Couple Addiction Recovery Empowerment
Support, Education, Workshops, Online Learning
Now available as an online and live workshop, Roadmap for the Journey: A Path for Couple Recovery, is designed for couples impacted by addiction, providing tools for communication and help to integrate recovery into the couple relationship. Workshops are limited to three – five couples who are provided manuals, workshop materials, and time to practice new skills.
September 18 & 25, 2001
December 4 & 11, 2021
For Additional Information about Workshops
Roadmap for the Journey
Is designed specifically for couples impacted by an addictive disorder.
All workshops are held live and online in a confidential and safe environment for partners to privately practice the communication skills taught in the workshop.
Please note, this workshop is not appropriate for couples in which there is an active addiction.
Finding the Roadmap for Recovery
We know from research that couple stability is the single biggest predictor of successful long-term recovery. We also know that couples impacted by an addictive disorder are at great risk for divorce or continued relationship unhappiness, even after beginning recovery.
This work provides skills to address the impact of recovery for both partners, create methods for supporting each partner’s individual recovery, and to develop a couple recovery.
The Couple Recovery Development Approach, created by Dr. Robert Navarra, is based on his research on couple recovery spanning over 15 years. The Gottman research on predictors for happy and healthy relationships provides direction to establish a path to heal and strengthen relationships.
Integrating the two models provides a direction for recovering couples in establishing, or reestablishing healthy relationship behaviors that also include issues related specifically to couples impacted by problematic substance use or behavioral compulsions. These strategies help couples lean the right way in finding their recovery path.
Therapists
Finding Direction
Couple recovery is an emerging concept in addiction treatment
Couples
Finding Support
Couples need support in bringing recovery into their relationship
working Together
Couples may feel confused or even overwhelmed when thinking about addressing recovery in their relationship. Sometime fears center on concerns about the ability to keep boundaries and not lose focus on individual health and recovery concerns.This is understandable, with problematic substance or behavioral use or compulsive behaviors individual needs get lost.
The key to healthy boundaries starts with understanding the difference between “codependency” and “interdependency”. While codependency patterns involve control and silenced emotions and needs, in interdependent relationships both partners are able to express thoughts, feelings, and needs.
True or False?
Partners should
True or False?
Research
True
Direction
Is there a roadmap
Yes
WHY COUPLE RECOVERY?
Couple recovery refers to a focus on each partners own health and recovery, as well as relationship recovery from the impact of an addictive disorder. By focusing on what is healthy for each individual, and what is healthy for the relationship partners learn to talk about the impact from the disorder as well as develop a path for going forward.
Researching and advocating for couple recovery
Featured on Recent Podcasts
Interviews on Couple Recovery
The Betrayed, the Addict, the Expert (recording of live video version of the podcast): Can Divorce Be Predicted? with Dr. Robert Navarra
Marriage Therapy Radio: “Addiction Recovery with Dr. Bob Navarra”
What Healthy Couples Know That You Don’t: “Addiction Recovery and Relationships”
Empowered Relationship Podcast: “How to Manage Substance Abuse Issues and Recovery in Relationships”
Make More Love Not War: “Couples Addiction Recovery”
TALKING ABOUT COUPLE RECOVERY
The Person I’m Dating Has A Drinking Problem
I was asked to write a response to the above question in the Thrive Global article series, “Asking for a Friend”. This is a question that many people struggle with, not knowing what to do when there is evidence of a drinking or other drug use problem with the person they care about.
How Recovering Couples Can Deepen Their Friendship
Steps to Increase Intimacy and Closeness Friendship is essential in developing and maintaining an intimate relationship. Based on John Gottman’s groundbreaking research involving 3,000 couples
Couple Recovery Theory and Gottman Research: A Perfect Recipe
It has been a remarkable journey. I developed the Couple Recovery Development Approach (CRDA) in 2002 for my doctoral dissertation on couples in long-term recovery. The model is based on my research from the Family Recovery Project housed at Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California.
Alcohol Became a Problem: Jerry and Carol’s Story
Jerry and Carol (not their real names) came in for couples therapy. They stated that they had a good marriage, but that they needed a “tune up”. Jerry talked about how he felt that stress was impacting their relationship, Carol agreed, but also expressed concern over Jerry’s alcohol use and wanted him to better control his drinking, like he used to.