What happens when the hopes and dreams you have for your child begin to unravel? When they make choices you don’t understand, or find themselves in trouble? Like many parents, you may try to step in and fix it. That’s exactly what today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud did when she discovered her youngest son was experimenting with drugs.
As she watched her son struggle with substance use disorder for years, going in and out of around two dozen treatment centers, Barb McAllister tried everything she could to help him find sobriety.
After years of trying everything, Barb decided to take a different approach—one she says made a meaningful difference in her relationship with her son and even with herself.
In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Barb shares her sometimes painful journey and what addiction has taught her about life and about learning to love unconditionally.
Learn more about Barb and her coaching services here.
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MEET THE GUEST
Barb McAllister
Barb McAllister is the founder of Thrive Coaching and Consulting, where she works with leaders, managers, and individuals navigating change and adversity. Before founding Thrive, she spent 26 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, finishing her career as Director of Air Quality for the Northwest. Her son’s struggle with substance use disorder drew her into a quiet ministry of walking alongside others who love someone they cannot save, and led her to write the personal essay “The Empty Chair,” a story told from the mother’s side about the inner work it takes to stay connected without losing yourself.
