The goal of developing this program was to enhance the care provided to patients and their family members during the process of treatment. The Southwest Institute for Addictive Diseases (SWIAD) is an intensive outpatient division that focuses on intervention and treatment of addictive behaviors. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) falls under the umbrella of the program and provides individual, couple, and family therapy. Individuals that have participated in the treatment program have been predominately male and Caucasian, with an age of 31 years. The objective of the first week of the family program is to introduce patients and family members to the notion of the family as a system. The goal of week two is to clarify the importance of individual and systems level change. In week three, the discussion of family structure focuses on boundaries and related concepts such as power and triangulation. The notion is supported that restructuring boundaries provides a specific way for participants to encourage individual and systems level change. Week four is the most basic of the modules, but one of the most important. It is designed to provide more effective listening and speaking skills. Week five begins with a presentation of the concept of addiction transference, and presents sources of pain as either internal or external. Week six focuses on developing and maintaining a personal recovery plan, not only for patients but for family members also. A notable disadvantage of this program is that not all participants begin at the same time. Some flexibility is necessary and topics need to be made relevant regardless of patients’ places in the recovery process. 3 figures, 20 references