When Your Kid Is Heading Down A Dark Path (with Lisa Katona Smith)
Tue Jan 27 2026
Finding out your child is heading down the path of drugs or alcohol are some of the darkest days imaginable. What do you do when the person you love the most is self-destructing?
My guest this time is Lisa Katona Smith. She’s a teacher, author, and mom who knows all about the fear of seeing a child in the grip of addiction. Fortunately for all of us, when she found the usual advice failing her, Lisa decided to find a better way.
Her book Parallel Recovery is a raw, honest, empowering read. It combines Lisa’s perspective as an educator with her up-close experience as a mom. If you’ve ever worried about how you’d show up for your kid in that situation, this is the convo for you.
Something clicked while listening?
We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/
Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-335
About Randi Rubenstein
Randi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades.
Randi’s Web and Social Links
Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/
About Lisa Katona Smith
Lisa Katona Smith, M.Ed., is a TEDx speaker, educator, and author of Parallel Recovery—a family-centered model that empowers loved ones to heal alongside someone facing mental health and substance use challenges. Known for her clarity, compassion, and systems-level insight, Lisa helps families and professionals build sustainable, connection-based recovery through consulting, training, and transformative conversations.
Lisa’s Web and Social Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parallel_recovery/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-katona-smith-985b48212/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@parallel_recoveryWebsite: lisakatonasmith.com
Resources Discussed/Links
Our 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/
Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/
More
Finding out your child is heading down the path of drugs or alcohol are some of the darkest days imaginable. What do you do when the person you love the most is self-destructing? My guest this time is Lisa Katona Smith. She’s a teacher, author, and mom who knows all about the fear of seeing a child in the grip of addiction. Fortunately for all of us, when she found the usual advice failing her, Lisa decided to find a better way. Her book Parallel Recovery is a raw, honest, empowering read. It combines Lisa’s perspective as an educator with her up-close experience as a mom. If you’ve ever worried about how you’d show up for your kid in that situation, this is the convo for you. Something clicked while listening? We’d love to talk with you if you want to dig deeper into your family’s specific situation. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing what works, it might be worth a conversation. https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/ Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-335 About Randi Rubenstein Randi Rubenstein coaches parents raising strong-willed kids. Randi searched endlessly to find the magical resource that would help her own highly sensitive, strong-willed child. (He’s now in his 20’s, healthy and happy-ish:). She’s been passionate about helping other “cycle-breaker” parents like herself for almost two decades. Randi’s Web and Social Links Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/ About Lisa Katona Smith Lisa Katona Smith, M.Ed., is a TEDx speaker, educator, and author of Parallel Recovery—a family-centered model that empowers loved ones to heal alongside someone facing mental health and substance use challenges. Known for her clarity, compassion, and systems-level insight, Lisa helps families and professionals build sustainable, connection-based recovery through consulting, training, and transformative conversations. Lisa’s Web and Social Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parallel_recovery/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-katona-smith-985b48212/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@parallel_recoveryWebsite: lisakatonasmith.com Resources Discussed/Links Our 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/ Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/