Leading the charge in helping those in our community struggling with substance use disorder, New Braunfels-based nonprofit RecoveryWerks! has taken its expertise beyond the counseling room and into print.

Healing Families: A Guide to Helping Families Deal with Substance Use Disorder serves as a vital resource for peer coaches and families navigating the difficult path of addiction and recovery.

Written by RecoveryWerks! staff members Eric G. Daxon and Joanne Daxon, and their colleagues Frank Janousek and Elizabeth Todd, the book delivers practical strategies and compassionate guidance for those impacted by substance use disorder.

With decades of experience—both personal and professional— they provide insight into turning frustration and despair into hope and healing. Though the book is designed primarily for peer coaches, it also serves as a valuable tool for clinicians, sponsors, and family members who seek a deeper understanding of recovery.

Addressing a gap in addiction support, Eric G. Daxon, Certified Recovery Support Specialist and founding Board President of RecoveryWerks! said that the need for this book became clear through years of working with families affected by addiction.

“There are so many self-help books and books for clinicians working in addiction, but there are very few for peer coaches working with families,” Daxon said. “We wanted to document the approach we use to help family members.”

Healing Families highlights an integral part of the RecoveryWerks! culture, offering insight into the recovery philosophy of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program while also conveying an intellectual and “heart-understanding” of recovery.

Exploring how substance use disorder impacts every member of the family and providing practical tools for healing, readers will discover effective strategies for rebuilding lives, supporting a loved one’s sobriety, and establishing peer groups to foster recovery.

“We recognize that substance use disorder affects parents, grandparents, and guardians in unique ways. This book serves as a guide to engage the whole family in the recovery process. This, in our experience, is the best way to support those we love with this disease and bring about healing,” said co-author and licensed chemical dependency counselor Joanne Daxon.

Healing Families: A Guide to Helping Families Deal with Substance Use Disorder is now available on Amazon and most major online book retailers.

In addition to the book, RecoveryWerks! will also launch a four-part training series focused on working with family members affected by substance use. Stay tuned for updates by following @recoverywerksnbtx on Instagram or @recoverywerks! on Facebook.

With a dedicated team of state-certified peer recovery support specialists, RecoveryWerks! provides counseling, peer coaching, support group meetings, sober social activities, role modeling, and accountability to help young individuals embrace a life free from the influence of mind-altering chemicals.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, visit www.recoverywerks.org or call (830) 310-2456 for support and resources.