Recovering Relationships

Janice Johnson Dowd and Katie Dowd Walker
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Mental Health

Recovering Relationships is about what happens to relationships when addiction enters the picture, and what it takes to heal them in recovery. Hosted by Janice Johnson Dowd and Katie Dowd Walker, the podcast combines lived experience, honest conversation, and practical insight into the challenges families and loved ones face before, during, and after addiction. We explore relationships of all kinds, including partners and spouses, parents and children, siblings, friends, and extended family. Topics include rebuilding trust, setting and respecting boundaries, communication, relapse and the fear of relapse, grief and ambiguous loss, family roles, parenting in recovery, repairing damaged relationships, and learning how to reconnect after years of hurt. Recovery changes more than the person with a substance use disorder. It changes the entire relationship system. Getting sober may be the beginning, but rebuilding connection, safety, and trust takes time. Through personal stories and real conversations, Recovering Relationships looks at recovery from both sides: the person in recovery and the people who love them. Whether you are in recovery yourself, love someone who is, grew up in a family affected by addiction, or are trying to rebuild a relationship after addiction, this podcast is for you.

  1. 1d ago

    The Dopamine Trap: Why You Can't Stop Scrolling

    Is your phone just a tool, or is it training your brain to keep reaching for the next scroll, notification, like, or hit of novelty? In this episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice Johnson Dowd explores Digital Dopamine and the psychology behind problematic technology use, compulsive phone checking, social media habits, and excessive screen time. She breaks down how dopamine, anticipation, and unpredictable rewards can create powerful habit loops that keep adults, teenagers, and children coming back to their screens. Drawing from her own experience with social media and her background in addiction and recovery, Janice looks at something deeper than screen time: Why do we reach for our phones when we’re bored, lonely, anxious, uncomfortable, or frustrated? In this episode, you’ll learn: 3:01 - Why dopamine is about motivation, learning, and anticipation - not simply pleasure 5:50 - The Emotional Connection to Technology 8:56 - The Impact on Children 11:50 - Shifting the Conversation around Technology 14:45 - Practical tips for managing Technology 18:06 – Reflections on technology This conversation isn’t about declaring technology bad or telling everyone to throw away their phones. It’s about becoming more intentional about how technology affects our brains, emotions, relationships, and ability to tolerate discomfort. Essential listening for parents, educators, behavioral health professionals, people in recovery, and anyone who wants a healthier relationship with technology. Please like and subscribe, and check out my website for more resources, a blog, and links to free downloads at https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ If you are interested in learning more about or purchasing the book, Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D11SD3PJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Social media accounts include Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/ https://www.instagram.com/janicejohnsondowd/ https://www.instagram.com/recoveringrelationshipspodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-dowd-b748b141/ #DigitalDopamine #PhoneAddiction #SocialMediaAddiction #ScreenTime #DigitalWellbeing #TeenMentalHealth #ProblematicTechnologyUse

  2. Sep 28

    Rebuilding Trust After Addiction: What Actually Works

    When addiction damages trust, rebuilding it takes more than an apology. It takes time, consistency, honesty, and actions that family members can begin to rely on again. Katie and I originally recorded this conversation a year ago, but the message feels just as important today. We’ve condensed it into this 25-minute episode focused on what it really takes to rebuild trust after addiction. We share both sides of rebuilding trust after addiction. Janice brings her perspective as a social worker, author, and mother in long-term recovery, while Katie shares what rebuilding trust looked and felt like from an adult child's perspective. Together, they talk about what trust really means, why forgiveness and trust aren't the same, and how small, consistent actions can gradually rebuild a sense of safety in relationships. You’ll hear practical strategies for rebuilding trust, including setting reasonable expectations, communicating more clearly, making meaningful apologies, respecting another person’s feelings and boundaries, and making regular deposits into what Janice calls the “trust bank.” Most importantly, this conversation reminds us that trust isn’t rebuilt through promises about what we’re going to do. It’s rebuilt by what we consistently do over time. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 02:45 – The Importance of Rebuilding Trust 06:09 – Defining Trust in Relationships 10:47 – Steps to Rebuild Trust 13:56 – Tips for Making an Apology 17:17 – Building Trust: Practical Examples 23:51 – Call to Action Janice Johnson Dowd, LMSW, is the author of Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery and brings both professional and personal experience to conversations about addiction, recovery, and family healing. Katie Dowd Walker brings the perspective of an adult child affected by addiction and shares candidly about what helped their relationship heal. Please like and subscribe, and check out my website for more resources, a blog, and links to free downloads at https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ If you are interested in learning more about or purchasing the book, Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D11SD3PJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Social media accounts include Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/ https://www.instagram.com/janicejohnsondowd/ https://www.instagram.com/recoveringrelationshipspodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-dowd-b748b141/

  3. Sep 21

    The Surprising Way to Help Someone Accept Treatment

    How do you convince someone you love to get help for addiction? The answer may be the opposite of what you think. When we’re frightened, angry, and desperate for someone to change, it’s easy to believe that if we can just make them understand how much damage they’ve caused, they’ll finally agree to treatment. But shame may actually make it harder for someone to ask for help. In this episode, Janice Johnson Dowd explores a different approach, one built on compassion, honesty, accountability, and hope. You’ll learn: Why shame may already be hiding beneath denial, anger, and defensivenessHow to address destructive behavior without attacking the personThe important difference between accountability and shameHow compassion and firm boundaries can exist at the same timeWhy hope matters when someone is considering treatmentPractical ways to make saying “yes” to help a little easierCompassion doesn’t mean ignoring the damage addiction has caused, removing consequences, or pretending everything is okay. You can tell the truth, protect yourself, and set strong boundaries while still communicating one powerful message: You are more than your addiction. You are worthy of help. And recovery is still possible. Sometimes the first step toward treatment isn’t a dramatic breakthrough. Sometimes it’s simply helping someone believe they’re worth saving—and making the next step feel possible. #AddictionRecovery #FamilyRecovery #SubstanceUseDisorder #AddictionTreatment #RecoverySupport #FamilyHealing Please like and subscribe, and check out my website for more resources, a blog, and links to free downloads at https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ If you are interested in learning more or purchasing my book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D11SD3PJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Social media accounts include Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/ https://www.instagram.com/janicejohnsondowd/ https://www.instagram.com/recoveringrelationshipspodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-dowd-b748b141/

  4. Sep 14

    After Estrangement: What Helped Us Find Our Way Back

    Healing Family Estrangement: What Helped Us ReconnectWhat does it actually take to heal a damaged parent-child relationship - and what does that process look like from the adult child’s side? In this deeply personal episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice and her adult daughter, Katie, talk openly about addiction, distance, boundaries, estrangement, and ultimately, healing. Katie brings a perspective we don’t hear often enough: an adult daughter looking back from a relationship that has healed. She shares the frustration and hurt she experienced, why some attempts at connection fell short, and how the hard conversations they had both avoided eventually became breakthroughs. Janice shares the other side: how afraid she was to ask difficult questions, how hard it was to listen without defending or explaining, and what she learned about accountability, consistency, and allowing her daughter to have her own experience of their family history. And Katie offers an important message for parents experiencing estrangement or distance from an adult child: even when she was angry and needed space, she still wanted her mom. Together, they explore: Why small attempts at connection can still matterWhat makes an apology feel sincere rather than performativeWhy “I did the best I could” doesn’t erase the hurtWhy curiosity works better than defensivenessHow difficult conversations can lead to breakthroughsWhy actions and consistency rebuild trust over timeWhat parents can do when they hope to reconnect with an adult childThey also discuss an important reality: estrangement isn't always complete no-contact. Sometimes families live in the complicated space between connection and cutoff, where love is still present, but so are hurt, boundaries, and uncertainty. This isn't about deciding who was right or assigning blame. It's about what can happen when a parent and adult child become willing to understand each other's experience. If you're a parent hoping to reconnect, or an adult child navigating love, hurt, boundaries, and the possibility of reconciliation, we hope you'll join us. What do you wish parents or adult children better understood about estrangement? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments. Please like and subscribe, and check out my website for more resources, a blog, and links to free downloads at https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ If you are interested in learning more or purchasing my book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D11SD3PJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Social media accounts include Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/ https://www.instagram.com/janicejohnsondowd/ https://www.instagram.com/recoveringrelationshipspodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-dowd-b748b141/ #FamilyEstrangement #ParentChildEstrangement #EstrangedParents #AdultChildren #MotherDaughter #FamilyHealing #Reconciliation #AddictionRecovery #HealingRelationships #RecoveringRelationships

  5. Sep 7

    Estranged From Your Adult Child? 5 Things You Need to Hear

    If you’re estranged from your adult child and wondering what you can do to begin repairing the relationship, this episode is for you. I share five things I’ve learned, personally and professionally, about family estrangement and the possibility of repair. We’ll talk about why parents and adult children can remember the same family very differently, why good intentions don’t always prevent hurt, and why listening with curiosity instead of defensiveness can be so important. We’ll also explore something that can be incredibly difficult for a parent: respecting your child’s need for space. Sometimes giving someone space isn’t giving up on the relationship—it can actually be an act of love. Most importantly, I talk about focusing on your own growth without making reconciliation the measure of whether that work was worthwhile. You can’t control whether or when your adult child comes back. But you can listen, respect boundaries, examine your own role, and work toward becoming someone with whom repair may eventually feel possible. In this episode: 00:00 Addressing Family Estrangement 01:51 Handling Fear and Giving Space Respectfully 02:20 Listening With Curiosity Instead of Defensiveness 03:17 Understanding What Your Adult Child Needs 04:16 Focusing on Your Own Growth 05:07 Patience, Healing & Moving Forward #FamilyEstrangement #AdultChildren #EstrangedParents #HealingRelationships #RecoveringRelationships Please like and subscribe, and check out my website for more resources, a blog, and links to free downloads at https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ If you are interested in learning more or purchasing my book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D11SD3PJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Social media accounts include Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_in_recovery/ https://www.instagram.com/janicejohnsondowd/ https://www.instagram.com/recoveringrelationshipspodcast/

  6. Sep 3

    Estranged From Your Child? Start Here...

    Estranged from Your Child? Start HereIf your adult child has limited contact or cut you off completely, you may be asking the same questions over and over: Why did this happen? What did I do wrong? Why won’t they talk to me? And is there anything I can do to repair our relationship? In this episode of Recovering Relationships, we take a closer look at the “why” behind parent–adult child estrangement and explore why parents and adult children can experience and remember the same family relationship very differently. Estrangement is rarely as simple as “toxic parents” versus “ungrateful children.” Family relationships are complicated. Old wounds, addiction, divorce, changing family roles, differences in values, unmet expectations, communication breakdowns, boundaries, and years of accumulated hurt can all contribute to distance between parents and their adult children. We’ll also explore an important question: What if the first step toward repairing estrangement isn’t convincing your child to come back—but becoming curious about what happened between you? That may mean listening to an experience you remember differently. Examining your own contribution without becoming consumed by shame. Respecting boundaries you don’t necessarily agree with. And learning the difference between explaining your intentions and acknowledging someone else’s pain. This episode offers an insightful starting place for parents who want to look at estrangement from a new perspective. It isn't about assigning blame or deciding who is right. And it doesn't assume reconciliation is always possible or appropriate. Instead, we begin with a different set of questions: What happened in this relationship? What might I not yet understand? What is the distance communicating? And what can I do differently now? You may not be able to control whether your adult child is ready to reconnect. But you can begin creating the conditions that give a healthier relationship the best chance of becoming possible. If you’re struggling with family estrangement, an estranged adult child, parent-child conflict, no contact, boundaries, rebuilding trust, reconciliation, family healing, addiction recovery, or relationship repair, this episode is a place to start. Chapters Intro - 0:00 Research States - 2:15 Why Does Estrangement Hppen - 4:19 What Actually Helps - 7:02 Self- Reflection - 7:44 Healing and Reconciliation - 9:12 Join Us Next Week for the "How" - 10:40 Most Important Tip - 12:08 #FamilyEstrangement #EstrangedParents #EstrangedAdultChildren #AdultChildren #NoContact #FamilyHealing #RelationshipRepair #RebuildingTrust #Boundaries #ParentChildRelationship #Reconciliation #RecoveringRelationships

  7. Aug 27

    The Brutal Truth About Relationships in Recovery

    Why can relationships actually feel harder after someone gets sober? Sobriety is supposed to make things better. But for many families, early recovery brings more conflict, more difficult conversations, and emotions that have been buried for years. That doesn’t necessarily mean recovery is failing. Sometimes, it means the real work of healing has finally begun. In this mini-episode of Recovering Relationships, Janice Johnson Dowd explores why removing alcohol or drugs doesn’t automatically repair the relationships affected by addiction, and why the person in recovery and the people who love them may be healing on very different timelines. During active addiction, families often live in survival mode. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the “fog” of addiction can hide relationship damage until sobriety beginsHow survival roles within a family can continue long after the substance is goneWhy the person in recovery and their loved ones may be operating on completely different healing timelinesWhy trust is rebuilt through hundreds of small, predictable experiences - not one apology or a sobriety dateWhy anger, grief, and fear sometimes emerge after a loved one gets soberHow accountability, curiosity, patience, consistency, and emotional honesty create the conditions for relationship repairOne of the most important shifts in recovery may be moving away from: “Why aren’t they over this yet?” and toward: “What do you need from me to begin feeling safe again?” If you’re in early or long-term recovery, or you’re a spouse, partner, parent, adult child, or family member affected by addiction - this episode offers a different way to understand the difficult relationship changes that can accompany sobriety. Connect & Learn MoreVisit my website for articles, resources, and free downloads: Janice Johnson Dowd Learn more about my book, Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery on Amazon Follow along on Instagram: Parenting in Recovery Janice Johnson Dowd Recovering Relationships Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn: Janice Johnson Dowd on LinkedIn If this episode resonates with you, follow the podcast and share it with someone navigating recovery in their own family.

  8. Aug 24

    Do I Really Need Therapy? Understanding the Benefits

    Do you really need therapy - or is therapy only for people who are struggling with a serious mental health crisis? In this episode of Recovering Relationships, Katie and I take a closer look at what therapy is really for and why counseling can be valuable even when your life isn’t falling apart. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you. It can be a place to develop greater self-awareness, recognize unhealthy patterns, strengthen relationships, improve communication, learn healthier coping skills, and better understand the experiences that have shaped the way you respond today. We also talk about the importance of finding the right therapist, what a healthy therapeutic relationship can look like, and how counseling can support personal growth, emotional healing, addiction recovery, family recovery, and healthier relationships. If you’ve ever wondered whether therapy could help you, or questioned what you’re even supposed to get out of therapy, this conversation may give you a different way to think about it. Subscribe to Recovering Relationships so you don’t miss future conversations about addiction recovery, family healing, relationships, boundaries, communication, grief, parenting, and rebuilding trust. Visit my website: https://www.janicejohnsondowd.com/ You’ll find articles, podcast resources, and a growing collection of free downloadable resources designed to support individuals and families navigating recovery, relationships, parenting, and personal growth. Learn more about my book, Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D66G562C?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback If this episode resonates with you, please consider liking, sharing, or sending it to someone who may need to hear it. #therapy #mentalhealth #relationships #recoveringrelationships

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Recovering Relationships is about what happens to relationships when addiction enters the picture, and what it takes to heal them in recovery. Hosted by Janice Johnson Dowd and Katie Dowd Walker, the podcast combines lived experience, honest conversation, and practical insight into the challenges families and loved ones face before, during, and after addiction. We explore relationships of all kinds, including partners and spouses, parents and children, siblings, friends, and extended family. Topics include rebuilding trust, setting and respecting boundaries, communication, relapse and the fear of relapse, grief and ambiguous loss, family roles, parenting in recovery, repairing damaged relationships, and learning how to reconnect after years of hurt. Recovery changes more than the person with a substance use disorder. It changes the entire relationship system. Getting sober may be the beginning, but rebuilding connection, safety, and trust takes time. Through personal stories and real conversations, Recovering Relationships looks at recovery from both sides: the person in recovery and the people who love them. Whether you are in recovery yourself, love someone who is, grew up in a family affected by addiction, or are trying to rebuild a relationship after addiction, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Janice Johnson Dowd and Katie Dowd Walker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Janice Johnson Dowd and Katie Dowd Walker
  • Show Website
    Recovering Relationships