In this episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice and Katie open with a heartfelt discussion on how to grieve someone who is still alive—a parent, partner, or child who is emotionally or physically distant. Together, they explore the concept of ambiguous loss and what it means to hold space for both love and disappointment simultaneously.

About halfway through, the conversation takes a raw, insightful turn. Katie challenges the idea that calling addiction a “family disease” can sometimes shift too much ownership away from the addict, reminding listeners that addiction is inherently selfish—and recovery requires facing that truth. She also makes a powerful point: when a parent feels offended by a child’s boundary, that reaction can be a form of selfishness, too.

Janice and Katie unpack how parents in recovery can respond differently and close the episode with a promise of a Part 2, where they’ll share practical ways parents can reconnect and show up differently after years of pain and distance.