For this episode of The HeArt of Recovery, NCAAR Community Coordinator, Tonia Ahern sits down with Lynda McDonald, Certified Coach with The Invitation to Change. Tonia and Lynda, both family advocates and trainers, share their lived experiences navigating the intersection of substance use, family trauma, and the criminal justice system. They reflect on the flaws of punitive recovery models and share how mandated approaches often fail to heal—and instead, leave lasting damage. Through personal storytelling, they highlight the power of compassion, connection, and communication in transforming the systems surrounding recovery.