What do you think?
Rate this book
Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery: How to Connect with Family and Close Friends After Active Alcoholism and Addiction--With science-based assessment tools and practices
How to heal relationships, mend rifts with loved ones, and balance the demands of sobriety with the need for family connection
An empowering guide for recovering addicts and alcoholics from an author with lived experience and professional expertise
In Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery , Janice V. Johnson Dowd shows listeners how to repair and enhance their relationships after active addiction. With personal insights and professional wisdom, Dowd—a licensed social worker in recovery—explores her own personal journey through alcoholism, offering a realistic and transformative guide.
Centered on nurturing the critical balance between the self-healing of your own sobriety journey and building bridges and connections with loved ones, Dowd’s narrative combines empathetic insights with practical tools. The book
Understanding Addiction's Exploring how addiction affects family dynamics and the individual’s role within them. Effective Strategies for opening dialogue and maintaining honest, supportive conversations. Setting Realistic Dispelling common misconceptions and establishing attainable goals in recovery and relationship rebuilding. Making A step-by-step guide to acknowledging past harms and initiating the healing process. Support Developing and maintaining a support system that encourages sobriety and personal growth. Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is a roadmap to healing and thriving in sobriety, offering hope and actionable strategies for those seeking to rebuild trust and deepen their family bonds.
An empowering guide for recovering addicts and alcoholics from an author with lived experience and professional expertise
In Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery , Janice V. Johnson Dowd shows listeners how to repair and enhance their relationships after active addiction. With personal insights and professional wisdom, Dowd—a licensed social worker in recovery—explores her own personal journey through alcoholism, offering a realistic and transformative guide.
Centered on nurturing the critical balance between the self-healing of your own sobriety journey and building bridges and connections with loved ones, Dowd’s narrative combines empathetic insights with practical tools. The book
Understanding Addiction's Exploring how addiction affects family dynamics and the individual’s role within them. Effective Strategies for opening dialogue and maintaining honest, supportive conversations. Setting Realistic Dispelling common misconceptions and establishing attainable goals in recovery and relationship rebuilding. Making A step-by-step guide to acknowledging past harms and initiating the healing process. Support Developing and maintaining a support system that encourages sobriety and personal growth. Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is a roadmap to healing and thriving in sobriety, offering hope and actionable strategies for those seeking to rebuild trust and deepen their family bonds.
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 23, 2025
Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery by Janice V. Johnson Dowd is an absolute gem—so much more than a book about addiction recovery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it to be a fantastic guide for cultivating healthy relationships and navigating crucial conversations, regardless of whether you're in recovery or not. It’s packed full of essential tools that apply to all relationships—romantic, familial, platonic, and everything in between.
What struck me most was how often I forgot I was even reading a book specifically about addiction. The lessons and insights are so universally human. And yet, it also beautifully honoured the unique nuances and challenges of addiction-related dynamics.
Reading it was like being gently guided back through memories—some painful, some tender—with an invitation to heal. Two weeks ago, I learned that my ex-partner of four years had passed away by suicide. He battled various addictions, including sex addiction throughout our relationship. This book became a sacred space for me to process some of those old wounds. It felt, strangely and beautifully, like I was spending time with his spirit—almost as if he were reading alongside me. I could feel him communicating with me, not in words, but in presence. It was moving beyond measure.
And it didn’t stop there. My ex-best friend—who is still alive, though we haven’t spoken in years—kept “showing up” as I read. She recently followed me on Instagram after seven years of silence, and though I messaged her, she hasn’t responded. That stirred up so many emotions—hope, confusion, grief. Why watch but not engage? This book didn’t give me all the answers, but it gave me something even better: the tools to offer grace, patience, and space. For her. For myself.
If you're looking for a book that will not only teach you how to repair broken relationships but also help you reflect, release, and reframe your connection with people from your past—even those who are no longer here—this is it. An absolute must-read.
What struck me most was how often I forgot I was even reading a book specifically about addiction. The lessons and insights are so universally human. And yet, it also beautifully honoured the unique nuances and challenges of addiction-related dynamics.
Reading it was like being gently guided back through memories—some painful, some tender—with an invitation to heal. Two weeks ago, I learned that my ex-partner of four years had passed away by suicide. He battled various addictions, including sex addiction throughout our relationship. This book became a sacred space for me to process some of those old wounds. It felt, strangely and beautifully, like I was spending time with his spirit—almost as if he were reading alongside me. I could feel him communicating with me, not in words, but in presence. It was moving beyond measure.
And it didn’t stop there. My ex-best friend—who is still alive, though we haven’t spoken in years—kept “showing up” as I read. She recently followed me on Instagram after seven years of silence, and though I messaged her, she hasn’t responded. That stirred up so many emotions—hope, confusion, grief. Why watch but not engage? This book didn’t give me all the answers, but it gave me something even better: the tools to offer grace, patience, and space. For her. For myself.
If you're looking for a book that will not only teach you how to repair broken relationships but also help you reflect, release, and reframe your connection with people from your past—even those who are no longer here—this is it. An absolute must-read.
February 25, 2025
I had the chance to read an advance copy of " Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery " by Janice Dowd. As a social worker with firsthand experience in addiction and her own journey as an alcoholic, the author brings valuable authenticity to her insights. I found the book's content to be quite enlightening, delving into the intricacies of addiction and its repercussions on the entire family. While aimed primarily at those with substance use disorders, it also serves as a resourceful guide for friends and family members of individuals in recovery and anyone else who is in recovery from other mental health struggles. I appreciate the author's candid approach to family reconciliation, emphasizing practical skills and tools that readers can apply in their lives. I will absolutely recommend this book to my friends who are struggling to repair their relationships with their family members.
April 12, 2025
The author takes the reader on her incredible journey through addiction, recovery, and rebuilding relationships with her family. Janice's beautifully written book is a must read for anyone on a similar path, or those seeking a sober lifestyle. It's also a wonderful resource for family or friends who are looking for guidance and practical tools to help their loved one through the many challenges of recovery, making amends, and relationship rebuilding. Her honesty and vulnerability make for a truly relatable read. Janice inspires through validation, insight, and hard earned wisdom with genuine compassion and empathy. Reading through her children's perspectives on her addiction and rebuilding their relationship with their Mom is definitely a valuable asset to the book. Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is a great read for anyone but should also be a part of all recovery programs.
February 25, 2025
Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is equal parts compassion, clinical expertise, and wisdom from someone who has walked the walk. This book is not only for the person in recovery, but also for friends and family who want to gain insight to the work of rebuilding relationships. In a sea of books about addiction, this book takes a holistic and realistic view of how to piece together and strengthen broken relationships while being mindful of one’s own recovery. The section from the perspective of her children is not to be missed, providing a glimpse into the complexities of family dynamics and the endless possibilities for healing.
April 1, 2025
Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is not only a wealth of helpful information but also a wealth of inspiration and motivation to improve ourselves and our relationships.
I was struck by not only the author's personal story but also how she was able to craft a work that included a wealth of science-based tools and assistance.
I am delighted that Janice decided to share her wealth of knowledge and wisdom with the world!
I was struck by not only the author's personal story but also how she was able to craft a work that included a wealth of science-based tools and assistance.
I am delighted that Janice decided to share her wealth of knowledge and wisdom with the world!
April 20, 2025
10/10 recommend this book as a great resource! The author combines both her educational background with her own first hand addiction story that creates a great resource for both the addict and the family of the addict. It’s provides very direct tools that can be used in recovery. Also as someone who is not as familiar with the science of addiction, I really appreciated her chapters on explaining the disease itself and the common misconceptions.
March 16, 2025
Amazing book!! It emphasizes empathy, and highlights that healing involves understanding the emotional scars from addiction, not quick fixes. It promotes a good open dialogue about pain, mistrust, and resentments, providing advice and strategies for how to address these types of issues.
July 1, 2025
"Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery" was written by Janice V. Johnson Dowd, LMSW. This book is informative, encouraging, and comforting. Being written by a former alcoholic, Johnson Dowd shares personal stories and steps she took to recovery accompanied by science-based assessment tools and practices. Not only is this book helpful for those recovering from alcohol addiction or for understanding the addiction to alcohol, it can serve as a helpful book for struggling relationships in general.
April 19, 2025
Recovery is a journey and having a tool like this book has helped me along the way. Very good read well worth the time!
April 24, 2025
As a retired Behavioral Health professional, I was deeply impressed by Janice Johnson Dowd’s ability to weave her personal experiences and clinical expertise into an outstanding resource guide for individuals in recovery, their loved ones, and supporting clinicians. Dowd’s clear, accessible writing thoughtfully explores the wide-ranging impacts of addiction, effective strategies, and a diverse array of tools to rebuild and strengthen critical relationships. The workbook-style format reinforces key concepts, fostering the skills essential for the recovery journey. I highly recommend this invaluable resource to anyone navigating or supporting the path to healing.
-Kathy E Burke, RN, BSN
-Kathy E Burke, RN, BSN
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews