Families are more than a collection of individuals living under one roof—they are intricate systems where every member plays a role, often unconsciously reinforcing the emotional and behavioral patterns of the group. The theory of family systems offers a powerful framework for understanding how families function and, more importantly, how they change.

Family Systems Therapy, offered at the Family Recovery Institute as part of its Family Therapy programming, is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that views individuals within the context of their immediate family relationships. Developed by noted psychiatrist Murray Bowen (1913-1990), this modality is rooted in the belief that family members are interconnected, and each person's behavior affects, and is affected by, the other’s.

Addictions, compulsions, and mental illness generally show up in families wounded by legacies of loss and illness frequently going back several generations. A family system with addiction in its DNA manifests a cluster of environmental characteristics which can be thought of as expressions of the system’s distress.