Family recovery course & guides

Family Support Resources for Recovery from Addiction

Start with a free 15-session family recovery course, then use 14 practical guides for boundaries, relapse response, treatment decisions, and hard conversations.

All family resources

A clearer shelf for the hard stuff.

Every guide is short enough to use in real life and concrete enough to bring into a family meeting, coaching call, or quiet hour before a difficult conversation.

Before anything else

Stay alive, stay together

Plain-language safety guides for the moments where minutes matter — overdose, dangerous withdrawal, fentanyl, and suicide risk.

  1. Safety guideHow to Recognize an Overdose and Use NarcanA short, plainspoken guide every family with opioid use in the picture should keep close. Recognize an overdose, use naloxone, call 911.Open safety guide
  2. Safety guideWhen Withdrawal Is a Medical EmergencyMost families think withdrawal is uncomfortable. Some forms of withdrawal can kill. Here is what is safe to ride out and what needs medical detox today.Read the guide
  3. BriefingWhat Families Need to Know About FentanylA short, honest briefing on fentanyl — what it is, why it is in everything, and the practical things families can do to keep a loved one alive while recovery unfolds.Read the briefing
  4. Safety guideWhen You're Worried About SuicideA practical guide for the moment a family member's worry crosses from "they are struggling" to "they might not survive this." How to ask, what to do, who to call, what not to do.Open safety guide

When something happened today

Respond without spinning out

Grounding plans for relapse signals, crisis moments, and the first message after distance.

  1. Grounding guideWhat to Do in a CrisisLearn how to respond calmly during addiction crises with this step-by-step guide for families. Stay grounded and protect your peace during difficult moments.Open crisis guide
  2. PlanFamily Relapse Response PlanPrepare for potential relapse with this comprehensive family response plan. Learn how to stay grounded and protect your recovery during difficult times.Make a plan
  3. Decision guideWhen They Reach Out AgainNavigate reconnection wisely when your loved one reaches out after stepping away. Learn how to protect your recovery while staying open to healing.Plan response

When words matter

Have the conversation with less heat

Scripts and questions that help you connect, tell the truth, and avoid shame spirals.

  1. ScriptsHelpful Conversation OpenersStart difficult recovery conversations with confidence using these proven conversation openers that build trust and connection.Open the scripts
  2. Language guideWhat to Say InsteadTransform your family communication with this recovery language guide. Learn what to say instead of reactive responses for healthier relationships.Find better words
  3. Questions10 Powerful Family Questions That Don't Trigger ShameFoster meaningful family connections with these 10 shame-free questions designed for recovery conversations. Build trust and understanding.Use the questions
  4. Response guideCommon Objections to Recovery ConversationsNavigate addiction recovery conversations with confidence. Learn how to respond to common objections and maintain your peace during difficult discussions.Review responses
  5. GuideTalking with Children About a Parent's or Sibling's AddictionAge-appropriate language, what kids actually need to hear, what's worth keeping private, and when to bring a therapist into the picture.Open the guide
  6. ScriptsWhat to Tell Friends, Neighbors, and Extended FamilyPrivacy-preserving scripts for the "how's your son?" questions — at church, at work, at the family dinner table — when your loved one is in treatment, in recovery, or still using.Use the scripts

When you need your own lane

Hold love and limits together

Boundary language, self-checks, and exit plans for protecting your wellbeing.

  1. ScriptScript for Setting a BoundaryLearn how to set healthy boundaries in addiction recovery with this practical script and examples. Protect your peace with loving, clear communication.Use the script
  2. ChecklistAm I in My Lane?Stay focused on your own recovery with this practical checklist. Learn how to stay in your lane and avoid taking on what isn't yours to carry.Check your lane
  3. PlanA Gentle Exit PlanLearn how to lovingly detach when recovery isn't happening. A gentle guide for protecting your wellbeing while maintaining love and hope.Build the plan

When support gets complicated

Choose care with clearer eyes

Provider questions, recovery-stage context, and definitions families can return to.

  1. Checklist10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Recovery ProviderFree downloadable checklist: 10 essential questions to ask when choosing an addiction treatment provider. Make the best decision for your loved one.Use checklist
  2. GuideHow to Select Professionals in Recovery SupportHow to select qualified recovery professionals: interventionists, therapists, coaches, and treatment centers. Expert guidance for families.Choose support
  3. FrameworkStages of Recovery & Relapse SignalsUnderstand the stages of addiction recovery and learn to recognize relapse warning signs. Essential knowledge for families supporting long-term recovery.Read stages
  4. GlossaryFamily Recovery GlossaryUnderstand key recovery terms with this comprehensive family recovery glossary. Essential definitions for families navigating addiction recovery.Open glossary

When you're navigating systems

Get through the paperwork without getting flattened

Levels of care, insurance, and FMLA — the practical systems work that comes with finding and paying for treatment.

  1. ExplainerLevels of Care, Explained Without JargonDetox, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, sober living — what each one is, who it's for, what it costs, and why a 30-day rehab is rarely the whole answer.Read the explainer
  2. GuideHow to Pay for TreatmentInsurance benefits, parity law, in- vs. out-of-network, single-case agreements, denials, HSA/FSA, scholarships, and state options. Practical answers for the question that derails most families before treatment even starts.Open the guide
  3. GuideHow to Use FMLA to Go to TreatmentThe Family and Medical Leave Act protects up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year — and it covers substance use treatment. Here's who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if HR pushes back.Open the guide

When recovery is the new normal

Support recovery without policing it

What healthy at-home recovery looks like — and how to be helpful without taking over.

  1. GuideThe First 90 Days at Home After TreatmentThe most fragile stretch of any recovery — what's normal, what isn't, and how to support without policing. A practical guide for the families who often inherit a beautifully stabilized loved one and watch the structure slowly come undone.Open the guide

Find help near you

Treatment, meetings, and recovery resources in your area

Enter a ZIP code — we'll open local results fromsobasearch.comin a new tab.

(833) 594-7146Talk to someone