Mindful Family Recovery

04/01/2026

A year ago, I followed a quiet but persistent nudge…

I started reaching out to libraries across Connecticut asking if I could offer a free talk on the impact of addiction on families and communities.

In the photo above is Cynthia, the first librarian to say yes to bringing this conversation to Hagaman Memorial Library in East Haven CT.

Cynthia, I’m so grateful for you. 💛

Your willingness to open that door didn’t just create one event - it helped spark something much bigger…

A movement to bring family recovery out of the shadows and into the light.

After that first talk, she shared kind words about the experience and connected me with other librarians.

And one by one, more doors opened.

I spent the next several months traveling across the state, speaking in community spaces. We made sure we invited not just families impacted by addiction, but also teachers, first responders, professionals, and neighbors into the conversation.

Because I knew something early on:

If we made this only about families, most wouldn’t come.

Not because they don’t need support, but because of the stigma and shame that still surrounds addiction.

And that’s the heartbreaking part…

So many people are struggling quietly. Carrying this alone.

Not knowing where it’s safe to talk about it.

And yes… attendance was often small.

This is a hard topic.

But inside those rooms? The conversations were powerful.

People opened up. Stories were shared.

And many felt seen and heard for the first time.

That experience deepened my commitment to this work - and showed me just how much these conversations are needed.

It also showed me something important:

Traveling all across the state offering these talks at no cost, while meaningful, was not sustainable.

If this work is going to continue and reach more people, it has to be supported.

So I’m now offering these talks and trainings as part of my work.

I bring these conversations to:
• Treatment providers & healthcare teams
• Schools & educators
• Community groups & faith organizations
• Libraries & public spaces

Because the truth is…

The way we talk about addiction matters.

The language we use can either create connection, or reinforce shame and silence.

And we can’t change what we’re unwilling to talk about.

If you’re part of a community or organization that wants to bring this conversation into your space, I’d love to connect.

Visit https://mindfulfamilyrecovery.com/providers to learn more about me and my work and feel free to send me a direct message and I’ll share more details.

03/26/2026

In my work with families, I see so much energy spent trying to organize life around a loved one's problematic behavior. But there is a beautiful paradox: when you stop making your happiness contingent on their choices, you become the living model of what recovery actually looks like.

This week’s article dives into:
✅ Choosing connection while honoring your needs.
✅ Recovery from chaos and over-functioning.
✅ Finding clarity, even when things are difficult.

Read the full post here:

Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on Managing Unresolvable Conflict in Families Impacted by Addiction Note on Safety: This 3-part series explores managing difficult relationships. If you are in a relationship involving any kind of violence, or feel physically unsafe, please prioritize your immediate safety

03/25/2026

Kathleen Cochran wrote something I wish every family member and every treatment provider would read.

It's about the difference between the words people choose for themselves and the labels placed on them by others.

I work with families every day who are trying to hold space for the person they love while the world reduces them to a diagnosis. This language shift isn't semantics. It's dignity.

"Addiction may be part of someone's life story. But it is never the entirety of who they are."

Read the full piece here. 👇

https://open.substack.com/pub/momsforallpaths/p/when-a-person-becomes-the-diagnosis?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FBAYGoZyQ/

"Addict"

03/16/2026

Many families quietly put their own lives on hold while waiting for someone they love to change. I wrote about this in my latest LinkedIn newsletter article.

Part 1 of a 3-Part Series on Managing Unresolvable Conflict in Families Impacted by Addiction Note on Safety: This 3-part series explores managing difficult relationships. If you are in a relationship involving any kind of violence, or feel physically unsafe, please prioritize your immediate safety

03/02/2026

Al-Anon [a 12-Step fellowship for families impacted by a loved one's alcoholism] has been a lifeline for millions. But it's not the only path.

If "detaching with love" doesn't resonate with you, or if you're looking for more active, evidence-based strategies, SMART Recovery Family & Friends might be what you've been searching for.

What makes SMART Recovery Family & Friends different?

We explore practical skills like CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) - an approach with:

⚡️64% success rate getting loved ones into treatment
⚡️Emphasis on positive communication
⚡️Cognitive-behavioral tools you can use immediately

The focus? YOU. Your well-being. AND learning what actually works.

I facilitate free SMART Family & Friends meetings every Tuesday at 6:30 PM EST (hybrid: online + Wallingford, CT).

No judgment, no pressure to share, just evidence-based support.
Multiple pathways exist for a reason - find the one that fits you.

Go here for details https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/9014/

SMART Recovery meeting in Wallingford, Connecticut

02/02/2026

I took the No Shame Pledge. Why? Because stigma keeps people from asking for help. It keeps families suffering in silence. It keeps us pretending everything is okay when it's not.

We all know someone impacted by mental health challenges and/or substance use. Join the movement to end stigma:

👉 Sign your pledge: https://www.safeproject.us/noshame
👉 Download your certificate
👉 Share a photo with your pledge in the comments - Let's make this go viral.
👉 Share this post (and tag us)
👉 Invite your community to take the pledge

Together, we can make stigma a thing of the past.

"The only way to normalize talking about addiction and mental health challenges is to talk about addiction and mental health challenges."~Ret. Admiral James "Sandy" Winnefeld, SAFE Project Co-Founder

Take the pledge today!💙



SAFE Project

01/29/2026

From facilitating my first SMART Recovery Family & Friends meeting just weeks ago to having my article published on the SMART Recovery blog - this journey keeps reminding me why this work matters so much.

SMART Recovery is a global leader in science-based addiction recovery support, with 3,000+ meetings in 30+ countries reaching hundreds of thousands of people. Their evidence-based, secular approach is transforming how we think about recovery—for both individuals and families.

My article explores the importance of being mindful of the language we use when talking about addiction, and I'm thrilled it's now reaching SMART Recovery's international community of families seeking compassionate, practical tools for their own healing.

And if you're local to Connecticut: I'm facilitating a new SMART Recovery Family & Friends meeting!
📍 Every Tuesday, 6:30 PM
📍 TriCircle Office, 116 S. Main St., Wallingford, CT

All families impacted by a loved one's addiction are welcome. No prerequisites. No judgments. Just evidence-based support and community.

Here's a link to the article: https://smartrecovery.org/blog/the-words-we-use-why-saying-addict-helps-some-people-and-hurts-others.

01/23/2026

If words like "powerless" and "character defects" have kept you away from 12-step programs, I get it. But what if that outdated language is hiding some of the most profound wisdom available for healing?

This week's Recovery Reimagined explores what you might be missing. Whether you love, hate, or are simply curious about 12-step programs, this article is for you.

Are We Throwing Out 90 Years of Wisdom Because We Don't Like the Packaging? In last week's edition, I explored the power of "person-first language" in addiction recovery and discussed the features of SMART Recovery. the conversation has been rich and the comments are still coming in.

01/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CE3tgjxFC/

During a recent SMART Family & Friends meeting, an amazingly rich conversation errupted just as we were going over our standard meeting guidelines..

01/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CJHn47ivm/

When someone you love is struggling with addiction, well-meaning advice often points you toward detachment, ultimatums, or waiting for "rock bottom." What if there was a more effective approach - one grounded in science and compassion rather than shame and confrontation? What is SMART Recovery? SMAR

12/24/2025

Day 12: The Gift of Serenity ....
We made it. 🎉 Twelve days. Twelve truths. Twelve gifts.

Here's your final truth:
Self-care isn't selfish - it's absolutely necessary.

When you prioritize YOUR health, you're modeling what recovery looks like. You're showing everyone around you that healing is possible.

💙 The ripple effect:
When YOU heal → others see they can too
When YOU set boundaries → others learn they can too
When YOU choose peace → others realize it's possible for them too
That's what we call .... LEADERSHIP.

Today's action: Join The Serenity Circle (it's free!) for:
💙 Live yoga & meditation
💙 Judgment-free support
💙 Evidence-based education
💙 A community that GETS IT

Want in? go here to claim all 12 gifts... https://mindfulfamilyrecovery.com/days-of-family-recovery...

You've spent 12 days learning and growing. Keep going. Keep choosing peace.

Every step you take to help yourself - helps your family, your community and the world. 💪

12/22/2025

Day 11: The Hard Truth About "Rock Bottom" Today I'm sharing something that might make you uncomfortable.... and it might also save your loved one's life.

Let's talk about Harm Reduction.

If you're anything like I once was, then I know what you're thinking:
👉 "If I help them use more safely, aren't I just enabling them?"
👉 "Shouldn't I let them hit rock bottom so they'll finally get help?"
👉 "Isn't this just giving up on recovery?"

Here's the truth: Harm reduction is NOT about giving up. It's about keeping your loved one alive long enough to get better.

Because you can't recover if you're dead.

What harm reduction actually means:
Instead of asking "How do I make them stop?" it asks:
"How can I help them stay safer TODAY, even if they're still using?"

This might look like:
💙 Keeping naloxone (Narcan) at home and knowing how to use it
💙 Talking about safer choices ("Please don't use alone or drive under the influence")
💙 Staying connected while holding boundaries
💙 Encouraging medications that reduce overdose risk

Here's what the research shows:
People connected to harm reduction services are MORE likely - not less - to eventually enter treatment and reduce their use.

Harm reduction saves lives.

It reduces overdoses.

It prevents disease.

It keeps people alive long enough for recovery to become possible.

The myth that's killing people: "They need to hit rock bottom."

Rock bottom is often a grave.

Many people don't change because life becomes unbearable - they change because they feel supported and see options.

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Family Recovery and Advocacy tackles this controversial topic head-on.

I know it's hard.

I know it challenges everything you've been told about "tough love."

But if keeping your loved one alive means learning a new approach. Isn't that worth exploring?

Today's gift? A Harm Reduction Fact Sheet that explains what it is (and isn't), addresses your fears, and shows you what it can look like for your family.

You don't have to agree with everything. Just be willing to learn.

Find the link to join the 12 Days of Family Recovery and Advocacy campaign in comments

Your loved one's life is worth protecting. Today. Exactly where they are.