When the phone call came during a family dinner on an island, the words were brief and terrifying: ‘Hi, is this John’s mom? I just want to let you know John overdosed and he’s at Northwest Hospital in the emergency room.’ Then the line went dead. What followed was 30 days that would test every
When your child is misusing substances, you might wonder why they can’t just stop. Understanding how people actually change their behavior can transform how you approach conversations and support your child through their journey. Understanding the Stages of Change Model The stages of change model came about in the late 70s by researchers James Prochaska
When your child is misusing drugs or alcohol, you’re often told there’s only one path forward: get them into treatment and demand complete abstinence. But what if there were approaches that met young people where they are, focused on reducing harm, and actually worked better for creating lasting change? In this conversation with Dee-Dee Stout,
The Sacred Work of Parenting Through Substance Misuse Parenting a child who is misusing drugs or alcohol often feels isolating. As one parent described it, “I look at what I do as sacred work, I get to intersect with you, at the most raw, most real and sometimes the most painful parts of your life.”
Parents of children struggling with substance use often don’t recognize the toll this experience takes on their own bodies. The chronic stress, hypervigilance, and fear create real physiological changes that can persist long after immediate crises pass. Ericka Thomas, a trauma informed yoga instructor and certified trauma release exercise provider, offers insight into how parents
When a teenager is struggling with substance misuse or mental health challenges, parents often feel lost about where to turn and what level of help their child truly needs. Jennifer Taylor, founder of JET Ed Consulting and Board Chair of the Therapeutic Consulting Association, provides an insider’s perspective on therapeutic educational consulting and the hard
When a child struggles with substance misuse, parents often face their crisis in silence. This episode creates a bridge between the isolated parent and the friends or family members who want to help but don’t know how. Understanding the Daily Weight Parents Carry The reality of parenting a child through substance use is far beyond
When a child struggles with substance misuse, parents often focus all their energy on helping their child while neglecting their own mental health. But as licensed mental health counselor Laura Richer explains, parents are dealing with their own significant trauma that deserves professional support. Why Parents Need Their Own Therapy Laura emphasizes the reality that
When your child is struggling with substance use or emotional challenges, the experience can feel devastating. Parents commonly report three intense feelings that dominate their daily lives: fear, complete overwhelm, and exhaustion — not just mild versions of these emotions, but crippling levels that impact every aspect of life. ‘It’s this kind of crazy panicked
When it comes to prescription medications that have spun into a full-blown crisis, Xanax stands out as particularly dangerous for adolescents and young adults. In this critical conversation, Dr. Nzinga Harrison, board certified in psychiatry and Addiction Medicine and co-founder of Eleanor Health, breaks down exactly why this benzodiazepine has become such a problem and
