Family Program Frequently Asked Questions

The Bayside Marin Family Program features a two-day workshop that brings together several families. We work together to interrupt family cycles of loss, turmoil and illness, while increasing the likelihood of a better outcome for the client in treatment.

Workshop attendees are guided toward:

• new ways of thinking about the family and members’ roles
• deepening understanding and connection including with other families
• fostering healthier ways of relating and interacting
• reducing stress, uncertainty, and chaos in the family system

Our inten­tion is for family members who complete the workshop to describe shifts each can make to promote health and wellness for all members of the family system.

The program will be held at Bayside Marin Outpatient Offices in downtown San Rafael.  The address is 718 4^th St, San Rafael, CA.

The program is designed for family members of clients who are receiving treatment at residential or outpatient level of care within the Bayside programs. Parents (married or divorced), spouses, siblings 12 or older, and grandparents are all strongly encouraged and welcomed. The work­shop will be tailored to meet the needs of the specific group in attendance. Together we will create an intimate, carefully contained and sacred workspace. The first day and a half are attended by family members only; then we are joined by the client members on Saturday afternoon.

Common situations facing families who will benefit:

• Parents searching for more effective ways of parenting and being in contact with their troubled or stuck young adult child
• Parents trapped or held hostage by the family condition associated with addiction, mental illness, or failure to launch in an adult child
• Spouses with marriages adversely impacted by addiction or compulsion in the other or in a loved one
• Siblings who have felt invisible and lost in the background as another child in the family struggles with addiction, compulsion or long-term illness 

Family Workshop Agenda

Bayside Marin’s Northern California drug and alcohol treatment program is located in San Rafael on a beautiful secluded campus 10 miles north of San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Nestled in the hills of Marin County overlooking the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais, Bayside Marin offers a serene, healing environment. Our outpatient and administrative offices are located in the charming downtown of San Rafael, Calif.

We provide comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment for drug addiction, alcoholism, and a full range of co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and personality disorders.

Addiction rehabilitation is a highly personal experience, and the costs associated with treatment depend upon a number of issues, including the specific nature of your problem being treated, the amount of time you will need to remain in treatment and the presence of any co-occurring disorders.

Our intake advisors will be happy to work with you to develop an accurate picture of what your drug rehabilitation treatment will cost.

Yes, we work with most major insurance providers. When you speak with our intake advisors, we will also be able to assist you in determining which insurance benefits will be available for your treatment. We will walk you through the process of accessing those benefits, and can also help you with financial arrangements for private payment if necessary.

We pride ourselves on having one of the most qualified, experienced and dedicated staffs in the field of addiction and dual diagnosis treatment. Addiction specialists all work together to assure that each client receives the utmost in quality care.

Yes, Bayside Marin is licensed by the State of California Alcohol and Drug Programs and has been awarded 3 CARF Accreditations.

Yes, at Bayside Marin we specialize in identifying and treating addiction and Dual Diagnosis health disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. If a client has a prior history of psychiatric problems or is identified as having a problem, we will recommend a psychiatric evaluation with our consulting clinicians. We work closely with highly credentialed psychological, health and psychiatric professionals to assure that each condition is treated appropriately, simultaneously, and with a view to the mental, physical and spiritual needs of the individual.

Yes, we do. Our Detoxification treatment philosophy is that suffering unnecessary symptoms during withdrawal from drugs and alcohol will not improve your recovery. An important function of our Clinical Team is to provide a safe and comfortable detoxification from drugs and alcohol when indicated, using cutting-edge treatments.

We support — but do not mandate — our clients’ involvement with 12-Step programs. The Bayside Model recognizes the effectiveness of 12-Step rehab programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, but we don’t teach the 12 Steps as part of treatment. We provide information about AA and alternatives such as LifeRing and SMART Recovery with the intention of helping clients develop a sober support system that represents a philosophy and structure that will work for them.

The average length of stay at Bayside Marin’s residential program is 30 to 60 days. Due to the comprehensive nature of our drug rehabilitation program, we require a minimum commitment of 30 days. This allows each of our residents to achieve the full benefit of the therapy, support, education, structure and discharge planning. Outpatient drug treatment typically lasts at least 7½ to 10 weeks.

Our substance abuse treatment programs work with clinicians who are board certified in Addiction Medicine, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. Each client admitted to the Bayside Marin drug rehab treatment program will undergo a comprehensive health and addiction assessment by a qualified heathcare provider.

All medication determinations are made on an individual basis, and always involve the informed consent of the client. At Bayside Marin, we are experienced in using Suboxone to ease withdrawal from opiate addiction, as well as Vivitrol and other medications — but every decision regarding medication will be made by you and your clinician.

The Bayside Model of addiction recovery is a six-phase progression that moves at your pace. We expose you to a full range of therapies to determine what works best for you. Your personalized treatment plan may include the following therapies, among many others:

• Individual, Group & Family Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Art Therapy
• Psychodrama

A typical day at Bayside Marin may consist of morning check-in group, education sessions, group therapy, individual therapy, yoga, Tai Chi or Chi Gung, therapeutic massage or acupuncture, sober fun activities, a meeting at the gym with the personal trainer, a self-help support group meeting, and other therapeutic activities.

Smoking is permitted in designated areas. You will need to bring your own cigarettes (enough for the entire length of your stay) and lighters, as these items are not available at our drug and alcohol rehab facility. If you are interested in quitting smoking during treatment, we offer a nicotine cessation treatment program.

There are no phone calls or visiting during the first three days, however, afterward both calls and visiting hours are available. While you may not bring your own cell phone, phone use will be provided and allowed from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Visiting is every Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and we strongly encourage families to attend our bimonthly family program.

The following items are prohibited during your stay at Bayside Marin:

• Valuables – jewelry, cameras, etc.
• Products containing alcohol – mouthwash, perfume, cologne, perfumed lotions, aftershave, etc.
• Straight razors, razorblades, pocketknives, knitting needles, etc.
• Pornographic material
• Food, gum, candy, sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Smokeless tobacco, cigars or pipes
• Illegal substances
• Firearms and/or supplies
• Laptop computers (we have computers onsite for resident use)
• Cell phones (phone use is provided from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.)

Absolutely! Continuing care is one of the most important components of the Bayside Model. We believe that it’s relatively easy to get clean and sober, but it’s very difficult to remain clean and sober. For this reason, we have designed a treatment model that supports long-term recovery. For more information visit our Aftercare page.

We strongly encourage family involvement during treatment. Our goal is for Bayside Marin to be the last treatment program you ever need — and we realize that family support is an essential component of successful recovery.

The Bayside Marin’s Family Program meets Friday-Sunday on the first and third weekend of every month. These sessions will be informative for families and provide a forum for the necessary family work to begin. Family members will learn how to become part of the client’s relapse prevention plan and be assisted in identifying and developing healthy boundaries and recovery goals for themselves.

In addition to the Family Program, private family therapy sessions are scheduled as needed.