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In Person

Healing Together: Engaging Families in Recovery

Scott Passafiume
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Information

Date & Time

Location

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain how substance use disorders affect the entire family system and why family engagement is clinically essential.

  • Identify common family roles and systemic dynamics that emerge in response to addiction.

  • Apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive strategies to reduce resistance and build rapport with families.

  • Recall appropriate national and local resources to support families’ parallel recovery journeys.

Educational Goal

To equip behavioral health professionals with trauma-informed, culturally responsive strategies to engage families in recognizing their own need for support and healing as part of the addiction recovery process.

Description

This training equips behavioral health professionals with practical, trauma-informed strategies to engage families in the addiction recovery process. While the focus in treatment often centers on the individual, families play a critical role in long-term outcomes and are frequently navigating their own grief, confusion, and trauma. This session explores how substance disorders affect family systems, outlines common relational dynamics that emerge, and provides tools for clinicians to build trust, reframe resistance, and encourage family participation in parallel healing. Participants will learn how to introduce support options without blame, teach healthy boundary-setting, and access culturally inclusive resources that empower families to take an active role in recovery.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Scott Passafiume
Scott has volunteered or worked with people in recovery since 2003. He currently works at Serenity Park as the facility’s Treatment Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Capella University, attained in 2012. He also holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling from Southern Arkansas University from 2016, and was an Ann Keese Thomas graduate scholarship recipient for full paid resident tuition. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S) with the state of Arkansas as well as an International Certification as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IAADC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor (LADAC). He has been actively working in the Mental Health and Substance abuse field since 2015. In 2014 he was accepted as a member of Alpha Chi: National College Honor Scholarship Society as well as National Society of Leadership and Success. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, and in 2019 was a graduate of Leadership Hot Springs. He had a successful career as a professional artist for almost 30 years, utilizing his Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design, Associate of Arts in Graphic Design, and an Advanced Computer Aided Design Certification - all from Southern Arkansas University Tech.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Serenity Park Recovery Center