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.

What happens when trust — the foundation of every healthy relationship — gets interrupted? In this episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice and Katie explore how addiction, betrayal, and emotional neglect fracture connections within families, and what it truly takes to rebuild them.

Through honest conversation and lived experience, they unpack the difference between apologies and amends, why trust isn’t rebuilt overnight, and how “micro-repairs” can begin healing even the deepest relational wounds. Together, they discuss how recovery is not just about staying sober — it’s about restoring safety, accountability, and emotional intimacy in our closest relationships.

Whether you’re a parent in recovery, an adult child healing from family dysfunction, or simply learning to trust again after disappointment, this episode offers tools, insight, and hope for rebuilding connection — one choice at a time.

In the official first episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice and Katie discuss mental health, forgiveness, and the barriers that made reconnection difficult.

In this recording, we give an introduction into topics we may discuss in future recordings, while briefly introducing ourselves and our story.