Skype Proves to Be Powerful Tool for Family Therapy

by Cheryl Haas

For many people in recovery from sub­stance abuse or a mental health dis­order, their families are an integral part of their journey back to health. But often, families are unable to be present for a signifi­cant part of the healing process sim­ply because they live too far away from the residential program where their loved one is undergoing therapy. For even the most sup­portive family, the time and expense required to travel on a regular basis can be prohibitive.

With 70 percent of its patients hail­ing from out-of-state, Timberline Knolls, a residential facility in subur­ban Chicago that treats women and adolescents for eating disorders, mood disorders, and alcohol and drug addiction, found an innovative way to bridge the physical distance between patients and their families. In March 2011, the facility rolled out a pilot program using Skype, the popular online video application, in family therapy sessions. Skype quickly became a permanent therapy component.

Extending family involvement

“Families are one of the most pow­erful resources available to indi­viduals in their recovery,” states Stan Selinger, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of family therapy at Timberline Knolls. “By using Skype, we are able to improve the experi­ence of our family therapy sessions by making these sessions as close to being there in person as possible.”

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