Books

Trauma and the 12 Steps--The Workbook: Exercises and Meditations for Addiction, Trauma Recovery, and Working the 12 Steps by Jamie Marich and Stephen Dansiger

Addiction Recovery; A Family's Journey (Workbook) Diana Clark

The CRAFT 20 minute guide for parents (or partners)

Listen:

Heart of the Matter (Partnership to End Addiction - hosted by Elizabeth Vargas) 

My Child & Addiction (A Parent-to-Parent Podcast conceived and developed by three fathers whose children are struggling/ or in recovery. Joined by several other parent support group participants, their hope is that by sharing their stories other parents and family members are offered a little encouragement and heartfelt support as we all travel this most challenging journey together. You are not alone.)

Right Mind Media: Award Winning Addiction and Mental Health Podcast 

In Recovery a podcast with Dr. Nzinga Harrison

The Developmental Trauma of Relinquishment| Paul Sunderland discussion for Ollie Foundation

Fireside Adoptees Interview with David Bohl and Greg Gentry

Community and Support

Portland Recovery Community Center: A wide variety of different kinds of peer support groups for many different kinds of experiences with addiction as well as events, and family support. 

Peer Recovery Support Centers | Massachusetts

211 Maine: Connect to referrals to local support groups, recovery services, continuing care programs, and supportive services such as child care, transportation, and parenting skills development. 

Alcoholics Anonymous Maine 

Marijuana Anonymous New England

Narcotics Anonymous Maine 

Sex and Love (SLAA) Addicts New England Intergroup 

Gay and Sober Meeting Finder Maine 

Adoptees and Addiction (Online Meetings) 

Smart Recovery: an evidenced-informed recovery method grounded in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The Luckiest Club

In the Rooms (A Global Online Recovery Community)

Recovery Dharma (Global with Local Meetings) 

The Phoenix: Sober events and community  

Learn to Cope Meetings: a peer-led network that offers support, resources, education, and hope for family members and friends who have loved ones affected by substance use disorder

Al-Anon Maine: Help for Friends and Families 

Al-Anon Massachusetts: Help for Friends and Families

Adult Children of Alcoholics and (or) Dysfunctional Families 

New England CODA (Codependents Anonymous) Alliance 

Books and Essays

Adoption Unfiltered, Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents and Allies by Sara Easterly, Holden Lori and Ranyard Vliet Vander Kelsey

The Adoptee Consciousness Model Branco, S.F., Kim, J., Newton, G., Cooper-Lewter, S.K., and O’Loughlin, P.

What is Adoption Trauma? A blog by Erica Kramer MSW

Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency: A Comprehensive Guide to Promoting Understanding and Healing In Adoption, Foster Care, Kinship Families and Third Party Reproduction by Sharon Roszia, Allison Davis Maxon, Deborah N. Silverstein, MSW

Voices in Transracial Adoption: Insights from Adoptees, Parents & Professionals by Boston Post Adoption Resources 

A Practical Guide: Black Hair Care is the ultimate guide for adoptive and foster parents navigating Black hair care by Terria Roushun Epting

What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption by Melissa Guida-Richards

Code Switching: Navigating Through Two Cultures by Isaac Etter

The Voices Unheard Journal for Adult Adoptees by Lisa “LC” Coppola, LMHC

Coming Home to Self: Nancy Verrier (Author of the Primal Wound) 

In their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda 

The Adoptee’s Journey: From Loss and Trauma to Healing and Empowerment by Cam Lee Small

Telling The Truth To Your Adopted Or Foster Child  by Betsey Keefer Smalley & Jayne E. Schooler

Drained Brain What Happened When Professionals Missed my Relational Trauma and Jumped Right to an ADD Diagnosis by Lisa 'LC' Coppola | Severance Magazine

Books for Young Adoptees:

Adoptees like me Series by Dr. Chaitra Wirta- Leiker

Adoption is a Lifelong Journey by Kelly DiBenedetto, LMHC, ATR, Katie Gorczyca, M.A., Expressive Therapist and Jennifer Eckert, LICSW

Listen & Watch

Reckoning with the Primal Wound | Documentary by Rebecca Autumn Sansom

Because She’s Adopted Documentary by Krystal Parke

Separation, Trauma, and Healing in Adoption with Dr. Gordon Neufeld | Adoption Unfiltered Podcast/ VideoCast

The Developmental Trauma of Relinquishment| Paul Sunderland interviewed by Zara Phillips | Discussion for Ollie Foundation

Paul Sunderland Talks to Adoptees About Healing From Developmental Trauma and Complex PTSD

Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach The World!  (Podcast) by April Dinwoodie

Nurtured by Nature: Adoptee Experiences | 15 minute video

Adoptees On: The Seven Insights into Adoptee Attachment with Pam Cordano MFT

Grief in Brief: Adoption Loss with Ken Barringer and Guest Lisa 'LC' Coppola

Adoptees in 3 Video Series with Lisa “LC” Coppola through Boston Post Adoption Resources 

Adoptees On with Haley Radke

Patrick in the World Podcast by Patrick Armstrong

Fireside Adoptees with Host Greg Gentry

The Baffling Behavior Show with Robyn Gobbel (parenting children with trauma)

Support and Connection

Adoptees Connect Support Groups | Founder Pamela A Karanova

Fireside Adoptees (Facebook Group and Online Meetings)

Adoptees and Addiction Support Groups

Celia Center Online Support Groups | Adoption Constellation

Adoption Mosaic | Education and Support Groups & We the Expert Series

Boston Post Adoption Resources | Support Groups for Adoptees, First or Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents

On Your Feet Foundation | Birthparent Support

Books

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Books

Who Even Am I Anymore: A Process Journal For the Adoptee, Late Discovery Adoptee, Donor Conceived, NPE, and MPE Community by Eve Sturges 

NPE* A story guide for unexpected DNA discoveries: (*a non-paternity event - when 'Dad' is not your biological father) by Leeane R. Hay

Listen & Watch

Sex, Lies and the Truth Podcast with Jodi Klugman-Rabb LMFT, LPC and Christina Bryan Fitzgibbons, Genetic Investigator

Everything’s Relative with Eve Sturges Podcast

Ted Talk: Adoption, DNA, and the impact on a concealed life with Ruth Monnig

Support and Community

Right to Know

Books

A Time to Grieve, Meditations for Healing after the Death of a Loved One by Carol Staudacher 

A Matter of Death and Life by Irvin Yalom and Marilyn Yalom

Final Gifts, Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and Communications of the Dying  by Maggie Callanan and Patrica Kelley

Modern Loss; Candid Conversations about Grief, Beginners welcome by Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner 

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron 

Listen 

Grief in Brief Podcast with Ken Barringer 

GriefCast Podcast

Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman, PhD, Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, Doug Abrams, and Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD,

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson 

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep--Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Challenging the Fantasy Bond. A Search for Personal Identity and Freedom by Robert W. Firestone

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself byNedra Glover Tawwab

How to Be the Love You Seek: Break Cycles, Find Peace, and Heal Your Relationships by Dr. Nicole LePera, Courtney Patterson, et al.

Daily Reader: The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

Listen:

Attachment Theory in Action Podcast 

Where Should We Begin? Esther Perel

Betrayal & Trauma Bonds

Books

The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships by Patrick Carnes PhD

It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People by Ramani Durvasula PhD

Moving Beyond Betrayal: The 5-Step Boundary Solution for Partners of Sex Addicts by Vicki Tidwell Palmer AKA Victoria Priya

Listen

Navigating Narcissism with Dr.  Ramani 

The Radiant Three Fold Path Podcast: Victoria Priya 

Disclaimer: Reading other people’s experiences can feel triggering: practice self-care, pause and get support, if needed. Call 988 if you are having any thoughts of hurting yourself or others.

Suggestion: Journal your thoughts on what you are reading and bring these thoughts to therapy or your support group.

Exploring problematic relationships with drinking or drug use? 

Smashed- by Koren Zailckas

Drinking-A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

 We All Fall Down by Nic Sheff 

Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata Aron

 We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Lifeby Laura McKowen

Parched- by Heather King

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcoholby Holly Whitaker 

I’m Black and I’m Sober: The Timeless Story Of A Woman’s Journey Back To Sanity by Chaney Allen

Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction by Elizabeth Vargas 

I’m Just Happy to Be Here: A Memoir of Renegade Mothering by Janelle Hanchett 

Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forgetby Sarah Hepola

Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir -by Lisa F. Smith 

After 9/11: One Girl’s Journey through Darkness to a New Beginning by Helaina Hovitz

 Damaged Goods, A Memoir by Shelley Louise

Exploring problematic patterns with sex and love? 

Getting Off: One Woman’s Journey Through Sex and Porn Addictionby Erica Garza

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Damaged Goods, A Memoir by Shelley Louise 

 Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata Aron

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma- by Stephanie Foo 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 

Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD by Allison Britz 

Coming Clean -by Kimberly Rae Miller

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

After 9/11: One Girl’s Journey through Darkness to a New Beginning- by Helaina Hovitz 

 Parched by Heather King 

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma- by Stephanie Foo

Exploring effects of Narcissistic Parenting? 

Educated by Tara Westover

 Stray- by Stephanie Danler

 And Now I Spill the Family Secrets, an Illustrated Memoir by Margaret Kimball 

Low Country -by J. Nicole Jones 

Estranged by Jessica Berger Gross

 My Inner Sky by- Mari Andrew

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma- by Stephanie Foo 

Coping with addictive behavior and or mental illness of a sibling? 

Her by Christa Paravani

Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata Aron 

Everything is Horrible and Wonderful- by Stephanie Wittels Wach

Mayhem: A Memoir by Sigrid Rousing

Coping with addictive behavior and or mental illness of a parent? 

Estranged by Jessica Berger Gross

Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller 

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Educated Tara Westover

Damaged Goods, A Memoir- by Shelley Louise

Fun Home (graphic novel/memoir) by Alison Bechdel 

Stray by Stephanie Danler

In the Shadows of the Valley by Bobi Cohn -Poverty

And Now I Spill the Family Secrets, an Illustrated Memoir- by Margaret Kimball

There was a Little Girl; the Real Story of My Mother and Me by Brooke Shield

A Common Struggle- by Patrick Kennedy - Parental alcoholism 

Low Country- by J. Nicole Jones 

Coping with addictive behavior and or mental illness of a partner? 

Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love 

by Nina Renata Aron 

Coping with addictive behavior and or mental illness of a child? 

If You Love Me; A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction- by Maureen Cavanagh Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness by Pete Earley 

Beautiful Boy by Nic Scheff

The Lost Child, A Mother’s Story -by Julie Myerson

Grieving/ Death, Divorce- On Finding New Paths

It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort 

The Year of Magical Thinkingby Joan Didion Grief

Her by Christa Paravani

Everything is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wach

Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

Depression and Suicidal Ideation 

Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depressionby Meri Nana-Ama Danquah 

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata Aron 

Anxiety 

Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction -by Elizabeth Vargas 

My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel

Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD by Allison Britz 

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo 

Coming to terms and coping with Bipolar 

Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More- by Mark Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut’s son 

Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D- by Lizzie Simon Bipolar - on Bipolar and finding self 

Body Image and Eating Disorders 

Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got a Lifeby Kelsey Miller

 Hunger- by Roxane Gay 

Drinking: A Love Story- by Caroline Knapp - on alcoholism, some content on eating disorders as well 

Shrill by Lindy West

Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher 

Sexual Assault 

Hunger by Roxane Gay

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

The River of Forgetting- by Jane Rowan 

Toxic Masculinity and Manhood 

The Tender Bar- by J.R. Moehringer 

In the Land of Men- by Adrienne Miller

The Man they Wanted me to be- by Jared Yates Sexton 

Coming to terms with and coping with psychotic experience and or schizophrenia 

The Collected Schizophrenias- by Esme Weijun Wang - on dealing with chronic mental health issues (collection of essays)

Betrayal Trauma 

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal by Jen Waite 

 My Side of the Bed; a memoir of Deceit, Denial and Discovery By Gale Harris Margherita 

A House Interrupted: A Wife's Story of Recovering from Her Husband's Sex Addiction by Maurita Cochoran 

Letters To A Sex Addict: The Journey through Grief and Betrayal Paperback by Wendy Conquest 

Coming out LGTBQ 

Fun Home (graphic novel/memoir) by Alison Bechdel 

Would You Rather? By Katie Heaney 

 Adoptee Memoirs 

Bitterroot by Susan Devan Harness

Searching for Mom by Sara Easterly

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung Transracial Adoptee 

A Chance in the World by Steve Pemberton

Somebody’s Daughter by Zara Phillips

You Don't Look Adopted by Anne Heffron 

In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories Paperback by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda

 Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate 

Surviving the White Gaze by Rebecca Carroll

Parallel Universes by David Bohl

Adoptive Parents Memoir 

The Branches we Cherish: An Open Adoption Memoir by Linda R. Sexton 

When Rain Hurts: An Adoptive Mother’s Journey with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome by Mary Greene

Birthparent Memoir 

American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser

Without a Map by Meredith Hall

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline [services for deaf/HOH]: (800)273-TALK / (800)273-8255 / Text: 741741

• 988 – Emergency, Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline

• Through These Doors (Family Crisis Services/Intimate Partner and/or Domestic Violence): (800)537-6066

• Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+ Crisis Hotline): (866)488-7386 / Text: 678678

• Blackline (BIPOC Crisis Line/Peer Support): (800)604-5841