Understanding mental health and addiction without pressure or judgment
When someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental illness, families often feel overwhelmed, confused, and unsure where to turn. Many want information and clarity but aren’t ready for therapy, treatment decisions, or formal involvement.
Oak Forest Recovery’s Family Education Night is part of our broader approach to family support in addiction recovery, offering families a low-pressure way to learn, understand, and feel less alone.
This weekly virtual meeting provides education, perspective, and relief for families and loved ones affected by addiction or mental health challenges. It is not therapy. There are no consent forms, no clinical expectations, and no pressure to participate. The purpose is simple: help families feel more informed, grounded, and supported.
If you’re looking for a full overview of how Oak Forest supports families throughout the recovery process, visit our <a href=”/family-support/”>Family Support overview</a> page.
A clear starting point for families
Family Education Night is hosted online and open to anyone supporting a loved one with addiction or mental illness. Your loved one does not need to be in treatment, enrolled at Oak Forest, or even open to help for you to attend.
Each session focuses on practical, real-world topics such as:
- Understanding addiction and mental illness
- What treatment actually looks like
- How to navigate crises and uncertainty
- What families can and cannot control
- How to communicate more effectively
- How to take care of yourself while supporting someone else
This is an educational space designed to reduce fear and confusion, not to place responsibility on families or push decisions before you’re ready.
What this meeting is — and what it isn’t
Family Education Night is:
- Educational and supportive
- Open and accessible
- Led by a licensed mental health professional
- Designed to provide clarity and perspective
Family Education Night is not:
- Group therapy
- A sales presentation
- A requirement to speak or share
- A commitment to treatment
Many families attend simply to listen, learn, and better understand what their loved one may be experiencing.
Overview from Dr. Patrick Lockwood
[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER – FAMILY EDUCATION NIGHT OVERVIEW]
In this brief overview video, Dr. Patrick Lockwood, Chief Operating Officer at Oak Forest Recovery, explains the purpose of Family Education Night, who it’s for, and what families can expect when they attend.
The video helps answer common questions such as:
- “Is this therapy?”
- “Do I have to participate?”
- “Is this only for families in treatment?”
- “What if I don’t know where to start?”
It’s meant to help families decide whether this feels like a supportive next step — without pressure.
Meet the host: Dr. Patrick Lockwood
Family Education Night is hosted by Dr. Patrick Lockwood, Chief Operating Officer at Oak Forest Recovery and a licensed clinical psychologist.
Dr. Lockwood has worked across every level of the treatment industry and currently serves as an adjunct professor at California Lutheran University, teaching clinical skills and research analysis. He also hosts a podcast on mental health, psychology, wellness, and neuroscience, and is the author of The Fear Problem, a book exploring how fear and emotional triggers are shaped by neuroscience and evolutionary psychology.
Families often describe his approach as grounded, accessible, and clarifying — focused on understanding rather than overwhelm.
When and how to attend
When: Every Thursday at 5:00 PM (PST)
Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting
Family Education Night is held weekly online, making it accessible to families across California and the United States.
To attend, simply register using the form below. Zoom details will be sent to your email.
Register for Family Education Night
[FORM PLACEHOLDER – ZOOM REGISTRATION FORM]
Please provide your name and email address to receive Zoom access details.
There is no cost to attend. You may join with your camera on or off and participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable.
Looking for connection beyond education?
Some families find that education is the first step. Others benefit from additional connection and shared experience.
If you’re interested in meeting other families in a supportive, in-person setting, you may also want to explore our monthly <a href=”/family-support/family-support-group/”>family support group</a>, which focuses on connection, shared tools, and community.
Together, these resources form a comprehensive approach to family support in addiction recovery, allowing families to engage at the level that feels right for them.
Start with information, not pressure
Family Education Night is often where families begin. It’s a place to gather information, hear honest conversations, and start making sense of a difficult situation without being pushed into decisions before you’re ready.
If you’re feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or simply looking for clarity, we invite you to join us. Education can be a powerful first step to treatment (link to treatment page) — for you and for your loved one.