FamilyBridgeMatt Brown
Certified interventionist and founder of FamilyBridge
Matt Brown is a certified interventionist who has spent more than 20 years helping families whose loved one is struggling with alcohol or drugs. He works with parents, spouses, siblings and grandparents before, during and after treatment, and with the interventionists, treatment centers and therapists who serve them.
Matt is also a person in long-term recovery, so he knows this road from both sides. He founded FamilyBridge to help families do what he has seen work best: stop pulling in different directions, agree on one plan, and face addiction together.
Matt is part of Freedom Interventions.
How these guides are written
Every guide is written for families, in plain words, from what Matt has seen work with real families over two decades. They describe general practices that are widely accepted in the field, like CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), and they don’t make up statistics, studies or stories. They’re general information, not medical, legal or mental health advice, and each one includes where to get emergency help.
Guides by Matt Brown
RelapseWhat to Do When Your Loved One Relapses: “He Was Doing So Well. Now What?”
Wondering what to do when your loved one relapses? Here’s how your family can stay calm, stay safe, stop blaming each other, and respond as one team.
Getting on the same page“But Mom Said Yes”: What to Do About an Addict Playing Family Members Against Each Other
Is an addict playing family members against each other in your home? Learn why it happens and how your family can answer every request with one calm voice.
Caring for your familyBurnout From Loving Someone With Addiction: “I’m Exhausted, and I Still Can’t Stop Watching”
Running on empty? Learn the signs of burnout from loving someone with addiction, why your own rest helps your loved one, and how to share the load as a family.
RelapseFamily Relapse Prevention Plan: “What Do We Do If It Happens Again?”
A family relapse prevention plan helps you spot warning signs, decide who does what, and respond with calm instead of panic. Here’s how to build yours.
CommunicationFamily Secrets and Addiction: “Please Don’t Tell Your Father”
Family secrets and addiction feed each other. Learn why loving families hide money and make excuses, and how to trade secrets for honesty without blame.
Before treatmentHow to Know When a Loved One Is Ready for Treatment: “Is This the Moment, or Am I Just Hoping?”
How to know when a loved one is ready for treatment: the windows to watch for, how to have options lined up, who should ask, and what to do if they say no.
CommunicationHow to Run a Family Meeting About Addiction When Every Conversation Turns Into a Fight
Here’s how to run a family meeting about addiction that doesn’t end in shouting: a simple weekly format with an agenda, one topic and decisions in writing.
Boundaries and agreementsHow to Set Boundaries as a Family With an Addicted Loved One — and Stop Being the Only One Holding the Line
Here’s how to set boundaries as a family with an addicted loved one: agree on if-then steps together, hold them every time, and keep love in the message.
CommunicationHow to Talk to Someone About Their Drinking Without Fighting: “Every Time I Bring It Up, It Turns Into a War”
Learn how to talk to someone about their drinking without fighting: the right time, what to say, what to avoid, and what to do if it turns into a fight.
Getting on the same pageParents Disagree About Addicted Son? How to Stop Fighting Each Other and Start Pulling Together
When parents disagree about addicted son decisions, it’s usually because both love him. Learn why it happens and how to get on the same page without a winner.
Treatment and early recoveryRebuilding Trust After Addiction as a Family: “He’s Sober. Why Can’t I Believe Him Yet?”
Rebuilding trust after addiction as a family takes steady actions, not promises. Learn how to agree on clear steps, stop constant checking and repair together.
Money and requestsShould I Give My Addicted Son Money? What to Say When He Asks for Rent, a Phone Bill or “Just This Once”
Should I give my addicted son money for rent, his phone or his car? Learn the difference between helping and rescuing, and exactly what to say when he asks.
Caring for your familySiblings of Someone With Addiction: “Does Anyone Even Notice Me?”
Siblings of someone with addiction are easy to overlook. Learn what brothers and sisters go through and how parents can include and protect them.
Treatment and early recoveryWhat Families Should Do While a Loved One Is in Rehab: “She’s Safe for Now. So What Do We Do?”
Wondering what families should do while a loved one is in rehab? Use these weeks to heal, get on the same page, and prepare together for the day they come home.
Before treatmentWhat Is the CRAFT Method for Families? “We’ve Tried Yelling. We’ve Tried Backing Off. What’s Left?”
The CRAFT method for families teaches you how to help a loved one who won’t get help, without fighting or giving up. Here’s how to use it together.
Working with professionalsWorking With an Interventionist as a Family: “Where Do We Fit In With All These Professionals?”
Working with an interventionist as a family? Learn who does what, how consent and privacy work, what to ask, and how to stay involved through each step of care.