You love them.
You’re so worried about them.
And you have no idea what you’re supposed to do next.
Our CRAFT Family Support Program is designed specifically for family members and friends who want to help, but aren't sure where to start.
When someone you care about is struggling with alcohol or other substance use, there is no shortage of advice.
Set harder boundaries.
Stop enabling.
Let them hit bottom.
Convince them to get help.
Take care of yourself.
Don’t give up on them.
Meanwhile, you’re trying to figure out what any of that actually looks like in your real life.
So, What makes craft different?
CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) is a practical, non-confrontational approach for adults who are concerned about someone they love due to substance use.
Instead of trying to force someone to change, CRAFT helps you better understand what is happening, communicate more effectively, respond differently to substance use, reinforce positive changes, set meaningful boundaries, recognize opportunities to encourage help, and take care of yourself in the process.
CRAFT was designed to help families create meaningful change through the relationships they already have. Research shows it can improve family members’ own wellbeing while also making it more likely that their loved one will connect with treatment or support.
This isn't a weekend workshop - it’s a community
Changing long-standing patterns in a family takes time - and so does building the self-compassion required to give yourself and others some grace.
CRAFT is designed to give you space to learn, try new strategies in real life, come back with questions, talk through what worked and what didn’t, and keep building from there.
And just as important, you’re not doing that alone. You’ll be learning alongside other people who understand what it’s like to love someone who is struggling.
Because CRAFT isn’t just about the content.
It’s about having support, connection, and a community of people who can help you keep practicing a different way forward.
what is included?
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These aren’t lecture-style classes where you’re expected to just sit and listen. Sessions are interactive, with opportunities to ask questions, talk through real situations, reflect, practice, and learn from others in the group.
At the same time, you get to participate at your own comfort level. You’re never required to share more than you want to. The goal is to make each session useful, practical, and engaging while giving you concrete strategies you can take back into your own life.
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Your cohort gets its own private space in Circle - a home base for everything CRAFT. You’ll find worksheets, resources, session materials, prompts, reminders, and other tools all in one place, without having to keep track of handouts or dig through emails.
It’s also a place to stay connected with the people in your cohort outside of live sessions. Over time, you’re not just attending a program together - you’re getting to know other people who understand what this experience can actually be like.
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The work doesn’t stop when the live session ends. Between sessions, you’ll have readings, worksheets, reflections, and other activities designed to help you deepen what you’re learning and apply it to your own situation.
You’ll have time to work through the material at your own pace, try new strategies in real life, and come back to the group with questions, observations, and experiences to build on.
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Loving someone who is struggling with substance use can be incredibly isolating. You may feel like no one really understands what your family is dealing with - or worry that other people are judging your choices, your loved one, or how you’ve handled things.
Our cohorts are intentionally kept small so there’s room to be honest, ask questions, and build real connection with people who get it. You don’t have to explain every part of the story before someone understands why this is hard.
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Before your cohort begins, you’ll receive a physical welcome package in the mail with your CRAFT workbook, reading materials, and everything you need to get started. We’ll tuck in a few thoughtful extras too - because starting something this personal should feel a little more like being welcomed into a community and a little less like receiving homework.
You Can Love Them and Still Take Care of You
CRAFT isn’t about controlling someone else, and it isn’t about stepping away from someone you love. It’s about learning how to support them more effectively while also taking care of yourself.
You’ll learn practical ways to communicate, set healthier boundaries, respond more intentionally, reinforce positive change, and recognize when your own patterns may be making things harder for both of you.
At the same time, CRAFT helps you build a life that isn’t completely dependent on what someone else is doing. You can care deeply, stay connected, and be supportive without losing your own well-being in the process.
The goal is not to care less.
It’s to find a healthier, more effective way to care - for them and for yourself.
ready for things to be different?
Choose the cohort start date that works best for you below.
Each listing will note whether the cohort meets in person or virtually.
Space is intentionally limited to 12 families per cohort (up to two adults per family) so there’s room for meaningful conversation, questions, and connection.
A minimum of 8 registrations is required for each cohort to begin. If a cohort does not meet the minimum enrollment, we may cancel or postpone that start date. When possible, we’ll work with you to transfer your registration into another upcoming cohort that fits your schedule.
NOTE: Because space is limited and your registration reserves a spot in a small group, cohort fees are non-refundable once purchased. The exception is if At The Roots LLC cancels the cohort and we are unable to offer you a suitable alternative.
MEET the program FACILITATOR:
I’m Renee Sommer, founder and director of At The Roots and a certified CRAFT facilitator. My work has centered on peer support, recovery, overdose prevention, family support, and helping communities build more effective responses to substance use and mental health needs.
I also come to this work with lived experience from both sides of the relationship. I have been the person struggling with substance use, and I have also been the person loving and trying to support someone who was struggling. I’ve lost people I cared about to overdose, and I know how complicated love, fear, anger, hope, grief, and responsibility can become when substance use is part of the picture.
That experience shapes how I facilitate CRAFT. I’m not interested in lecturing you, judging the choices you’ve made, or pretending there is one right response for every family. My role is to help you understand the tools, figure out how they might fit in your life, and create space for honest conversation and connection with others.
I’ll guide the group, but I don’t believe all of the wisdom sits at the front of the room. The most valuable support comes from the community we build together in each cohort.
feel like you might need a Little Extra Support?
CRAFT participants can also add optional 1:1 peer support sessions alongside the group with one of our trained, professional peer staff members.
These sessions give you private time with a peer worker to talk through what’s happening in your own life, get support between group meetings, and think through how you want to apply what you’re learning. It can be especially helpful when something feels too personal for the group, a difficult situation comes up, or you simply want a little more individualized support.
1:1 sessions are completely optional and available as an add-on for registered participants.
Frequently Asked Questions
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CRAFT is for adults who are concerned about the substance use of someone they care about - a partner, child, parent, sibling, friend, or other loved one. Your loved one does not need to be in treatment, in recovery, or even interested in changing for you to participate.
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Sadly, no.
CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training. It’s a practical, evidence-based approach for people who love someone struggling with substance use.
That said, if doodling in your workbook helps you focus or you listen best while knitting, we fully support it!
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No. Our CRAFT cohort participants must be 18 or older. Each family registration allows up to two adults for the same loved one to attend live sessions.
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No. This program is designed for the people who love and support them. You’ll focus on what you can do more effectively, how to support change without losing yourself, and how to take care of your own wellbeing along the way.
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PayPal payment plans may be available for those who qualify (select Paypal at checkout to learn more).
We also encourage you to check with your local Human Services/DHS department, Public Health department, treatment or recovery organizations, employer assistance program, faith community, or other local organizations that may be willing to help cover the cost of participation.
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No. Sessions are interactive, but you’re welcome to participate at your own comfort level. You can ask questions, share your experiences, practice skills, or simply listen when that feels right.
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No. CRAFT at At The Roots LLC is an educational and supportive program, not therapy, counseling, medical care, or psychological treatment. Facilitators help you learn and apply CRAFT strategies, but the program does not replace professional clinical care when that is needed.
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No. You do not need to live in Wisconsin to participate in the virtual CRAFT cohort. Families can join from anywhere in the U.S. as long as they can attend the scheduled live sessions. If you choose the in-person cohort, sessions are held at At The Roots LLC in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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Life happens. While we encourage you to attend as consistently as possible, missing a session does not mean you can’t continue with the cohort. You’ll still have access to your workbook, reading materials, Circle community, and between-session resources to help you stay connected to the material.
don’t see the answer you need? send us a message!
Disclaimer: This program is designed as a supportive resource, not a replacement for family therapy or clinical services. If needed, we’re happy to provide a list of qualified providers in your area.
Sessions are limited to 1-2 adult family members or loved ones, as the strategies we use are intended for adults and not suitable for children. Additionally, we do not offer confrontational interventions or facilitate discussions between family members that are better addressed in a therapy setting.
If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us before scheduling.