Rebuilding Relationships With Outpatient Treatment

Mental illnesses can cause many issues in one’s life. From deteriorating mental health to struggling to keep up with one’s commitments, living with a mental health condition can be challenging.

This is also true when it comes to relationships. Mental health struggles can cause friction in relationships with family members, friends, romantic partners, colleagues and others.

For example, conditions like depression may cause social withdrawal and isolation. You may no longer wish to spend time with the people who used to bring you joy, causing concern or agitation amongst your loved ones.

Seeking help can help rebuild strained relationships. In this article, Hartgrove Hospital explores how mental health outpatient treatment provides an opportunity to not only get the care you need but also to nurture the relationships that matter the most.

Family Therapy and Couples Therapy

Outpatient therapy provides different options for patients to receive care while also rebuilding relationships with those they care about. Two such options include family therapy and couples therapy.

Family Therapy

Family therapy refers to a type of therapy that includes one or more family members in the therapeutic treatment. The definition of ‘family’ can be as narrow or as broad as the person believes it to be. For example, family therapy can include parents, children, siblings, a spouse, grandparents or other extended family members.

One of the unique benefits of family therapy is that it focuses on the familial unit as a whole. It recognizes that if one person in the family struggles, others may too. It considers the entire family unit in the healing process.

Common benefits of family therapy include:

• Enacting lasting changes in family dynamics
• Breaking generational chains of trauma
• Preventing mental health or substance use disorder problems in other family members
• Discouraging relapse by building family support systems

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is a form of therapy that addresses the unique challenges of couples. Its objective is to help improve a couple’s romantic relationship and strengthen bonds. In couples therapy, one or both of the people in counseling may be facing external stressors or mental health issues. In other instances, couples therapy can help deal with problematic relationship dynamics.

Some of the common benefits of couples therapy include:

• Reducing relationships distress
• Learning how to more effectively communicate with one another
• Identifying problematic/dysfunctional behaviors
• Improving relationship satisfaction

Outpatient Therapy as an Opportunity for Healing

Outpatient therapy can be a great opportunity for healing difficult or strained personal relationships. Whether you are a parent trying to help their child with their mental health, a partner trying to recover from a substance abuse issue that strained your relationship, or simply someone who wishes to work through their condition, outpatient programs can give you a second chance.

Resolving Conflict

Sometimes, mental health issues can cause conflict among loved ones. Depending on what condition you are dealing with, you may exhibit symptoms and behaviors such as difficulty controlling your emotions, apathy, irritability, social withdrawal or more. These behaviors can be difficult for your loved one to navigate, especially when they do not fully understand the nature of their origin.

As human beings, we are not always perfect. Sometimes we say or do things that can be hurtful even if we don’t mean to. Mental health professionals can help us learn how to more effectively communicate with one another to avoid conflict in the future.

There are also instances where traumatic events can lead to conflict. For example, the death of a child can be difficult for parents to cope with. They may isolate themselves from each other and there may be feelings of guilt or blame that lead to conflict. In instances of traumatic events, outpatient care can help loved ones work through the trauma together and mend friction.

Build Strong Support Systems With One Another

Outpatient treatment can also help patients build strong support systems with each other. Sometimes, opening up about a mental health condition with your loved ones can be difficult. There may be feelings of guilt or shame associated with the condition, while others may simply struggle with asking for help.

Outpatient treatment gives you the tools you need to open up about your condition with the people you care about the most. In doing so, you can build strong support networks with your loved ones.

Sometimes, it also helps when your loved one joins in on the outpatient treatment. This enables them to learn more about your condition and equips them with the tools to help you when you are struggling the most.

Develop Healthy Boundaries

Another benefit of outpatient treatment is that it enables patients to develop healthy boundaries with their loved ones. This is particularly important in cases where the patient is used to setting their needs aside to put others first. While it is not a bad thing to help your loved ones, developing boundaries can help the person prioritize their needs and even strengthen relationships.

Get Help Now

Outpatient therapy provides an opportunity to rebuild strained relationships by offering options like family therapy and couples therapy. It helps in enacting lasting changes in family dynamics, breaking generational chains of trauma, improving communication, and developing healthy boundaries.

By opening up about mental health conditions, patients can build strong support systems with their loved ones, ultimately strengthening relationships. Outpatient therapy offers a second chance for healing and nurturing the relationships that matter the most.

Hartgrove Hospital is proud to provide inpatient and outpatient services in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, give us a call at 773-413-1700 or complete this form.