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Family Therapy

Family-Therapy-

Addiction is known as a family disease. Not only can family history and dynamics affect addiction, but addiction usually takes an enormous toll on families. That’s why including family in therapy for addiction recovery is considered best practice. When searching for addiction therapy programs, be sure to confirm that family counseling is included in the list of services offered.

At TruHealing Riverbend in Jeffersonville, Indiana, we understand the value of family inclusion in the process. Our family therapy program offers those with a substance use disorder and their families the opportunity to heal individually and together. If you have questions about how family therapy works in a rehab setting, give us a call at (855) 652-0546 or fill out our online form to be connected to a knowledgeable staff member who can answer them.

Why a Family Therapy Program?

Family therapy is highly successful in helping families heal and move forward. Inter-generational patterns can get stuck on repeat, and therapy is able to interrupt those often-dysfunctional habits and ways of communicating. Family can be a huge part of their loved one’s recovery, but without therapy and guidance, enabling and co-dependence can be difficult to shift away from.

Both the person with addiction and the family can heal by participating in a family therapy program. It’s often difficult to talk about emotions because you may be afraid of causing hurt. Some individuals use their own painful emotions like a weapon and lash out. Neither of these is helpful, though both are normal reactions to the complex dynamics of a family living with one member’s addiction. In family therapy, the therapist can create an environment and expectations for sharing feelings like shame, frustration, anger, fear, and disappointment so that everyone feels safe and is heard.

Benefits of Family Therapy in Addiction Treatment

In a family therapy program that is part of addiction rehab, all participants benefit, not just the person with the substance use disorder. Below are some of the key benefits you and your family will experience at TruHealing Riverbend when engaging in family counseling.

  • Work on communication. Improving a broken communication system is one of the most profound benefits of family therapy for addiction. The therapist can work with everyone in the family group to establish healthy ways to talk to one another and establish safe guidelines for avoiding hurt and amplifying love and compassion.
  • Learn about the undercurrents and patterns within the family. When a family is unaware of its dynamics, it is also unaware of how they may be contributing to substance abuse. In therapy, you first learn to recognize those dysfunctional patterns and then how to shift them into healthy family habits.
  • Develop understanding and compassion. In family therapy, everyone learns about addiction—what is it, how it works, what it does to the individual and the family, and how it creates and amplifies dangerous or harmful behaviors. Knowledge is power. With understanding comes empathy and healing.
  • Build or rebuild trust. There is a lot of distrust that develops when a member of a family is addicted to drugs or alcohol. The person with the substance use disorder has potentially betrayed the family’s trust by lying or stealing to both hide and support their addiction. In therapy, trust can be built or regained.
  • Set healthy boundaries. Unhelpful dynamics often evolve among family members when someone is struggling with a substance use disorder. Creating boundaries is a vital skill that is learned in family therapy.

Reach Out to TruHealing Riverbend for a Family Therapy Program in Jeffersonville, Indiana

At TruHealing Riverbend, our commitment to your recovery is paramount. We are also committed to working with your family in our addiction therapy program because your family is part of your healing, and their well-being, trust, and healthy patterns of communication benefit not only them but you.

At TruHealing Riverbend, we use evidence-based treatments like family therapy to maximize your long-term recovery outcomes. Learn more by calling us today at (855) 652-0546 or simply submitting our easy online form.

SHANE AUSTIN
Regional Vice President of Implementation

I have worked at TruHealing Riverbend for a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I started with case management and grew into my role of community relations. I enjoy meeting individuals in the community, creating ways to work together, and supporting others in the industry. Helping individuals make the changes necessary for recovery motivates me to continue the work I do.

Outside of work, I like spending time with my family and friends!

Shane Austin is the  Regional Vice President of Implementation at TruHealing Riverbend.

MADISYN BOWER
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

I embrace compassion, integrity, and high standards in my everyday work of operations and leadership. I am a solution-focused individual, with a work ethic that influences others to become better each day.
Working in substance use treatment has given me a newfound love for helping others and creating a better community. Encouraging people to be their best selves is the most rewarding part of the job.
In my time off, I enjoy spending time with my dog Peach and relaxing!
Madisyn Bower is the Director of Operations at TruHealing Riverbend.

JESSICA VANDER ESPT
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMMING

I have worked in the recovery field for over ten years. I am a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a Certified Trauma Professional. I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and providing them the autonomy to choose their own path.

I love teaching about health, doing insane workouts, scary movies, and winter!

Jessica Vander Espt is the Director of Clinical Programming at TruHealing Riverbend. She obtained a Bachelor of Art degree in psychology at Indiana University Southeast in 2010, and is currently working towards a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.
She earned her CADAC II certification in 2013, certified clinical supervisor certification in 2018, and certified trauma professional certification in 2020.

CARLOS LOBATO
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR

I have worked in recovery for almost two years now, and I am continuing my education so I can one day be a counselor for TruHealing Riverbend!
Working in recovery has taught me accountability and ambition. It has given me the opportunity to connect with individuals on a new level. I get the opportunity to educate people about recovery—and our program—to get them the help they need.
In my time off, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, watching tv, and cooking!
Carlos Lobato is the Admissions Director at TruHealing Riverbend.

As we continue to grow Amatus Health, the need to stay competitive and differentiate ourselves in unique ways is crucial. Building creative approaches to reach more people will take our company to new heights. This is why I am pleased to announce that we are officially rebranding. Our new national name, TruHealing Addiction & Mental Health Treatment, will eventually replace Amatus Recovery Centers.

You may be asking, “Why are we doing this?” This new name will give us national uniformity and help brand ourselves as a whole, which will be done in phases. You will still see our existing facility names co-branded with TruHealing for the time being.

Healing is what we do. Everyone who comes through our doors is in a moment of profound struggle in their lives. We support them through a life-changing process of healing and recovery, and they leave our facilities changed. This new name is a representation of that process. As mentioned above, it also allows us to have a national brand, which will make us a recognizable name in the addiction and mental health field.

In summation, these changes present an excellent opportunity for our organization to develop our mission, vision, and purpose. I look forward to prosperous growth as we head in a new and positive direction.

Sincerely,

Mark Gold
CEO
Amatus Health

Dr. Adam Cusner, PhD is an organizational psychologist by training and has brought his decade-plus experience to the healthcare field serving as the Executive Vice President of Operations for a 22-facility portfolio of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living and independent living centers across Ohio and Arizona, with an annual revenue over $250MM. While serving in this position, Dr. Cusner brought accelerated growth to these facilities, while increasing employee retention and workflow optimization. Dr. Cusner has a proven track record in the healthcare industry of providing successful leadership through his financial acumen, strategic planning, interpersonal skills, along with his ability to build strong, effective teams.

 

Dr. Cusner’s credentials include a Philosophy Doctorate in Organizational Psychology (PhD) from Cleveland State University, a Master of Arts in Psychology (MA) from Boston College with an emphasis on Psychology of Work, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS) from Boston University with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior in Business and is a board-certified Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA). He has published and presented research articles in the field of organizational psychology at national healthcare conferences. Dr. Cusner is completing a book on organizational psychology in the healthcare field, which is expected to be published late early summer 2022. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), has served as the APA’s Division 17 communications chair, is a member of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychologists (SIOP), and was selected as a professional reviewer for national conference research presentations.

 

Dr. Cusner is an advocate for his employees and is drawn to the tie between culture and quality. His extensive strategic and operational skills have delivered a high degree of success across all department levels. Dr. Cusner facilitated the establishment of an in-house financial team to provide billing and collections, accounts payable, vendor management, along with financial reporting. This provided $1.5MM annualized savings. Further, he developed department efficiencies for: Medical Staff recruitment, service-line growth, quality and safety, corporate accountability of budgetary expectations balanced with direct reporting to investor groups.

 

Dr. Cusner coordinated the financial turnaround of a 300 bed CCRC (skilled nursing, assisted living and an independent living center) in Arizona, which has been epitomized as the most financially challenging state to manage CCRC facilities. Dr. Cusner also strengthened the business growth of the Ohio facilities by 12%. He was recognized by the Governor for demonstrating a “care-conscious approach” during COVID, when Dr. Cusner carefully consolidated facility residents to accommodate staff and improve clinical care. Dr. Cusner demonstrates a results-driven culture by delivering a high-quality level of care and employee engagement.

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Yaffa Atias is the Director of Special Projects at Amatus Health. Atias is a leadership professional with a decade of experience in healthcare. She holds a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Thomas Edison State College, and a Master’s in Healthcare Management with a concentration in project management from Stevenson University. She completed her graduate capstone at Mosaic Community Services, now an affiliate of Sheppard Pratt.

 

In her role at Amatus, Atias leads and manages interdisciplinary team projects, creates solutions for any operational gaps, and continually strives for quality improvement in all processes. Atias led the organization’s COVID-19 preparedness strategy, resulting in all facilities remaining operational, and in 600 employees being retained as staff without resigning out of fear. In her role so far, she implemented licensure for three new states.

 

Atias believes Amatus Health and TruHealing stand out because every employee, from corporate to center staff, has a real passion for helping people. Atias shares this passion, “My natural compass always tugged me to behavioral health. I’ve always been fascinated by the human psyche. I have also been intimately privy to those suffering from mental illness and substance use. I later understood that my experiences weren’t unique, and quickly realized how pressing the need really is to effectively prevent and address. Moreover, how life-changing proper intervention truly is.”

 

Atias was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Israel and Maryland.

Melissa McCarthy is the Vice President of Business Development at Amatus Health. With a decade of experience in the behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment industry, McCarthy is passionate about recovery. She has her finger on the pulse of marketing trends, with the end goal of helping businesses grow so they can serve more people in need.

 

McCarthy has worked at large enterprise recovery centers across the country spearheading business development teams. She has a wide range of experience, including transforming a third-party digital marketing and client acquisition services company into a full-continuum behavioral healthcare provider, managing several successful rebrands, and growing annual revenue fivefold.

 

As VP of Business Development, McCarthy leads a team of over 20 business development professionals nationwide. She manages client acquisition, coordinates in-service trainings with various referents and hospitals, and presents at conferences on addiction and mental health disorder treatment.

 

“Sadly, many individuals die waiting for access to life-saving behavioral healthcare services,” says McCarthy. “I am in relentless pursuit of better—better access, better care delivery and better outcomes. I consider it a privilege to work in an environment where miracles unfold daily.”

 

McCarthy lives in Maryland with her daughter.

Hometown: Saugus, MA

 

Passions & interests: The greatest passion of mine is being able to dig into the work with men in early recovery. There is nothing better than witnessing and being a part of the change. My journey in long-term recovery has taught me to value the little things in life that I am now able to do. I love to do anything that allows me to be present with my wife, family, and friends. My wife and I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and taking long motorcycle rides with our friends. If I am not on the road working or with my wife, I am studying or playing softball.

 

The best part of my job is being able to show up for my team and clients; they all mean the world to me. I get to brainstorm and strategize with tons of different personalities. A lot of the team does not know, but I love learning from them. If I am not learning something about our industry or workplace, I am certainly learning how to effectively collaborate with different types of individuals.

 

Together, we can change the narrative and be a part of the solution to better treat those trapped in the problem.

Allison was born in Columbus, Ohio and was raised in South Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. After college, Allison started working at the largest talent agency in the world, William Morris Endeavor. There, she learned marketing from top leaders specializing in global PR and endorsement campaigns, in both the Latin and English markets.

 

Through strategic public relations and creative campaign concepts, Allison has secured more than 200 national broadcast and print media placements for behavioral healthcare organizations. She brings over 15 years of marketing and PR experience, with a strong background in leading communications strategy for addiction treatment and behavioral healthcare facilities. In her role as VP of Communications, she oversees branding, public relations, social media, marketing, events, and content creation.

 

In her spare time, she loves cooking, boating, yoga, and traveling. She and her husband Bryan reside in Boca Raton, Florida.

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Avi Burstein is VP of Clinical Services at Amatus Health. He manages all therapeutic programming at all facilities nationwide.

 

Avi is originally from New York, and graduated from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He brings over 13 years of experience in the Behavioral Healthcare Industry, in both the public and private sectors. He is passionate about therapeutic communities and the fellowship they foster between patients. Through his work in LGBTQIA, urban, rural, and religiously observant populations, Avi recognizes that each patient is unique. Therefore, he strives to ensure clinical approaches, staffing, administration, and education meet the expectation of each community Amatus Health serves.

 

“Our work must also include ending the societal stigma surrounding such conditions by building safe and supportive networks that include clients’ families whenever possible,” Avi said. “By valuing change and owning imperfections, we can strive to be better providers and walk through the door of recovery with our clients.”

Avi Burstein is VP of Clinical Services at Amatus Health. He manages all therapeutic programming at all facilities nationwide.

 

Avi is originally from New York, and graduated from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He brings over 13 years of experience in the Behavioral Healthcare Industry, in both the public and private sectors. He is passionate about therapeutic communities and the fellowship they foster between patients. Through his work in LGBTQIA, urban, rural, and religiously observant populations, Avi recognizes that each patient is unique. Therefore, he strives to ensure clinical approaches, staffing, administration, and education meet the expectation of each community Amatus Health serves.

 

“Our work must also include ending the societal stigma surrounding such conditions by building safe and supportive networks that include clients’ families whenever possible,” Avi said. “By valuing change and owning imperfections, we can strive to be better providers and walk through the door of recovery with our clients.”

Marty Markovits is the Chief Information Officer at TruHealing. He oversees the people, processes, and technologies of the whole organization to ensure the business is running smoothly.

 

Markovits grew up in Brooklyn, NY (which he calls “the greatest city on Earth”) and graduated with a degree in Clinical Psychology from Queens College.

 

Markovits is a veteran in Information Technology within the healthcare field. He ensures that IT processes are simple, cost-effective, and secure. His expertise spans the entire healthcare domain, from billing and claims, to clinical, to Human Resources. He says, “My passion is to provide fully automated and operationally meaningful Business Intelligence analytics, with absolute data integrity.”

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Hometown: Savannah, GA

 

Passions & Interests: I spend my time outside of work with my wife and children and am actively involved in various community needs and causes.

 

The best part of my job is knowing that we are creating a safe, healthy, nonjudgmental environment where people can come and better their lives. There is nothing more satisfying than helping others learn to live again and piece their lives back together as they become strong, productive members of society.

Together, we can bring families back together and promote healing and well-being.