Joe, Anna, and Leo struggle not knowing what “normal is” in their couple and family relationships. Since beginning recovery with their partners each of the couples have been working on establishing new ways of being with other and have begun to make progress.
Deciding whether to deal with the relationship while managing individual recovery requires some sorting through. There are risks to couple recovery, but the evidence suggests that healthy relationships lead to better long-term recovery outcomes.
John is 38-years old, works in a job that he loves in high tech, has been married for 6 years to Carol, He also has an alcohol use disorder, severe. John noticed that his drinking seemed to pick up over the last two years,
John had hit bottom and decided to get that help. He began an outpatient program and got into recovery. Carol was relieved and felt that the problem was finally being addressed and that their life could maybe get back to normal.
Carol met with the counselor, despite her reservations and having more than a little bit of anxiety. The counselor asked how she was doing and how thing have been since John started recovery? At first Carol didn't understand what she was being asked and thought the counselor was asking her how she thought John was doing.