Helping couples and families rebuild trust, connection, and hope
Janice V. Johnson Dowd, LMSW
Author, Speaker, Mom, Recovering Alcoholic, and Social Worker specializing in Addiction, Family Therapy, and Helping Recovering Individuals Repair Relationships with Their Loved Ones.
I lost my family during active addiction, and early sobriety brought new mistakes…
Continue to explore this site to see how consistent, small steps restored trust, respect, and a sense of safety in our family.
Scroll down to access additional conference presentations. Click the image to download the slides.
Check out My Book:
Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery
The journey of rebuilding trust after addiction or mental health challenges can feel confusing and isolating. Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery provides families with practical scripts, micro-repairs, and guidance they can use immediately.
A meaningful investment in your recovery and family—Now $16.90 (down from $20.95)
Life’s Toughest Climbs Happen Off the Trails
Whether it’s navigating sobriety, rebuilding family trust, or finding peace one step at a time on a forest path, this blog explores what it means to heal, grow, and move forward. From the chaos of addiction to the quiet wisdom of parenting and nature, you’ll discover honest stories, practical tools, and a reminder that every journey, no matter how steep, is worth the climb.
More Free Downloads
Tools for Rebuilding Trust and Family Connection
Turning Triggers into Transformation
Five Healing Phrases to Build Trust with Your Partner and Family
Tip Sheet for Parents and Professionals on the Teenage Brain
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Click the image to view and download slides from my recent and upcoming conference presentations.
My favoriter Mother - Daughter Episode
The Untapped Keg Podcast with RJ Zimmerman
Rock Bottom to Redemption
In this powerful episode, Janice Johnson Dowd, LMSW, is joined by her daughter, to share the deeply personal story of Janice’s addiction, recovery, and rebuilding their relationship. Together they speak candidly about broken trust, emotional distance, and the long road toward healing as a family. Their conversation offers an honest look at the challenges and victories of sobriety and the courage it takes for families to repair what addiction has fractured.
The holidays may be behind us, but the tools in Surviving the Season are still relevant. This eBook offers practical strategies, reflection prompts, and support for navigating stress, family relationships, and recovery year-round.
This 12-week INSTAGRAM series focuses on the everyday conversations that help children feel safe, confident, and supported as they grow
Instead of one-time “big talks” or fear-based messaging, each week offers simple, repeatable guidance parents can return to over time. Topics include boundaries, body autonomy, teasing, secrets and surprises, asking for help, online safety, and peer pressure.
These conversations aren’t about perfection or control. They’re about building trust, emotional safety, and helping children know they can speak up and come to you when something doesn’t feel right.
Recent Podcast Appearances
No Alcohol Needed Podcast
(Formerly Through the Glass Recovery Podcast)
Why Do I Feel Lonely: Finding Belonging After You Quit Alcohol
In this episode, we unpack the kind of loneliness that doesn’t go away just by being around other people. The loneliness that comes from trying to be who others expect us to be.
We share our own experiences of people-pleasing, chasing approval, and what began to shift when we started showing up more honestly, and finding connection that feels real.
The Teaching Journey’s Podcast with Dave Roberts: Rebuilding Relationships
Janice shares her personal story of substance use disorder and long-term recovery, exploring how addiction affects family relationships and the difficult work of rebuilding trust after addiction. She discusses breaking unhealthy family patterns, setting boundaries in recovery, and the importance of education, healing, and accountability in long-term sobriety.
The conversation highlights practical strategies for family healing after addiction, offering insight for both professionals and families supporting a loved one in recovery.
This episode explores addiction recovery, rebuilding trust after addiction, and practical ways families can heal and reconnect after substance use disorder.
Middle-Class- Matters
This Wasn’t the Life I Planned: Rebuilding Family After Addiction
In this episode of Middle-Class Matters, Janice joins Renae and Brooke for an honest and deeply moving conversation about addiction, loss, and the possibility of rebuilding what once felt broken.
Janice shares how growing up around addiction shaped her desire to create a different life, only to find herself facing a struggle she never expected. She opens up about the impact of addiction on her children, the pain of losing her family during active addiction, and the slow, humbling work of repair in recovery.
Drawing from her personal journey and her book Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery, Janice offers insight, practical tools, and a powerful reminder: healing is possible, trust can be rebuilt, and no story is beyond redemption.
More Podcast Appearances Listed in Menu Above
I am available to speak at Your Community Event, Professional Conference, Residential Community, 12-Step Conference, or Treatment Program.
I will be speaking or presenting workshops at the following events;
ACSW - Alabama Social Work Conference
Feb 25-27th, Orange Beach, AL
Alabama School of Alcohol and Drug Studies
March 24 - 27, University of Alabama
VA & Metro DC NASW 2026 Annual Meeting
March 26 - 28th, Newport News, VA
NASW Louisiana 2026 State Conference
March 18-20th Baton Rouge, LA
West Coast Symposium
May 29-30th Palm Springs, CA
Idaho Conference on Alcohol and Drug Dependency
June 8 - 9th Boise, Idaho
Chicago Social Work Conference
July 23rd- 24th, Naperville, Chicago
Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders
August 6 - 9th, Providence, RI
East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders
Oct 9 - 11th West Palm Beach, FL
I regularly present at professional and community conferences and am also available to speak at treatment facilities, recovery residences, and community events
Email Link in Menu
Presentation topics include;
Breaking Cycles of Generational Trauma - Parenting Skills for Recovering Parents
The Developing Teenage Brain:
Linking Neurobiology to Behavior &
Decision-Making
Trauma-Informed Relapse
Prevention: How ACEs Shape Later-Stage Recovery
Overcoming the Struggle of Family Reunification in Early Sobriety
Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue of Mental Health Professionals
Digital Dopamine: Navigating the Intersection of Tech Addiction, Substance Use, and the Hijacked Brain
The Suicide Crisis - Current Trends, Prevalence and Evidence-Based Assessment & Treatment
“Gas Station Drugs”
Seniors and S.U.D.: An Emerging Crisis
Whether you're seeking education, motivation, or information, my content is designed to provide you with an uplifting experience.
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DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes only. Any application of the material outlined in the following pages is at the reader’s discretion and is their sole responsibility. This blog does not intend to be diagnostic in any way and is not a substitute for a thorough clinical assessment and professional treatment