Farley Family Workshop in VA

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From the Farley Family to Your Family:

Welcome to the Farley Family Workshop

The Farley Family Workshop is a two-day weekend workshop for loved ones affected by substance use disorders (also called addiction or SUD). The workshop provides education on addiction, helps you identify how you have been affected by the disease, and offers a space to begin healing from those effects. We will help you to discover and explore your behaviors, attitudes, and feelings, and learn new skills and healthy responses to a new addiction recovery environment.

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that impacts everyone whose lives are touched by it. As the disease progresses, the attitudes and behaviors of the person with SUD dramatically change. Often, loved ones also experience dramatic changes in their own attitudes and behaviors due to the progression of the disease. We all need the opportunity to heal and grow as we enter addiction recovery. Research shows a 50% increase in long-term recovery rates for patients with SUD when family members attend family recovery programs, just like the one we offer. This is why it is so important for you to participate!

We welcome all family members and friends, ages 13 and above, of patients of the Farley Center or other Summit Behavioral Health programs in Virginia, to attend the Farley Family Workshop.

There is no additional cost for 2 loved ones to participate, as the cost is included as a part of the patient’s treatment.

We want you to have a meaningful experience. Some guideposts for your time at the workshop include:

Understand the neurobiology of addiction Learn to recognize the symptoms of addiction and understand that the disease is chronic, progressive, and often fatal when left untreated.

Breakthrough the denial Accept that addiction affects the entire family, and you have the chance to grow your awareness of behaviors and attitudes. Learn the difference between supporting recovery vs. enabling the disease.

Embrace self-acceptance Discover your feelings and needs. Recognize that much of this has been ignored to focus attention on the person with addiction.

Commit to a family recovery plan Get involved by attending the weekly family group online or going to your own 12 step meetings or other support groups. Try out therapy for additional support. Find your own healing as a part of this work. Develop your own recovery plan.

2025 Farley Family Workshop Schedule

Join us at The Farley Center Family Workshop for a two-day intensive – an enriching and educational program for loved ones with SUD.

The Farley Center Family Workshop | February 22-23

The Farley Center Family Workshop | March 22-23

The Farley Center Family Workshop | April 26-27

The Farley Center Family Workshop | May 24-25

The Farley Center Family Workshop | June 28-29

The Farley Center Family Workshop | July 26-27

The Farley Center Family Workshop | August 23-24

The Farley Center Family Workshop | September 27-28

The Farley Center Family Workshop | October 25-26

The Farley Center Family Workshop | November 22-23

The Farley Center Family Workshop | December 2-28

Weekend Agenda

Saturday

8:30-9:00am: Registration
9:00-10:00 am: Introduction: Understanding Group Dynamics & Expectations Sharing
10:15: Break
10:30 am: Neurobiology of Addiction
12:00 pm-1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm-2:00pm: Codependency & Trauma
2:15 pm: Break
2:30pm: Boundaries, Enabling, and Helping
3:00pm: Communication
3:30pm: Break
3:45pm: Family Recovery & Planning
4:45pm: Review & Assignment Work

Sunday

8:30am-9:00am: Check-In
9:30 am-10:45 am: Communication Exercises Break-Out Groups
10:45am-11:00am: Break
11:00am: Boundaries Sharing Break-Out Groups
11:30 pm: Large Group Share Out
12:00 pm-1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00-2:00 pm: Recovery Plan Sharing Break Outs
2:00-2:30 pm: Review, Takeaways, & Share Out
2:30-3:00 pm: Closing

MEET OUR STAFF

Jessica Swan, MCJ, MAC, LSATP, CAS has extensive experience in clinical addiction counseling, research, development, and writing curriculum and reports for nonprofits, governmental agencies, and communities across the nation.