During family therapy, an alcoholic client claims, "You made it easy for me to use alcohol." What should the nurse encourage?

During family therapy, an alcoholic client claims, "You made it easy for me to use alcohol." What should the nurse encourage?

• A. Give up enabling behaviors
• B. Manage the client's self-care
• C. Deal with negative behaviors
• D. Evaluate the home environment

Answer: (A)

Encouraging the family to give up enabling behaviors is essential in the context of supporting an alcoholic client during therapy. Enabling behaviors are actions taken by family members that allow the client to continue their substance use without facing the negative consequences of their addiction. This can include making excuses for the client, providing financial support for their substance use, or shielding them from the repercussions of their actions. By addressing and reducing these enabling behaviors, families can help the client take responsibility for their choices and actions. This process fosters accountability and encourages the client to engage more fully in the recovery process. It also helps to create a healthier family dynamic where the focus is on recovery rather than enabling the addiction. This approach is supported by various therapeutic models in addiction treatment, emphasizing the importance of family involvement in the recovery journey. Other options, while relevant, do not address the crucial aspect of enabling behavior as effectively. Managing a client's self-care may be necessary but does not directly tackle the enabling issue. Dealing with negative behaviors and evaluating the home environment are also important but would typically follow the recognition of enabling as a barrier to recovery. Therefore, emphasizing the need to discontinue enabling behaviors fosters a more supportive environment for recovery.

Encouraging the family to give up enabling behaviors is essential in the context of supporting an alcoholic client during therapy. Enabling behaviors are actions taken by family members that allow the client to continue their substance use without facing the negative consequences of their addiction. This can include making excuses for the client, providing financial support for their substance use, or shielding them from the repercussions of their actions.

By addressing and reducing these enabling behaviors, families can help the client take responsibility for their choices and actions. This process fosters accountability and encourages the client to engage more fully in the recovery process. It also helps to create a healthier family dynamic where the focus is on recovery rather than enabling the addiction. This approach is supported by various therapeutic models in addiction treatment, emphasizing the importance of family involvement in the recovery journey.

Other options, while relevant, do not address the crucial aspect of enabling behavior as effectively. Managing a client's self-care may be necessary but does not directly tackle the enabling issue. Dealing with negative behaviors and evaluating the home environment are also important but would typically follow the recognition of enabling as a barrier to recovery. Therefore, emphasizing the need to discontinue enabling behaviors fosters a more supportive environment for recovery.