The Sunlight of the Spirit: Help for Families in Addiction Recovery in Pittsburgh & Southwestern Pennsylvania. 412-429-1047

Family Support Groups • Family Therapists • Grief and Bereavement Specialists • 12-Step Work Shops • Meditation Groups & Yoga
Speaker’s Bureau • Workshops & Seminars • Al-Anon Meetings • Experience • Strength • Hope • Childcare Available
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One Addicted Individual Destroys the Lives
of Many More Loved Ones: Help Those Devastated by a Family Member's Addiction

The person with the disease of addiction sucks the oxygen out of the whole family, triggering a downward spiral for all.

According to statistics, nearly 74,000 individuals were treated for chemical dependence in Pennsylvania in 2006. It is estimated that for each individual suffering from the disease of addiction, four to six people in their lives are also profoundly affected. Family members of those suffering from chemical dependency also have an average of three alcoholics or addicts in their lives. Every single family battling the disease of addiction is a prospective client of The Sunlight of the Spirit.

Families of the chemically dependent need to be educated so that they can learn new, more positive coping skills.

Chemical dependence has a profound effect on families. Once upon a time our society, and health care providers, recognized the importance of treating not just the person with chemical dependence, but the family as well. The person with the disease of addiction can suck the oxygen out of the whole family, triggering a downward spiral for all. Family members need to be educated so that they can learn new, more positive coping skills to deal with what is happening to them. The Sunlight of the Spirit provides this in a structured, yet comfortable setting.

In what has been referred to as the “Camelot period” of 1965 to 1985, a number of leading institutions pioneered the treatment of the family – usually in a five-day residential program – while the addict or alcoholic was participating in his or her own treatment. Some of the most well-known family programs existed at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sandstone Hospital, and Hazelden. However, with the advent of managed care, the focus on family treatment has diminished. In particular, there is no such program in Western Pennsylvania.

Sunlight of the Spirit teaches families that the problems of the drug addict, alcoholic, or compulsive gambler need not bring the entire family down.

Like a tornado, addiction sweeps through the entire family. The family can suffer from emotional and physical ailments such as insomnia, depression, flair-ups of temper, digestive upset, head and back aches. The spiritual life of the family is also affected, with the addicted person often becoming their “higher power.”

The family program at SOS teaches families that the problems of the addict need not bring the entire family down and it fortifies the family members with the education and skills to rebuild their lives, whether the addict recovers or not.

Healthier behavior and responses can be stimulated within the family unit when its members better understand addiction, appropriate family responses, and coping skills. SOS teaches families that the problems of the addict need not level the family structure and consume the lives of those in its path. They are educated to skillfully confront the fierce challenge of a loved one caught in the grip of addiction.

This educational and support programs for families ultimately benefit the addicted person as well.

The newly recovering addict or alcoholic comes home to a more balanced, healthy family environment if the family pursues their own recovery. When the family learns and practices new communication skills, boundaries, self-care and forgiveness and works to regain trust, both the family system and the addicted person have a far better chance of recovery.

For example, an addict completes inpatient rehabilitation and resides in a halfway house. He calls home and asks for money, casually mentioning that through unsavory characters at rehab he has learned of the limitless cash available to him by dealing drugs in Mexico. Most mothers would fall to their knees in despair at the thought, and if necessary empty their own bank account to prevent the move.

But a mother who has embraced her own recovery program at SOS would come to identify addictive behavior and manipulation. She would recognize that this exchange is likely a ploy to prey on her emotions. Instead of an immediate rescue response, the mother would be more equipped to “detach with love.” Soon the son begins to recognize that the buttons he used to push have been disconnected.

SOS springs from the founders' personal experiences with addicted family members, and their limitless commitment.

Diane E. Hurd, Executive Director, Maggie Gioffre, former Program Director, and Medical Director Elizabeth Massella, M.D. have completed their respective “professionals in residence” training at Hazelden and The Betty Ford Center. Over the past several years during extensive research and study, development of the SOS family program, business plan, and a facility search, these three women have invested $200,000 in personal funds and several thousand hours of time to make SOS a reality.

Many well known drug and alcohol treatment systems are supporting the efforts of The Sunlight of the Spirit. Hazelden and The Betty Ford Center have widely recognized and well-respected family programs. The Betty Ford Center even provided scholarships to the founders. These two internationally-known treatment systems granted SOS permission to model a program for the tri-state area similar to their highly-acclaimed family treatment programs. SOS now offers a weekend residential program of education, skill development and respite for family members of individuals with chemical dependence.

Currently, SOS has the enthusiastic support and encouragement of four rehabilitation facilities in Western Pennsylvania:

All have pledged to refer family members for treatment. In addition, SOS is fortunate to have the guidance of Robert J. Ackerman, Ph.D., Abraham Twerski, M.D., and Jerry Moe, M.A., addiction specialists. The Sunlight of the Spirit taps a wide network of mental health and addiction professionals, physicians, and clergy for referrals.

Sunlight of the Spirit needs your support to help families suffering because of alcoholism, drug addiction and compulsive gambling.

SOS is actively soliciting financial support to provide scholarships for those who are unable to pay for critical family programs. While the program fees are affordable for many clients, they are out of reach for others, especially those most in need of help because of the financial devastation caused by addiction. We do not want to have to turn away anyone who needs our help.

We want to accommodate all families, especially families financially devastated by the addiction of a member.

Currently, most insurance plans will not pay for family programs such as ours. Like Hazelden and The Betty Ford Center, SOS must become self-supporting.

The family programs at Hazelden and The Betty Ford Center are premier examples of high-caliber family programs. The Sunlight of the Spirit Family Program combines components from both programs and adds to those its own unique action-oriented emphasis.

SOS seeks both grass roots support and funding from foundations and interested corporate partners. Please help.

Yes, I want to help out. How can I donate to Sunlight of the Spirit?