate distress, how to manage their emotional arousal, all of those things that come with change and come with loss that occurs when a family member's illness has progressed to the point that they would benefit from inpatient treatment. So that was a top priority for Dr. Caden. Then we went to offering the program and we developed a three day program on the ground at Sierra Tucson.
The first day we look at any of the losses and changes that have happened for families as a result of their loved one's illness. the second day, we look at radical acceptance and looking at what is in terms of what's possible for their family member and for themselves and what their families look like now that they're in the stages of recovery. And then on the third day, we work with coping ahead so that family members can think about what are gonna be the difficult situations and they can be mindful and skillful in planning ahead for a validating and productive resolution to the kinds of difficulties that they may see.
When we had those two programs written and ready to deliver, we noticed that our early feedback, because we're feedback informed treatment, we ask people each time, you know, did we talk about what you wanted to talk about? Did you feel respected? Does this way of working work for you? Is there anything else that you need? One of the things that family members were concerned about is that not everybody could travel to they still wanted to have the Family Wellness Week, but they couldn't be here. So we designed a third program that is to deliver Family Wellness Week online that has the same thematic base.
It is what was, what is, and coping ahead. But it's two hours each day, over a three day period. So people who cannot come to Sierra Tucson end up still having a very rich family wellness week, and they're supported with the Thursday weeklys so that we can have the ongoing support, generalize those skills to all relevant environments and help them move into a place of effective recovery for them and their family members.
Scott Webb: Yeah. That's really awesome. I would assume Vicki, that one of the most difficult things about being in treatment is being away from your loved ones, is being away from your family. So it sounds really lovely that you've been able to sort of do both help the clients that are, you know, inpatient, but also involve their families. And just kind of wondering is there any cost for the loved ones to participate? Is there some free time available? How does that work?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yeah, really great question. So there's no cost. So when your loved one is in treatment, You express your interest in the Family wellness program and a link is sent to you so that you can log on to the Family Wellness Weekly so that you can log on to family Wellness online. And the decision to come on campus is made between the primary therapist and the patient about whether or not it fits that patient's overall recovery goals to have the families come on campus. Absolutely no cost. And when people are online with us, what they will find is that they can interact with us in real time. US means two family therapists and an individual level therapist are online.
The cameras are off and the microphones are off in respect to confidentiality. Only the cameras and the microphones of the group leaders are on, but we encourage people to use chat. They can write their questions in chat. They can use the reaction functions to tell us, if they're getting what they needed. We have poll questions to keep the discussion lively, and then we do some role playing and examples online. So they get a tremendous amount and there's no cost. The primary cost if they come to Sierra Tucson is the transportation costs and the lodging costs that are up to the families.
Scott Webb: Right. I hear what you're saying and wondering, you were talking about how you really listen to people, listen to clients and their families and that feedback. So what are you hearing now that you've developed this online component to this. What are you hearing from residents and their loved ones about this? I'm assuming it's nothing but good things, but what are you hearing from folks?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: It's been really satisfying. We do our questions at the end of each session, and we are overwhelmingly getting people reporting that they're using the skills. They know what skills to use, they're comforted by the support they're getting. We're noticing that as people come in for Family Wellness Week, they are already using distress tolerance, their emotional regulation skills, so that they're able to have those accurate communications with their loved ones and so they're able to get accurate responses. This is a time of change in all family's lives. When your family member is going through recovery, the family system is as well.
And just being able to accurately talk about what things are more difficult for you, what emotions are coming up for you, what it is that you are needing in the relationships, and to really be able to decide what are your needs and what are your wants, what are areas that are just impasses? So by having the continued support for all of the participants before they come to campus and continuing after they come to campus. We are having people say that they are getting the necessary skills, they're increasing their validating environment, and we as professionals know that healthy family systems increase the likelihood of sustained long-term recovery. So it's looking very positive.
Scott Webb: That's great. In hosting these, there are times where I just get a big smile on my face and Dewal, you were going through that. I just had a big smile on my face. I'm like, that's right. That sounds good. That sounds awesome. We all need our families and if families are so important to the recovery process. And just thinking about some of the goals, Vicki, whether it's goals for the family wellness and the family's participation, or in general with Sierra Tucson, what in your mind are some of the goals for residents?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yeah, I think the primary goal is for the families to be that person's soft landing place. Which means that the residents and their family members are really aware of which side of the street is theirs. Really aware that nobody can do somebody else's recovery for them, and all of the members of the family understand that there have been transactions, that there have been ways that each have affected the other, and that they are all recovering. There is no one person that's the target of family therapy. The entire family system is needing the support and each can support each other.
So that's our primary goal is for them to have that experience, that they are validated, that they're good enough exactly the way they are, that everybody's trying their best. And we even have the dialectical behavioral therapy assumptions of the fallibility agreement that we're all guilty, at least in part of whatever we're being accused of. Which means that we can really relax and just be present with what we're all needing as a result of whatever's coming up for them. So it's a very safe place. We want people to feel safe and regulated and hopeful.
Scott Webb: I love it. That's absolutely perfect. I just love having the opportunity to learn more and learn how you're helping folks. And you said it so perfectly there, so thank you so much, Vicki. You stay well.
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Thank you. Thank you for your time.
Scott Webb: And if you find this podcast to be helpful, please share it on your social channels. And be sure to check out the full podcast library for additional topics of interest. This is Let's Talk: Mind, Body, Spirit from Sierra Tucson. I'm Scott Webb. Stay well.
Scott Webb (Host): One of the most challenging parts of residential treatment at Sierra Tucson or anywhere else is that residents are away from their families. My guest today, Dr. Vicki Layer and others have worked to design family wellness opportunities at Sierra Tucson, including in-person and online experiences to help residents and their families communicate and work collaboratively to reach recovery and treatment goals. This is Let's Talk Mind, Body, Spirit by Sierra Tucson. Sierra Tucson, a leader in the field of behavioral healthcare since 1983. I'm Scott Webb.
Scott Webb: VIcki, it's so nice to have you here today. We're essentially gonna talk about family Wellness Week and everything involved. But before we get to that, just wanna have you tell us about your experiences and how you found Sierra Tucson?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Well, I've been working with Sierra Tucson for decades now. Sierra Tucson has always been in the leadership in continuing education and supporting members of the professional community. So as a marriage and family therapist in Tucson, I started working with them pretty much out of the gate. They do a wonderful job of staying current in research and therapy styles. And so that's how I found Sierra Tucson. I've had a lot of friends and family members who have participated in Sierra Tucson in a number of ways, and I refer to them as a clinician in the community frequently. So I've had that opportunity to see their work from a professional perspective, from a personal perspective, and just find it to be quite a wonderful program to have available in our backyard.
Scott Webb: Yeah, I'm sure it is. And I've had the opportunity recently to talk about adventure therapy and equine therapy and talk about little horses, which is always fun. So I want to have you tell us today, tell us about the history of Family Wellness Week. What's involved and what do we need to know, sort of getting into this conversation?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yes. Well, family program is a very important component of healing for family members who are struggling with addiction or mental illness or trauma. And Sierra Tucson has always had a family therapy component. As a result of the pandemic, their on the ground family therapy started changing somewhat to accommodate the pandemic needs. So recently I started speaking with some of the treatment placement specialists and with Dr. Valerie Caden, who were trying to really fine tune the family therapy that is brought to Sierra Tucson.
So we developed a program that's actually three-pronged. It was really important to Sierra Tucson that we support families from the moment that their loved one admits into treatment. So, Dr. Caden thought it was extremely important that we had an ongoing conversation with families and friends. So each Thursday we present a 90 minute webinar and it's with a leader and a co-leader in family therapy. There are five topics and we cover things like family systems. We cover boundary maintenance, we cover effective speech.
We cover effective listening and we cover troubleshooting with family members. This gives family members an opportunity to learn along with their loved one who's in treatment, how to be validating, how to tolerate distress, how to manage their emotional arousal, all of those things that come with change and come with loss that occurs when a family member's illness has progressed to the point that they would benefit from inpatient treatment. So that was a top priority for Dr. Caden. Then we went to offering the program and we developed a three day program on the ground at Sierra Tucson.
The first day we look at any of the losses and changes that have happened for families as a result of their loved one's illness. the second day, we look at radical acceptance and looking at what is in terms of what's possible for their family member and for themselves and what their families look like now that they're in the stages of recovery. And then on the third day, we work with coping ahead so that family members can think about what are gonna be the difficult situations and they can be mindful and skillful in planning ahead for a validating and productive resolution to the kinds of difficulties that they may see.
When we had those two programs written and ready to deliver, we noticed that our early feedback, because we're feedback informed treatment, we ask people each time, you know, did we talk about what you wanted to talk about? Did you feel respected? Does this way of working work for you? Is there anything else that you need? One of the things that family members were concerned about is that not everybody could travel to they still wanted to have the Family Wellness Week, but they couldn't be here. So we designed a third program that is to deliver Family Wellness Week online that has the same thematic base.
It is what was, what is, and coping ahead. But it's two hours each day, over a three day period. So people who cannot come to Sierra Tucson end up still having a very rich family wellness week, and they're supported with the Thursday weeklys so that we can have the ongoing support, generalize those skills to all relevant environments and help them move into a place of effective recovery for them and their family members.
Scott Webb: Yeah. That's really awesome. I would assume Vicki, that one of the most difficult things about being in treatment is being away from your loved ones, is being away from your family. So it sounds really lovely that you've been able to sort of do both help the clients that are, you know, inpatient, but also involve their families. And just kind of wondering is there any cost for the loved ones to participate? Is there some free time available? How does that work?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yeah, really great question. So there's no cost. So when your loved one is in treatment, You express your interest in the Family wellness program and a link is sent to you so that you can log on to the Family Wellness Weekly so that you can log on to family Wellness online. And the decision to come on campus is made between the primary therapist and the patient about whether or not it fits that patient's overall recovery goals to have the families come on campus. Absolutely no cost. And when people are online with us, what they will find is that they can interact with us in real time. US means two family therapists and an individual level therapist are online.
The cameras are off and the microphones are off in respect to confidentiality. Only the cameras and the microphones of the group leaders are on, but we encourage people to use chat. They can write their questions in chat. They can use the reaction functions to tell us, if they're getting what they needed. We have poll questions to keep the discussion lively, and then we do some role playing and examples online. So they get a tremendous amount and there's no cost. The primary cost if they come to Sierra Tucson is the transportation costs and the lodging costs that are up to the families.
Scott Webb: Right. I hear what you're saying and wondering, you were talking about how you really listen to people, listen to clients and their families and that feedback. So what are you hearing now that you've developed this online component to this. What are you hearing from residents and their loved ones about this? I'm assuming it's nothing but good things, but what are you hearing from folks?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: It's been really satisfying. We do our questions at the end of each session, and we are overwhelmingly getting people reporting that they're using the skills. They know what skills to use, they're comforted by the support they're getting. We're noticing that as people come in for Family Wellness Week, they are already using distress tolerance, their emotional regulation skills, so that they're able to have those accurate communications with their loved ones and so they're able to get accurate responses. This is a time of change in all family's lives. When your family member is going through recovery, the family system is as well.
And just being able to accurately talk about what things are more difficult for you, what emotions are coming up for you, what it is that you are needing in the relationships, and to really be able to decide what are your needs and what are your wants, what are areas that are just impasses? So by having the continued support for all of the participants before they come to campus and continuing after they come to campus. We are having people say that they are getting the necessary skills, they're increasing their validating environment, and we as professionals know that healthy family systems increase the likelihood of sustained long-term recovery. So it's looking very positive.
Scott Webb: That's great. In hosting these, there are times where I just get a big smile on my face and Dewal, you were going through that. I just had a big smile on my face. I'm like, that's right. That sounds good. That sounds awesome. We all need our families and if families are so important to the recovery process. And just thinking about some of the goals, Vicki, whether it's goals for the family wellness and the family's participation, or in general with Sierra Tucson, what in your mind are some of the goals for residents?
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Yeah, I think the primary goal is for the families to be that person's soft landing place. Which means that the residents and their family members are really aware of which side of the street is theirs. Really aware that nobody can do somebody else's recovery for them, and all of the members of the family understand that there have been transactions, that there have been ways that each have affected the other, and that they are all recovering. There is no one person that's the target of family therapy. The entire family system is needing the support and each can support each other.
So that's our primary goal is for them to have that experience, that they are validated, that they're good enough exactly the way they are, that everybody's trying their best. And we even have the dialectical behavioral therapy assumptions of the fallibility agreement that we're all guilty, at least in part of whatever we're being accused of. Which means that we can really relax and just be present with what we're all needing as a result of whatever's coming up for them. So it's a very safe place. We want people to feel safe and regulated and hopeful.
Scott Webb: I love it. That's absolutely perfect. I just love having the opportunity to learn more and learn how you're helping folks. And you said it so perfectly there, so thank you so much, Vicki. You stay well.
Dr. Vicki L. Loyer: Thank you. Thank you for your time.
Scott Webb: And if you find this podcast to be helpful, please share it on your social channels. And be sure to check out the full podcast library for additional topics of interest. This is Let's Talk: Mind, Body, Spirit from Sierra Tucson. I'm Scott Webb. Stay well.