Can Psychotherapy Help Adult Children of Alcoholics?

Growing up in an alcoholic household is often volatile and unpredictable. Nearly one in five adults in the United States lived in an alcoholic family growing up. Many adult children of alcoholics (ACOA) do not recognize how problems at home left them with emotional scars. It’s crucial for ACOA to realize that they are not alone. Dr. Joel Kuppersmith provides family therapy on Long Island to help ACOAs face their past and heal from these issues. 

Common Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics

Alcohol abuse not only affects the person drinking, but it also affects all of those around them. Many children of alcoholics carry significant emotional damage from their childhood into their adulthood, which can, in turn, affect how they handle stress, conflict and impact their relationships. Some traits that several ACoAs share can include:

• Lack of a caring, responsive, or supportive parent. 
• A constant need for approval. 
• Lack of a sense of identity. 
• The need to control their environment, self, and relationships. 
• Compulsivity
• Intimacy and trust issues. 
• Inability to relax. 
• Fear of abandonment. 
• Low self-esteem. 

Psychotherapy for ACoAs

The impact of growing up in an alcoholic household is considerable. Life in such environments is often characterized by a lack of trust, dysfunction, and emotional deprivation. Individual psychotherapy or family therapy on Long Island can be helpful to adult children of alcoholic adults by helping them establish trust, develop a higher sense of self-worth, and learn more about their own needs. 

Therapy can also help them form more intimate, longer-lasting relationships. Every family is different, so Dr. Kuppersmith will help outline a personalized and effective treatment to guide patients on a path to healing. Some of the crucial elements of an effective treatment can include:

• Learning the nature of addiction. 
• Developing a stronger support system. 
• Examining how an individual adapts to specific environments. 
• Bolstering the individual’s self-esteem. 

Contact Dr. Kuppersmith – Family Therapy on Long Island

Many ACoAs wish to forget the past or assume that they can let it go forever. The healing process from childhood trauma can be challenging to face but is worth the effort. While it may not be possible to change the past or those we love, healing is achievable with the proper guidance. Dr. Joel Kuppersmith specializes in family therapy on Long Island and will work with you and support you on your journey. To learn more about treatment for ACoAs, contact our office today!