When someone resists mental health treatment, the whole family suffers. Written by clinicians and introducing the innovative family well-being approach (FWBA), this essential guide provides validation and doable strategies for anyone who feels trapped by a family member or loved one suffering from mental illness. Using the practical skills outlined in this book, readers will learn how to help their loved one while improving their own emotional well-being.

Escape the "family trap," help your loved one on the road to recovery, and take back your life.


If you have a family member who suffers from mental illness, but refuses to seek treatment, you may feel like you're caught in a trap. If you try making life easier for your loved one, you wind up perpetuating dependency and entitlement. If you push for treatment, you are met with resistance or outright animosity. And when you reach out to professionals for help, you are told that nothing can be done unless your family member is ready to change. So, how can you escape the "family trap?"


Written by clinicians and introducing the innovative family well-being approach (FWBA), this essential guide provides validation and doable strategies for anyone who feels trapped by a family member or loved one suffering from mental illness. Using the skills in this book, you'll learn how your responses to your loved one can worsen and even perpetuate the very problems you are trying to resolve. You'll also discover ways to promote healthy behavior in recovery avoiders, but only after the whole family is emotionally and strategically prepared to follow through successfully.


The family well-being approach outlined in this book is based on established principles of behavior change, family interaction research, and more than three decades of clinical experience. If you're feeling caught in a trap with a loved one who won't seek help-also known as a recovery avoider-this practical guide can help you find your way out, once and for all.