Therapy for Loved Ones of People Who Use Drugs

Supporting someone you care about who uses drugs can be overwhelming. You may feel anxious about their safety, uncertain about how to help, or exhausted from trying to hold everything together. Many loved ones describe feeling caught between worry, anger, guilt, and hope—all at once. Therapy offers a space for you to process these feelings, gain tools for coping, and learn ways to support your loved one without losing yourself.

Why Therapy for Loved Ones?

When someone you care about is struggling with substance use, it often impacts everyone close to them. You may:

• Feel responsible for “fixing” things or keeping your loved one safe

• Struggle to set boundaries without feeling guilty

• Experience anxiety, sadness, or isolation

• Worry constantly about overdose, relapse, or legal consequences

• Feel torn between wanting to help and needing space to protect your own well-being

• Carry shame, secrecy, or fear of being judged by others

• Notice your own health, relationships, or work suffering as you focus on your loved one

Therapy gives you a nonjudgmental space to sort through these challenges and strengthen your own well-being.

A Harm Reduction Approach for Loved Ones

Traditional approaches often tell loved ones there’s only one way forward: tough love, cutting off contact, or pushing for abstinence. But harm reduction recognizes that relationships, like recovery, are complex. In therapy, we’ll focus on:

• Understanding substance use through a compassionate, evidence-based lens

• Building communication strategies that foster connection rather than conflict

• Practicing boundary-setting in ways that honor both your loved one’s autonomy and your own needs

• Developing self-care practices so you don’t burn out while trying to help

• Finding resources and supports that align with your values as a loved one

Healing for You, Too

Supporting someone who uses drugs doesn’t mean you have to put your own life on hold. Therapy can help you reclaim space for your own healing, clarify what’s within your control, and cultivate resilience. By caring for yourself, you’ll be better equipped to show up for your loved one in ways that feel sustainable and grounded.

📧 Contact: KateRobertsLCSW@gmail.com