Working with Adult Children of Alcoholics
You are not alone. Your experiences matter. Your healing is possible.
Growing up in a home where alcohol shaped the emotional landscape often leaves deep, unseen wounds. Whether or not alcoholism was openly acknowledged, its impact can be far-reaching—affecting your relationships, sense of self, boundaries, and ability to trust.
At Abbey Rose Therapy, I offer a safe and compassionate space for adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs) to begin or deepen their healing. This is personal for me—not only professionally, but because I walk this path too. I understand, from the inside out, the confusion, grief, and resilience that can come from growing up in a home marked by addiction.
How I Support ACoAs in Therapy
I use a blend of Narrative Therapy, EMDR, and Humanistic Therapy to help adult children of alcoholics make sense of their past, heal old wounds, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Together, we’ll gently explore the roles and beliefs you may have carried from childhood—like always needing to keep the peace or take care of others—and work to release what no longer serves you. My approach is warm, compassionate, and grounded in the belief that healing happens when you feel safe, seen, and supported.
My Personal & Professional Approach
As someone who identifies as an adult child of an alcoholic, I bring not just clinical training—but lived experience, empathy, and deep respect for the complexity of this journey.
Therapy with me is not about judgment or labeling. It’s about making sense of your story, releasing what no longer serves you, and learning to connect more fully—with yourself and with others.
What Working Together Looks Like
Our work together will be collaborative and paced to your comfort. I won’t rush your process or expect you to “fix” anything. Instead, I’ll walk beside you with compassion and clinical skill as we untangle the past and rediscover what it means to feel safe, grounded, and free.
Common Struggles of ACoAs I Work With
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Common Struggles of ACoAs I Work With *
You may resonate with some of the following challenges:
Difficulty trusting others or setting healthy boundaries
Anxiety, hypervigilance, or a sense of "waiting for the other shoe to drop"
A tendency to people-please or avoid conflict
Shame, guilt, or confusion around your emotional needs
Overfunctioning, perfectionism, or feeling responsible for others
Trouble identifying or expressing your own needs and desires
A deep longing for connection, coupled with fear of intimacy
No matter what your story looks like, you make sense
