Changes Treatment Center exists to help individuals re-discover who they
are and step into their full potential. Recovery is not something that happens to you, it’s something you actively participate in, and we walk beside you every step of the way.
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, the most useful things you can do are support recovery, set healthy boundaries, and take care of yourself. Changes Treatment Center is an outpatient program in Costa Mesa, CA offering PHP, IOP, and aftercare for adults. Call (949) 807-2008 to talk through your situation.
First Thing To Know
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to Changes, we’re here to help.
Common signs a loved one may be struggling include increased secrecy, mood swings, changes in sleep, financial problems, missing work or school, and loss of interest in the people and activities they used to care about. Addiction often develops gradually, so these signs are easy to explain away. Trust what you are observing. The fuller list:
Research on family involvement shows that you can influence recovery by improving communication, reinforcing healthy behaviors, and setting healthy boundaries. Five principles guide how to do that.
Notice and reinforce positive behaviors: going to work, spending time with family, attending a meeting, talking openly, completing responsibilities, or staying sober. Reinforcement moves behavior more reliably than criticism.
Be brief, positive, specific, and willing to listen. Instead of criticism, express concern and care. Short and calm gets heard; long and heated does not.
Resist the urge to rescue. When you step in to soften every consequence, you remove the very experiences that motivate change. Allowing natural consequences turns them into opportunities for learning.
The best time to raise treatment is often after a crisis, during a moment of frustration, or when your loved one expresses a desire for change. Watch for those windows rather than forcing the conversation.
You deserve support too. Counseling, support groups, exercise, spiritual practice, healthy friendships, and time for hobbies are not selfish. They are what keep you able to help.
Healthy boundaries protect your own mental health while still letting you support someone you love. Think of the airplane instruction to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others: if you do not take care of yourself, you cannot effectively help anyone else. A boundary is not a punishment or an ultimatum. It is a clear statement of what you will and will not do.
Examples of healthy boundaries:
The pattern is the same in each: you offer real help toward recovery, and you decline to fund or shelter the addiction.
Four steps you can take today, without a full plan in place.
Take a moment to answer these questions honestly.
There are no right or wrong answers.
This assessment is not a medical diagnosis, but it can help you determine whether alcohol may be having a greater impact on your life than you realize.
In the past 12 months…
Developed by Patrick Conod, LCSW, and Cari Lawyer, CATC I, on behalf of the Changes Treatment Center Clinical Leadership Team.
A Self-Assessment for Family Members and Friends
Watching someone you love change because of alcohol can be confusing and heartbreaking. You may find yourself questioning what you’re seeing, wondering if you’re overreacting, or hoping things will get better on their own.
This assessment is designed to help you reflect on the behaviors you’ve noticed. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it may help you determine whether it’s time to seek guidance or support.
In the past 12 months…
Developed by Patrick Conod, LCSW, and Cari Lawyer, CATC I, on behalf of the Changes Treatment Center Clinical Leadership Team.
When we are struggling with deep stress, anxious thoughts, or a low mood, it is incredibly natural to look for immediate relief. Sometimes, we turn to alcohol or other substances just to quiet our minds, get some sleep, or feel normal for a night.
This short self-assessment is designed to help you pause and look at how these two parts of your life might be influencing each other. It is entirely anonymous and takes less than two minutes.
It’s common for habits to slowly shift over time, especially during stressful seasons. Often, we find ourselves using a substance to cope, unwind, or get through the day, only to realize it is starting to take up more space in our routine, thoughts, or relationships than we’d like.
This quick, 10-question check-in is a quiet space to reflect honestly on how your use is impacting your life. It is entirely anonymous, completely free of clinical judgment, and takes less than two minutes.
We all experience days when we feel down, exhausted, or just completely unmotivated. But when those heavy feelings start lingering, it can be hard to tell if you’re just going through a rough patch or if it’s something more.
This quick, confidential check-in is designed to help you pause and reflect on how you’ve actually been feeling lately. It is completely anonymous, entirely non-judgmental, and takes less than two minutes.
Is your evening glass of wine a harmless habit, or is it starting to catch up with you? It’s not always easy to tell where “social drinking” ends and “too much” begins.
Take this quick, 2-minute quiz to check in on your relationship with alcohol and get clear, personalized insights.
