The following are answers to common questions about the Bayside Marin Family Program:
What is the Bayside Marin Family Program?
The Bayside Marin Family Program is a two-and-a-half-day program to help clients and their loved ones make the transition to early recovery together. This weekend is designed to help participants take their first productive steps along the path to family recovery.
For clients to be able to bring their new selves into their relationships and to start to address the family and relational issues which are related to your addiction or dual diagnosis. Plus, family members need to have more tools and get support to be healthy in their own lives and focused on their own deepest needs, the same as you. Without support, it is common for the interpersonal or family dynamics to pull people in early recovery back into old patterns.
Who should attend the Family Program?
Each Bayside Marin client may invite a maximum of three people to attend the Family Program. Invitees are not required to be biological or legal family members, but they should be established people in the client’s life, and have been in their inner circle for at least a year. Please note that in most circumstances we do not permit participants under the age of 16.
Research shows that relationship issues are among the most frequent and intense triggers for relapse. For this reason, we encourage our clients to invite to key members of their support system who meet any of the following criteria:
- May need additional education and support themselves
- Are interested in learning more about how to be in healthy relationship to clients and their recovery
- Are willing to work on enabling or controlling behaviors that exacerbate the addictive process
How to I register for the Family Program?
Family members will receive an email from Linelle Cowen if the client has filled out a Release of Information specifically for the Family Program. Family members need to confirm the registration by agreeing they can attend the full program, and can complete the pre-program components of the reading packet and a conversation with our Family Program therapist.
When are Family Program weekends?
Family program weekends are usually held on the first and third weekends of every month (beginning on Friday, ending on Sunday). Participants must attend the complete program. On Friday and Saturday, we begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. The Sunday schedule is 10 a.m. to noon.
Family Program is scheduled for the following weekends in 2012:
- Jan 4-6
- Jan 18-20
- Feb 1-3
- Feb 15-17
- Mar 1-3
- Mar 15-17
- April 5-7
- April 19-21
- May 3-5
- May 17-19
- June 7-9
- June 21-23
- July 5-7
- July 19-21
- Aug 2-4
- Aug 16-18
- Sept 6-8
- Sept 20-22
- Oct 4-6
- Oct 18-20
- Nov 1-3
- Nov 15-17
- Dec 6-7
- Dec 20-22
We strongly recommend that family members attend the second program that is scheduled during the client’s stay. By this point in their treatment, the clients will be further out of detoxification, further along in their treatment, and better prepared to do the work of the program. They will also be more capable of discussing aftercare, and handling the increased anxiety and challenges of addressing relationship issues.
This delayed participation will also allow the clients to attend an initial Family Program on their own, which will allow them to experience the process and learn by observing other families. With this experience, the client will be better prepared to take maximum advantage of participating in the next Family Program with his or her family members.
Where are Family Program activities held?
The Bayside Marin Family Program is conducted in our Outpatient Treatment facility at 718 4th Street, San Rafael, CA.
Recommended public parking is located near 936 A Street, San Rafael, CA (indicated by marker on the map below). Entrance to this parking is on the A Street side.
What if a family member cannot attend the full weekend?
Due to the nature of the Family Program, it is critical that family members be present throughout the entire weekend. To ensure the effectiveness of the program, as well as the the emotional safety of participants and trust within the group, we cannot allow any family members to participate on Saturday or Sunday if they have not completed the Friday morning circle.
If a family member is not able to attend the complete weekend, the best option is to choose another weekend during the client’s residence at Bayside Marin, or while the client is completing outpatient treatment. Another option is to schedule an individual family session, to be conducted by the client’s primary therapist.
How can I learn more?
For more information about Family Program (or any other aspect of residential or outpatient treatment at Bayside Marin), please feel free to contact us at your convenience:
- Call toll-free (888) 484-1042.
- Complete the Contact Us form at the top of the right-hand column on this page.
We look forward to speaking with you, and answering all of your questions about Bayside Marin!