Discover NAMI Family-to-Family, a free, educational program offered by NAMI Westside Los Angeles, designed for families, partners, and friends of individuals with mental illness.
Led by trained family members who understand your challenges, this course covers essential topics like understanding diagnoses, improving communication, and developing coping skills. It’s not just about gaining knowledge; it’s about building a supportive community with others who share similar experiences, providing both strength and understanding.
Family-to-Family Class Registration
Class Participants
The class is offered to those with family members or loved ones living with mental health conditions, including:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Dual Diagnosis
- Major Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Class Format
In this weekly class, participants learn about brain conditions, medication, medication adherence, stress reduction, empathy for their loved ones, setting boundaries, caring for themselves, communication and problem-solving skills, therapeutic resources, and advocacy. NAMI Family-to-Family classes are taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and include presentations, discussion and interactive exercises. The Family-to-Family class is for family members, significant others and close friends of those who are living with mental health conditions, including:
- An introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family to the mental health condition, including crisis, shock, denial, grief, and acceptance.
- Insights into understanding the lived experience of a person living with a mental health condition, including learning to separate the family member you love from the illness that alters their behavior and abilities.
- Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders.
- Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the most effective, evidence-based treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental health conditions in children and adolescents.
- Workshops on problem-solving, listening, and communication skills.
- Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in handling their loved ones’ challenging behaviors.
- Exposure to personal record-keeping systems that have proven to be effective for family members in their interactions with the school and healthcare systems.
- Information on planning for crisis management and relapse.
- Information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community to build a community of support for the family member.
- Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the family member and their loved one.
Goals of the NAMI Family-to-Family Class
- To give the family members the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their loved ones and themselves.
- To help the family member cope with the impact that mental health conditions have on the loved one and entire family.
- To provide tools for the family member to use, even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for their family.
Using Zoom for Our Virtual Classes
Family-to-Family Classes Registration
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