Family Support
The ASV family support approach is based on the AFINET 5 step method and is evidenced based. All ASV staff are highly trained, experienced professionals driven by a passion to support any person negatively impacted by addiction.
You can now access the Family Support Program online by completing the Online Family Solutions Course or by meeting and working with one of our qualified family therapists.
ASV is is registered with the Australian Counselling Association, an Associated Member of the Institute of Community Directors (AMICDA), a member of the Mental Health Academy (MHA) and a member of the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC).
Angela Ireland - ASV Family Therapist
Angela is a Masters qualified Family Therapist with extensive experience in the recovery support and drug and alcohol addiction treatment field. For over 20 years she has worked across Melbourne, Victoria, with families impacted by a loved one’s alcohol or drug use and developed family education programs and booklets used across the state.
Angela is also an Accredited Addiction Practitioner to use the 5 - Step method which is based on extensive practice and research by AFINet. AFINet are world leaders in providing an evidence based approach to supporting affected family members and friends.
By working with the family members using this practice, positive change can be achieved for both the family members and potentially their loved one.
"Having an alcohol, drug or gambling problem can have negative effects on close relationships and create a loss of trust, financial difficulties, and increase stress. These effects don’t go away overnight and the change process can take a long time, prolonging the negative impact on families. However, when families and friends work together, problematic behaviour and negative effects can be dealt with more quickly
Approach with individual families
Step 1. Identifying how problematic behaviour has affected you and your family.
Step 2. Providing new and relevant responses to these problems.
Step 3. Looking at the advantages, and disadvantages of current strategies, and deciding whether you could respond differently.
Step 4. Looking at current support systems and developing new helpful forms of support.
We talk to families about their own welfare and how to maintain their own health and relationships whilst under stress. We offer general information about addiction, phases of recovery, community treatment and services and specific suggestions to support their family member.
"Evidence indicates that when family members receive help in their own right, this can have a positive effect on the possibility of the affected family member entering alcohol or other drug treatment & increase the likelihood of the treatment being successful".
Helen