Addiction Can Damage Relationships — Here’s How Mountainside Can Help

The Short Version: For over 20 years, Mountainside has maintained a safe and hopeful in Connecticut and New York for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The treatment center works alongside clients and their partners and families to support them through the recovery process. Thanks to its compassionate staff and wellness services, Mountainside has distinguished itself as an ally to singles, couples, and families by helping them rebuild damaged relationships.Mountainside

was established in 1998 by a group of friends who believed that addiction treatment is most effective when it’s catered to the individual. They departed from one-size-fits-all pre-determined methodologies and created a regimen that would meet people where they’re at.

Today, Mountainside offers a combination of clinical, behavioral, and holistic therapies for adolescents and adults struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.

Mountainside currently operates five treatment centers in Connecticut and New York. Its mission is to guide people through the stages of recovery with a dynamic range of evidence-based programs.

Family Wellness Senior Clinician Bruce Dechert has been working in the addiction field since 1974, and he joined Mountainside in 2009 to develop programs that reach out to a client’s family members and offer them resources and education on the nuances of addiction recovery.

Mountainside has developed a comprehensive continuum of care for individuals and families.

Mountainside’s team provides personalized care to every single client while also running support groups for loved ones whose lives and relationships have been impacted by addiction.

Clients come to Mountainside to address their issues and start forging a path forward. It takes a lot of work to overcome the emotional and physical challenges of addiction, and having a significant other or family members by their side can make a meaningful difference.

Mountainside encourages a client’s family to get involved, stay connected, and educate themselves while their loved one is being treated. That way, a single person doesn’t have to struggle on his or her own.

“In a general sense, we’re helping people, but people are not helpless,” said Bruce. “We support them doing the work and bring a sense of positivity, hope, and encouragement. Addiction can be treated, and we are here to provide education and support during the recovery process.”

Mountainside operates under the integrative care model of treatment, which means it offers a combination of behavioral therapies, holistic treatments, and clinical programs to assist clients. Its residential campuses provide a safe space to detox and recover under the guidance of experienced clinicians.

A multidisciplinary team of professionals sits down with clients and family members to talk about prevailing issues, build a trusting relationship, and plan a personalized care regimen that will support a healthy, sober lifestyle.

“We want to engage with the whole family to see what’s happening,” Bruce explained. “That way, we can determine the kind of services they need whether it’s a detox program or outpatient services.”

A single person can enroll in treatment at Mountainside and find a network of support to help them tap into their capacity for change and growth. It takes a lot of effort and determination to embark on that journey, and Bruce told us that having significant others or family members as part of the recovery process can make a monumental difference.

Watch on

Mountainside makes a point to provide family wellness services, including weekly support groups and family counseling, that foster greater understanding and communication.

The clinicians educate family members about what addiction is, how it is treated, and what they can do to help their loved one stay on track throughout their recovery. The treatment center’s workshops and resources can be eye-opening to families that are facing serious issues and looking for serious solutions.

“It’s all about opening up the communication,” Bruce said. “One of the dynamics of addiction is isolation and a breakdown of communication. So we try to open things up and encourage family members and clients to share their perspectives and understand each other a lot more.”

Mountainside encourages clients and their families to embark on a parallel process of recovery and maintain good self-care while showing support for one another.

Addiction is a disorder that can impact anyone from young adults to retirees. It can be triggered by trauma, stress,or nothing at all. It’s a serious condition that can impact individuals and families in a multitude of ways and will not go away without deliberate and sustained effort.

The Mountainside treatment center sees people from all walks of life and helps them understand the nature of their disease and how it damages their relationships.

Mountainside fosters a friendly environment for healing and recovery.

Mountainside’s team can offer good insights on how to deal with an addiction as a single person or a family. Its supportive services can help clients take control of their lives and work toward a more healthy state of mind and body.

“Our team has a sincere interest in helping people move forward,” Bruce said. “From the receptionists to the front-line workers, we really embrace the people coming in the front door looking to change their lives.”

People find a warm and nurturing support system through the Mountainside treatment regimen. Its experienced clinicians know how to open a nonjudgmental dialogue about addiction and approach personal issues with compassionate care.

Bruce said working  in addiction treatment for 46 years has taught him that family members and treatment centers can only do so much to help a person change. At the end of the day, that person has to be motivated to stay sober and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

“It comes down to the individual to take that on,” Bruce told us. “Our services take a compassionate and empathetic approach to be with folks who are struggling, vulnerable, and truly want to change.”

Mountainside’s leadership team makes a point to keep up with trends and new developments in the medical field so that clinicians can offer cutting-edge services to incoming clients. In 2020, the team’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and new safety procedures became more important than ever.

At the onset of the coronavirus outbreak in March, Mountainside moved quickly to install hand sanitizer stations, provide face masks to staff members, and implement telemedicine practices wherever possible.

Mountainside connects singles, couples, and families on the road to recovery.

Over the last few months, the treatment center has expanded to offer more virtual support groups and online counseling sessions to its clients and their families.

Mountainside has also reached out to its alumni during the coronavirus crisis to offer a kind word and support system to break through the stress, uncertainty, and isolation that so many people are feeling. The clinicians want to ensure that Mountainside alumni stay on a positive path and face any challenges ahead with the knowledge that they’re not alone.

Looking to the future, Mountainside intends to continue hosting virtual support groups, visitations, and activities that bring people together in a safe way.

Mountainside’s ultimate goal is to put proven therapies into action and prompt an instrumental shift in how clients deal with their addiction after they have left the treatment center. Whether they’re hosting virtual support groups or giving a single person the space to detox, Mountainside staff members are ever-present and ever-positive influences in the addiction community.

“This is a tough battle,” Bruce said. “And it’s become more difficult because of Covid-19 and the isolation it has created. Isolation is the friend of addiction, and it has taken many more lives. Our role is to maintain a consistent level of client-based services that offer support when and where it’s needed.”

Mountainside provides comprehensive addiction treatment programs and support groups that motivate people to overcome their demons and make positive changes in their lives.

Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or married, you don’t have to face addiction challenges alone because the team at Mountainside is always there to offer support. This treatment center has gotten national acclaim for its impactful and science-driven wellness services, and not even a pandemic can deter Bruce and his colleagues from trying to make a difference.

“It takes a lot of courage for people to step out of that abyss of pain,” he said. “I’m so impressed with how resilient people are. They really want to see change. They don’t always know how to do it, but they’re willing to give it a shot.”