SMART Recovery Family & Friends

The VOCAL Family Support Addictions service provides support and information to parents, friends, partners and other family members living in Edinburgh and Midlothian who are affected by someone else’s drinking and drug use.

Feelings of isolation often happen when faced with a loved one’s drink or drug problem. We can often keep the ‘problem’ to ourselves, and find ourselves cut off from friends and family. At VOCAL Family Support Addictions we want to support you to reduce or alleviate such feelings. We offer one-to-one support, where you can speak in confidence, perhaps for the first time outside the family.

Family Support Addictions offer regular support groups, SMART Recovery Family & Friends meetings, weekly Recovery Hub surgeries and addiction courses to parents, friends, partners and other family members living in Edinburgh who are affected by someone else’s drinking and drug use.

SMART recovery family & friends...

The SMART recovery goal for family and friends is for you to achieve a healthy, positive and balanced lifestyle while supporting loved your one in a meaningful and truly helpful way. Regular structured group meetings provide an opportunity for carers to explore topics such as change and motivation, self-care, positive communication, trust and forgiveness and healthy boundaries.

SMART Recovery meetings are held every Tuesday at the VOCAL Edinburgh Carers’ Hub, 60 Leith Walk, Edinburgh. Meetings are facilitated by Stuart Byrne & Heriot Philbrick-Smith. For information about the times of meetings, please contact the Family Support Addictions (Edinburgh) team.

Meetings are weekly and ongoing and take place on Tuesdays. They alternate between evenings one week from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and afternoons the next from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Meetings are facilitated by Stuart Byrne (Family Support Officer and experienced SMART facilitator).

SMART Recovery is ultimately most successful as a “peer led” network of meetings. At VOCAL we encourage SMART Family & Friends participants to think about becoming facilitators themselves and set up their own meetings in the community. At VOCAL we will help anyone who is interested to develop the skills and confidence to become facilitators.

Recovery Hub Carer support...

The weekly surgeries aim to provide increased access for carers of someone with an addiction to support and advice in their local area. Family members and carers can book an initial appointment at the Recovery Hub with a support worker who will then arrange ongoing support where required.

Please see https://www.vocal.org.uk/carer-support/info-for-carers/family-support-addictions.

Addictions courses...

In partnership with the Alcohol Problems service and other relevant organisations we run a number of free courses each year for family and friends. Sessions run over two to three weeks and explore topics such as addiction, the impact on the family and coping strategies.

To discuss the courses further or book a place on the next course please contact the Family Support Addictions team on 0131 622 6666 or email fsa@vocal.org.uk

To find out more about the SMART approach, please contact the Family Support Addictions (Edinburgh) team:

Email: fsa@vocal.org.uk
Tel: 0131 622 6666