The Kid You Can't Let Go

I will be the first to say that the work I do with kids is the most hopeful work I have ever done.  But there are times when I feel like my heart might break.  Every once in a while I come across a child who is seared in my memory in a way that is hard to let go.  

Think Of Wind

I love children's books.  In my home I have a few shelves dedicated just to them. When anyone has ever asked me what a good gift would be, I always refer them to the local bookstore. So it's a natural thing that I also am inclined to use them in groups with kids. There are so many out there. Some are just funny, some are moving, some have messages for kids and adults alike.


If you can have only one book in your arsenal to use with young children of parents with addiction, it should be Think Of Wind, by Catherine Mercury.

My First Group - Recovery in the making...

Twelve years ago I walked into my first group specifically for children of parents with addiction. I had never been in one before, but three months prior had started working in the admissions department at an addiction treatment center after a move from Maine to California.  I was approached by the director of the children's program, who had heard that I had a background working with kids. "Are you interested in seeing the program?" he asked.  I knew nothing about it, but being a child of an alcoholic myself, I was definitely intrigued.  So...

A Kid First! Letting go of labels (Part 1)

For the past twelve years I have facilitated support groups for children of alcoholics and addicts.  It is the most hopeful and inspiring work I have ever done.  I've learned from the best, had both challenging and positive experiences, and gained a great deal of knowledge about effective ways to work with kids in a group setting.  Each child that walks into my group becomes my teacher.  I am simply a guide.  I strongly believe that letting go of my own "adult" agenda and honoring where children are at in their own process helps to create an environment of hope and healing.  I also believe that the most effective work that happens with these kiddos is when we as counselors do not focus on the labels that some have already been given.  Every child who walks into my group deserves to have only one label:  KID.   They are kids first.  It is my hope that you will find some useful information on this site that will assist you in offering support and promoting resiliency in these children.  Feel free to comment, ask questions and give suggestions!

Chances Are; Children living with addiction.

Chances are you personally know, work with or interact with a child who is living in a home where a parent has an addiction to alcohol and/or drugs.  Perhaps they have been labeled as "troubled", maybe you see them at school due to acting out, or in your office at work when a parent can't determine why their behavior is out of control.  But these kids are also the quiet ones, the perfectionists, the people-pleasers. They feel frustrated and alone, afraid to talk about the challenges faced at home.