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About Parallel Recovery: A Guide for Those Who Love Someone with Substance Use Disorder (Unabridged)

Millions struggle with Substance Use Disorder, and the chaos surrounding addiction radiates to affect their families and the people who love them. As the pain is shared, so too can recovery be walked together. Our connection with those we love is precious—it can also be the guiding light to a healthier, more peaceful life. Lisa Katona Smith is no stranger to the fear, hurt, and isolation that come with loving someone who is struggling. She never expected addiction to overwhelm her eldest son and unmoor her family. She was a teacher and an active member of a close community. But for years, their lives were marked with tears, yelling, slammed doors, and periods of estrangement. Lisa searched for answers, desperate to fix the problem. For her family, traditional models and advice felt deeply flawed and incomplete. There had to be a missing piece. In a moment of clarity and authentic vulnerability, Lisa realized that to influence change, she had to begin within. Through sharing the burden of change, Lisa rebuilt connection with her son—separate from the disorder he couldn’t control. Instead of becoming entangled in the battle, she invited him to work toward recovery alongside her. In the years since, Lisa developed Parallel Recovery®, a groundbreaking approach helping families affected by substance and alcohol use disorders reclaim their voice, their hope, and their connection. She guides families to find new ways of being through reflection, psychoeducation, acknowledgment of grief, self-compassion, and communication centered on empathy and connection. This book introduces the philosophies, research, and lived experience behind Parallel Recovery®, which is not a “step” program like traditional models, but a practical and deeply human path to healing for the whole family.