Weekly Family Therapy + the Standalone 6-Month Workshop
Family Program | Weekly Family Therapy and the Together We Heal Workshop
The Family Program at Valley Spring Recovery Center has two parts. Weekly family therapy sessions with the client's own primary therapist run for families whose loved one is in active treatment. The Together We Heal workshop runs alongside them as a standalone track: a structured 6-session curriculum delivered across 6 months, open to anyone affected by a loved one's addiction. The two are additive rather than alternatives, and a family in active treatment can attend both. The workshop requires no clinical intake, no enrollment of a loved one at Valley Spring Recovery Center, and no enrollment in individual or family therapy, which is what lets a community member join it. Case-manager coordination for crisis response and aftercare runs through the same Family Program umbrella when a loved one is in active treatment.
- Weekly family therapy with the client's own primary therapist during active treatment
- Together We Heal, the 6-session curriculum, delivered across 6 months
- Led by Patricia Osterhoudt, Family Service Coordinator, in recovery since 2017
- Education about substance use disorders and their impact on families
- Communication and boundary-setting strategies
- Crisis response skills including Narcan training
Who You Would Be Sitting With
Patricia Osterhoudt leads the workshop. It is a small room — current enrollment is 10 participants — and families walking into a room of strangers usually want to know who is running it before anything else.
What Does Valley Spring Recovery Center's Family Program Workshop, Norwood NJ Include?
Weekly Family Therapy With the Client's Primary Therapist
When a loved one is in active treatment at Valley Spring Recovery Center, family therapy runs weekly with that client's own primary therapist — not with a separate family clinician, and not on a referral out. It is a standing part of the Family Program rather than something arranged when a crisis forces it.
Using the primary therapist is the point. That clinician already holds the treatment plan, the history and the week-by-week clinical picture, so a family session starts from what is actually happening in treatment rather than from a summary. It also means the family's account of the same week reaches the person making clinical decisions directly.
This runs in addition to the Together We Heal workshop described under What Is Together We Heal? — the weekly sessions are clinical work on this family's situation, the workshop is education and skills across six months. A family in active treatment is entitled to both.
Family Program Track - All Ages
The Family Program Workshop provides six structured sessions covering substance use disorder education and family support strategies. The 6-month educational program serves family members affected by addiction, whether a loved one is currently in treatment at Valley Spring Recovery Center or clients are seeking support from the community. Patricia Osterhoudt, Valley Spring's Family Service Coordinator, leads the workshop. She has been in recovery since 2017, following the loss of her son to substance use disorder, and brings that experience into a room where families connect, learn, and strengthen their healing journey.
The workshop currently enrolls 10 participants, maintaining small group dynamics for intimate sharing and personalized attention. Sessions focus on education rather than ongoing support group meetings, giving clients concrete tools and knowledge to navigate addiction's impact on family members.
What Is Together We Heal?
Together We Heal is the name of the six-session curriculum inside Valley Spring Recovery Center's Family Program. It is a component of the Family Program rather than a second offering, so a family enrolling in the Family Program is enrolling in Together We Heal, and Patricia Osterhoudt leads those sessions.
Six themes carry across the six sessions: substance use disorder education, communication, family roles, codependency, relapse prevention, and family self-care. The session-by-session schedule set out under "What to Expect from the Family Program Workshop" describes those same six meetings. That places the Narcan training in Session 1 and the CRAFT-informed communication work in Sessions 3 through 6 inside Together We Heal rather than alongside it.
The two names describe one workshop, one curriculum, one facilitator and one enrollment. A family who calls asking for either name is placed in the same room, on the same six-session schedule, with Patricia.
What to Expect from the Family Program Workshop
Clients attend 6 structured sessions over 6 months, each lasting 75 minutes and covering specific educational topics. Session 1 establishes safety and provides Narcan training for overdose prevention — Patricia has trained roughly 1,000 people in Narcan administration and overdose response. Session 2 helps clients identify inner struggles and emotional patterns using tools like the Feelings Wheel and multi-faith resources.
Sessions 3-6 dive into CRAFT-informed communication strategies, trust rebuilding, family wellness planning, and reintegration support for loved ones returning from treatment.
What Does a Day in the Family Program Look Like?
6:00 PM, Session Check-In and Safety Establishment
Each 75-minute session begins with creating emotional and physical safety for all participants. Patricia welcomes everyone and reviews the session's educational objectives.
6:15 PM, Educational Content and Skill Building
The core session time focuses on specific topics like substance use disorder education, communication strategies, or crisis response planning. Clients engage with materials like the Feelings Wheel, CRAFT methodology handouts, and wellness planning worksheets.
7:00 PM, Integration and Next Steps
Sessions close with integration time where clients identify one realistic action step to take during the week. Patricia provides resources and answers questions about applying what clients have learned.
What Happens Outside of Family Program Hours?
Clients apply communication strategies and boundary-setting skills learned in sessions to daily interactions with a loved one. The program encourages clients to practice crisis response techniques, including Narcan administration if needed, so clients feel prepared for emergencies. Between sessions, clients work on personal wellness planning and family system healing. Many participants connect with local Al-Anon meetings, family therapy resources, or other support groups recommended during sessions. The 6-month timeframe allows clients to gradually implement changes and see their impact on family dynamics.
Who Is the Family Program Workshop Appropriate For?
- Family Members of Current Valley Spring Clients: If a loved one is currently receiving treatment at Valley Spring Recovery Center, the Family Program complements their clinical care with family education and support.
- Community Members Affected by Addiction: The workshop welcomes families from throughout Bergen County, even if a loved one isn't receiving treatment at Valley Spring.
- Families Seeking Education Over Support Groups: If clients prefer structured learning to open-ended support group meetings, the Family Program's educational format provides concrete information and skills.
People Who Recovered
Norwood, NJ Addiction Treatment Center Reviews
“It cannot be more clear the profound impact that Sean has made in my recovery journey. Finding someone who can balance the weight of recovery with genuine humor is rare, and he embodies that perfectly.”
Daisy McCloud
“Valley Spring Recovery Center truly changed my little brother Jordan's life. From the moment he entered the program, he was treated with respect, care, and real compassion. The staff went above and beyond to support him, not just in his recovery, but in every aspect of his life.”
Deshaya Williams
“Valley Spring Recovery Center saved my son's life. The staff is amazing. I'm so grateful for the exceptional care he received. The support and encouragement by the staff and the rest of the Valley Spring Community is so meaningful.”
Lana Roeser
“Valley Spring Recovery Center is absolutely exceptional. Brian and Mike have created a truly beautiful establishment, both in appearance and in spirit. The clinical setting is world class, blending professionalism with genuine compassion.”
Christopher Ferry
“Everyone treated me like family, I felt like I was born into this family. The welcoming I received was incredible. Valley Spring changed my life in ways I never thought possible.”
Tr3 Weee
Frequently asked questions
Is Together We Heal the same thing as the Family Program?+−
Together We Heal is the workshop inside the Family Program, not a separate workshop and not the whole program. The Family Program has two parts: weekly family therapy with the client's own primary therapist during active treatment, and the Together We Heal workshop. One enrollment covers both the Together We Heal and Family Program Workshop names. Patricia Osterhoudt leads all six sessions, which run monthly across 6 months at 75 minutes each.
How often is family therapy, and who runs it?+−
Weekly, with the client's own primary therapist, for families whose loved one is in active treatment at Valley Spring. It is not run by a separate family clinician and it is not referred out. The primary therapist already holds the treatment plan and the week-by-week clinical picture, so a family session starts from what is happening in treatment rather than from a summary.
Do the weekly sessions and the workshop replace each other?+−
No. They are additive. The weekly sessions are clinical work on one family's situation with the primary therapist; the workshop is education and skill building across six months in a small group. A family whose loved one is in active treatment can attend both, and a community member with no loved one in treatment can attend the workshop alone.
How long does the Family Program Workshop last?+−
The Family Program runs for 6 months with structured sessions covering specific educational topics from addiction basics through family reintegration planning. Each session lasts 75 minutes and builds on previous learning.
Can I work during the Family Program Workshop?+−
Yes, sessions are scheduled during evening hours to accommodate work and family responsibilities. The 6-month timeframe with monthly sessions allows clients to maintain their regular schedule while gaining essential family education.
How much does the Family Program Workshop cost?+−
Contact Valley Spring Recovery Center admissions team at (855) 924-5320 for current pricing and insurance coverage information. Valley Spring Recovery Center works with multiple insurance contracts and can verify benefits to determine what the plan covers for family education services.
Will insurance cover the Family Program Workshop?+−
Many insurance plans provide coverage for family education and support services related to addiction treatment. Valley Spring Recovery Center admissions team verifies specific benefits and explains coverage before clients begin the program.
Can I do the Family Program Workshop virtually?+−
Yes, Valley Spring Recovery Center offers virtual participation through the dedicated remote programming platform. The clinical team is fully trained in virtual family education delivery.
How does the Family Program Workshop differ from other levels of care?+−
The workshop is family education rather than clinical treatment for the person with addiction, and its structured 6-session curriculum provides concrete knowledge and skills rather than open-ended support group meetings. It is not a level of care and carries no ASAM level. The clinical side of the Family Program is the weekly family therapy with the client's primary therapist, which sits inside that client's own treatment.
Can family members participate in the Family Program Workshop?+−
The program is designed specifically for family members affected by addiction, whether a loved one receives treatment at Valley Spring or elsewhere. Multiple family members can participate together or individually.
What happens after I complete the Family Program Workshop?+−
Clients will have access to Valley Spring's alumni network, ongoing family therapy services, and community resource connections established during the program. Many participants continue with individual family therapy or join local support groups like Al-Anon.
Who is the Family Program Workshop appropriate for?+−
The program serves parents, spouses, adult children, and other family members affected by a loved one's addiction seeking education about addiction and practical support strategies.
Who leads the Family Program Workshop?+−
Patricia Osterhoudt, Valley Spring Recovery Center's Family Service Coordinator, leads the workshop. She is a recovery advocate and family support specialist, in recovery since 2017 following the loss of her son to substance use disorder, and a member of the Ramapough Lenape Nation. She has trained roughly 1,000 people in Narcan administration and overdose response, which is the Session 1 curriculum she teaches here.
What makes your Family Program Workshop different from other treatment centers?+−
The workshop is led by someone who has lived it. Patricia Osterhoudt brings lived recovery experience alongside professional training, creating authentic connections with participants. The structured 6-session educational format provides concrete curriculum rather than open-ended support group meetings.
How often do sessions occur?+−
Family Program sessions occur monthly over the 6-month program duration, with each session lasting 75 minutes. This spacing allows clients to practice new skills between sessions while maintaining consistent educational progress.
What if I struggle between sessions?+−
Valley Spring Recovery Center provides access to crisis support resources and can connect clients with individual family therapy services if additional support is needed between workshop sessions.
Start the Family Program Today
Call (855) 924-5320, available 24/7. Free insurance verification, no obligation.
HIPAA compliant · Confidential · No obligation