Understanding the BALM® Method
BALM stands for Be A Loving Mirror—a family recovery approach developed by expert Beverly Buncher. Research from SAMHSA confirms that family involvement significantly improves treatment outcomes and reduces relapse rates. BALM helps families understand addiction as a treatable brain disorder, not a moral failing, reducing shame while empowering compassionate, effective action.
Three Core Pillars of BALM®
Information: Understanding Addiction and Recovery
BALM provides evidence-based education about the neuroscience of addiction, the recovery process, co-occurring mental health conditions, and communication strategies. Since SAMHSA data indicates approximately 50% of people with substance use disorders also experience mental health conditions, BALM addresses dual diagnosis and integrated treatment approaches.
Transformation: From Reactivity to Responsiveness
Through coaching and guided practice, families learn to recognize and manage emotional responses, set healthy boundaries, practice acceptance, and develop self-compassion. When families react from calm awareness rather than anxiety, they model the emotional regulation their loved ones need in recovery.
Support: Ongoing Community and Guidance
BALM provides sustained support through weekly online group sessions, experienced coaching, continuous learning platforms, and an alumni community. Free two-hour virtual meetings allow families to connect with others who understand their experiences.
The BALM® 12 Principles
BALM is organized around 12 principles guiding families toward healthier relationships:
Stop obsessing, judging, and enabling: Learn to redirect anxious thoughts, replace criticism with understanding, and identify behaviors that unintentionally support continued substance use.
Start talking effectively, feeling inner peace, and enjoying life: Communicate in ways that encourage honest dialogue, develop practices that restore calm, and reclaim personal interests and joy.
Each principle is explored through education, reflection, and practical application.
What Makes BALM® at BriteLife Recovery Unique
Integration with Clinical Treatment: BriteLife weaves family recovery into our care model. Families benefit from coordination with their loved one's clinical team.
Trauma-Responsive Care: BALM sessions are facilitated with trauma-responsive principles, creating safe spaces for families to explore difficult emotions.
Free and Accessible: BALM is provided at no cost to families of current BriteLife clients and alumni through virtual sessions accessible from anywhere.
Multi-Location Support: Whether your loved one is at our Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or New York facility, or in New Jersey outpatient services, you access the same high-quality program.
How BALM® Transforms Families
Enhanced Understanding: When families understand addiction as a complex brain disorder, shame decreases and compassion increases.
Improved Communication: BALM teaches techniques to express concerns without triggering defensiveness, set boundaries without ultimatums, and offer support without enabling.
Restored Wellbeing: Families reclaim their own lives while remaining supportively involved in their loved one's recovery journey.
Healthier Boundaries: Families develop clarity about which behaviors they will and won't accept, learning the difference between supporting recovery and enabling.
Increased Hope: BALM provides a framework for understanding recovery as a process, helping families develop resilience during challenging periods.
Program Features
Weekly Online Group Education: Comprehensive two-hour sessions combine education, discussion, and practical skill-building, covering the BALM 12 principles with concrete tools families can implement immediately.
Individual Family Coaching: One-on-one coaching helps families navigate specific challenges and develop personalized strategies for supporting recovery.
Ongoing Resources: Continuous education about the science of addiction and recovery, effective communication, boundary-setting, self-care, relapse prevention, and long-term recovery support.
Integration with Family Therapy: BALM complements traditional family therapy sessions that address specific dynamics, heal relational wounds, and improve communication patterns.
The Science Behind Family Involvement
Research consistently demonstrates that family involvement improves addiction treatment outcomes. A study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found that family therapy approaches significantly improve treatment retention and reduce substance use. According to NIDA, behavioral therapies involving family members are among the most effective treatments for substance use disorders.
Who Benefits from BALM®
BALM serves families of individuals currently in treatment, BriteLife alumni, people in active use, families in long-term recovery, and anyone who cares about someone struggling with addiction—parents, partners, siblings, adult children, and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BALM® Family Recovery Program?
BALM® is an evidence-informed education and coaching system for families affected by a loved one's substance use disorder. It focuses on Information, Transformation, and Support to help families become their loved one's best chance at sustained recovery.
How does BALM® help families?
BALM helps families shift from anxious reactivity to calm responsiveness through education about addiction, skill-building in communication and boundary-setting, and ongoing coaching support. This reduces family stress and creates an environment that supports recovery.
Is BALM® only for current BriteLife clients' families?
No. The program is open to families of both current clients and alumni, providing ongoing support during the transition home and early recovery period.
How is BALM® delivered?
Through free weekly two-hour online group sessions via secure video conferencing, allowing families to participate from anywhere.
Is there a cost?
No. BALM is provided at no additional cost to families of BriteLife Recovery clients and alumni.
How does BALM® differ from Al-Anon?
While Al-Anon offers valuable peer connection, BALM provides structured education combined with professional coaching. Many families participate in both.
Can multiple family members participate?
Yes. We encourage participation from anyone significantly affected—parents, partners, siblings, adult children, and friends. Multiple family members create greater alignment in supporting recovery.
How quickly will we see improvements?
Many families notice positive changes within the first few weeks, including reduced anxiety, improved communication, and greater clarity about boundaries. Lasting transformation develops over consistent engagement.
What if my loved one isn't ready for treatment?
BALM can be beneficial even before treatment. The program helps families develop healthier relating patterns that may increase the likelihood of treatment-seeking while avoiding enabling behaviors.
How do I enroll?
Contact BriteLife Recovery admissions to learn more and get enrolled in upcoming sessions. Our team will provide session schedules and access information.
Your Family's Recovery Begins Here
Addiction may have brought disconnection and pain into your family, but recovery offers renewed connection, healthier relationships, and restored hope. The BALM Family Recovery Program provides the education, skills, and support your family needs to navigate this journey with resilience and love.
You don't have to face this alone. Join a community of families committed to healing. At BriteLife Recovery, we believe healing happens through connection. The BALM program helps families embody this principle, becoming their loved one's best chance at sustained recovery while reclaiming their own peace and wellbeing.
Contact BriteLife Recovery today to learn more about the BALM Family Recovery Program.
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Your Recovery Journey Starts With Connection
At BriteLife Recovery, we believe addiction and mental health challenges often grow from disconnection—from yourself, from others, and from a sense of purpose. Our integrated approach combines medical care, evidence-based therapy, and holistic wellness to treat not just symptoms, but the deeper experiences that led you here.
Whether you're reaching out for yourself or someone you love, our team meets you with compassion and personalized care. From medically supervised detox to residential treatment and ongoing support, we provide the structure and safety needed for real, lasting change. Recovery isn’t linear, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Connect with us today and begin reclaiming your clarity, confidence, and well-being.