Does this sound familiar? As a parent of a child struggling with addiction, you may have been told to use tough love and set strict rules to help them recover. However, this approach can often lead to feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness as you watch your child continue to struggle or get worse. It's time to discover a more effective and compassionate approach to supporting your child in their recovery journey. Join us as we explore Kathleen Cochran's journey of navigating her child's addiction. Find out how her maternal instincts led her to embrace harm reduction principles. Kathl ..read more

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Lara Okoloko and Heather discuss the delicate balance of influence and autonomy in parent-child relationships, particularly in the context of addiction. Lara empathizes with parents caught in the bind of being blamed for the negative aspects of enabling without receiving any credit for the positive influence they may have. She shares personal insights, reflecting on the power dynamics and responsibilities that come with being a helper, the importance of respect and autonomy in relationships, and the need for a balanced approach to supporting loved ones with subs ..read more

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. It incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself. Harm reduction is critical to keeping people who use drugs alive and as healthy as possible.  Some of the topics discussed in this episode: The 8 principles of harm reduction Examples of harm reduction strategies for family members How harm reduction helps with stigma Bo ..read more

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Lara Okoloko and Heather discuss the delicate balance of influence and autonomy in parent-child relationships, particularly in the context of addiction. Lara empathizes with parents caught in the bind of being blamed for the negative aspects of enabling without receiving any credit for the positive influence they may have. She shares personal insights, reflecting on the power dynamics and responsibilities that come with being a helper, the importance of respect and autonomy in relationships, and the need for a balanced approach to supporting loved ones with subs ..read more

Do you want regret free interactions and a stronger connection with your child? The art of authentic communication takes you from resentment to connection. You can find out how to achieve this result while taking care of yourself. This podcast episode takes an emotional turn, as the host shares her journey of self-awareness and vulnerability. The episode doesn't just offer valuable advice for parents; it's a deeply personal exploration of the nuance of connection. In this episode, you will: Learn how nurturing personal needs cultivates self-awareness and helps us deal with discomfort without ..read more

Your Questions Answered. A few months back, Heather reached out to her Facebook group to inquire about their burning questions on eating disorders. Why? Because navigating a child's struggle with both substance use and an eating disorder can feel like playing an endless game of whack-a-mole. Just as you address one issue, another one seems to surface. Eating disorders are often as misunderstood as substance use, which is why Heather has been on the lookout for the perfect expert to address your concerns. Our guest, Alice Baker, is a seasoned professional in the field of eating disorders and is ..read more

Do you want regret free interactions and a stronger connection with your child? The art of authentic communication takes you from resentment to connection. You can find out how to achieve this result while taking care of yourself. This podcast episode takes an emotional turn, as the host shares her journey of self-awareness and vulnerability. The episode doesn't just offer valuable advice for parents; it's a deeply personal exploration of the nuance of connection. In this episode, you will: Learn how nurturing personal needs cultivates self-awareness and helps us deal with discomfort without ..read more

Heather talks about the stages of change model. Making major changes that last concerning substance use is not easy for our kids. Knowing and understanding the stage of change your child is in will help you know what to do to support them and remove barriers to make it easier for them to move to the next stage.   3 things you’ll learn from the episode: The 6 stages of change What happens in each stage Strategies for motivating change and offering support at each stage Episodes to Listen to next: 1. Episode #11 Boundaries 2. Episode #24 Mastering Your Response To Your Child’s Addiction 3 ..read more

The pain of feeling disconnected from your child can be overwhelming, but there are powerful ways to shift your approach and create the deep, meaningful connection you desire. Empathy, compassion, and effective communication are at the root of human connection. They’re also a critical component of shaping your experience of your child’s addiction. When you access painful memories with feelings of guilt, blame, and shame you block connection because that creates cycles of defensive behaviors, avoidance, negative self-perception, and emotional withdrawal. Every time you access a memory you disto ..read more

Does this sound familiar? As a parent of a child struggling with addiction, you may have been told to use tough love and set strict rules to help them recover. However, this approach can often lead to feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness as you watch your child continue to struggle or get worse. It's time to discover a more effective and compassionate approach to supporting your child in their recovery journey. Join us as we explore Kathleen Cochran's journey of navigating her child's addiction. Find out how her maternal instincts led her to embrace harm reduction principles. Kathl ..read more