FAMILY RECOVERY STRATEGIST • LIVED EXPERIENCE • SINCE 2006
Your child doesn’t have to get sober for you to get your life back
You can love your child without becoming their recovery plan. Learn how to respond to the chaos without being controlled by it, set boundaries you can stand by, and stop carrying what belongs to your child.
-meet donna
What I Learned Changed How
I Loved My Son and
How I Guide Parents Today
Family Recovery Strategist • CRSW • Author • Speaker
Since 2006, I’ve worked with parents and families navigating addiction, relapse, recovery, and the messy in-between. My work combines lived experience with professional training in family recovery, boundaries, communication, and unhealthy helping.
I don’t believe parents have to abandon their child, wait for “rock bottom,” or keep rescuing them from every consequence. I show parents how to respond differently — with love, clearer boundaries, and a stronger understanding of what is theirs to carry and what is not.
When Every Decision Feels Like the Wrong One
Addiction can pull the entire family into crisis mode. You answer the phone, pay the bill, fix the problem, make the call, and try to prevent what might happen next.
Then you’re left wondering:
Am I supporting my child — or taking responsibility away from them?
How do I set a boundary without feeling cruel?
What if I say no and something bad happens?
How do I stop making every decision from fear?
These are the questions parents bring to me every day — because fear should not be deciding how you respond.
THE SWOS RE-SET METHOD™
Love Your Child Without Letting Fear, Guilt, or Chaos Make Every Decision
The SWOS Re-Set Method™ gives parents a practical framework to recognize unhealthy helping, respond differently to the chaos, and get clear about what is theirs to change — and what is not.
Understand What Is Really
Happening
Recognize the patterns that keep you stuck in fear, guilt, crisis, and reacting.
Stop Unhealthy Helping
Learn when loving support crosses the line into taking responsibility away from your child.
Boundaries You Can Stand By
Set clear boundaries that protect your peace without making your child’s recovery your responsibility.
— WHAT CHANGES
What Changes When You Stop Letting Fear Make Your Decisions For You?
When fear stops running the show, you begin making decisions from clarity instead of panic. You set boundaries you can stand by, communicate more calmly, and stop allowing your child’s addiction to control the emotional temperature of your home.
1. Understand What's Driving You
Recognize when fear, guilt, shame, or urgency is fueling unhealthy helping —
so you can respond differently.
2. Stop Taking Over Their Responsibilities
Stop carrying responsibilities that belong to your teen or adult child and give them room to take ownership of their choices.
3. Respond, Don’t React
Separate fear from fact so your decisions come from clarity instead of panic, guilt, or urgency.
4. Stop Carrying What Isn’t Yours to Carry
Separate what belongs to you from what belongs to your child — and stop carrying guilt, fear, and responsibility that were never yours.
5. Change What’s Yours to Change
Look honestly at your reactions, patterns, and choices — and change the part you can control.
6. Take Back Your Life
Stop allowing your child’s addiction to determine your peace, your choices, and the way you live.
Ready to Change How You Respond?
PARENT RE-SET SESSION
When You Don’t Know What to Do Next, Start Here.
In a private 60-minute Parent Re-Set Session, we look at what is happening in your family, where you may be stuck, and what needs to change in how you respond.
You’ll leave with:
• More clarity about what is happening in your family
• A better understanding of addiction, recovery, unhealthy helping, and the messy in-between
• Language for one difficult conversation or boundary
• A clear next step you can take immediately
Free Guide
Not Ready for a Parent Re-Set Session? Start Here.
If you’re second-guessing your boundaries, rescuing more than you want to, or reacting from fear, my free 5 Boundaries & Breakthroughs guide gives you a place to begin.
Inside, you’ll find practical boundary examples, questions to consider before stepping in, and simple ways to respond with more clarity instead of fear.
- Ways to Work With Donna -
Every family is different.
Begin where it feels right.
Whether you need clarity around one difficult decision or ongoing tools for healthier family recovery, there is a place to begin
Parent Re-Set Session
Meet privately with Donna for a focused 60-minute session to look at what is happening in your family, where you may be stuck, and what needs to change in how you respond.
Best for: Parents who need clarity around a difficult decision, boundary, communication issue, or family situation.
Workshops & Courses
Learn practical tools for boundaries, communication, unhealthy helping, accountability, and family recovery in a guided educational setting.
Best for: Parents who want structured learning and tools they can use over time.
Books & Journals
Donna’s books provide parents with practical guidance, real stories, daily encouragement, and reflective exercises for navigating addiction in the family.
Best for: Parents who want practical support they can return to again and again.
Free Community Support
Join a private community of parents who understand the fear, hope, and complexity of loving a teen or adult child through addiction.
Best for: Parents who want connection, shared understanding, and a reminder that they are not alone.
— THE LIBRARY
Books for parents and families facing addiction.
Donna’s books are written for parents and family members navigating addiction, recovery, relapse, and the messy in-between. Each one offers a different way to understand what is happening, reflect on your own responses, and begin making healthier choices.
Sharing Without Shame
A heartfelt guide for parents and families who have someone struggling with addiction. Real stories, education, coping tools, and reassurance that you are not alone.
Peeling The Onion
A deeper dive to uncover the layers that keep parents stuck in pain, guilt, fear, and unhealthy patterns. Begin the process of healing and self-discovery.
Just for Today
A daily reflections book with 365 days of encouragement, wisdom, and hope for parents living through the emotional rollercoaster of addiction.
Healing Without Shame Journal
A guided journal designed to help you identify emotions, recognize patterns, work through old wounds, and build greater self-awareness.
— REAL WORDS FROM PARENTS —
What Parents Say After Working With Me
Donna helped me find the right tools to communicate with my son in ways that I couldn't before and you feel heard when you talk with her. She helps you find ways to get through the tough times. As parents we struggle to find boundaries with our love ones Donna helped me to still be there for my son but also to take care of myself. She is a true blessing with her knowledge,compassion and beautiful heart.
— Jenn D.
I participated in months of meetings with Sharing With Out Shame.
These meetings were a beacon of hope and light for me, during one of the most horrific and difficult times of my life.
Our son made it to the other of his his addiction….and is living a healthy sober life.
Thank you Donna for all your love , respect, kindness, support and education.
I will never forget all the moments shared.
Bless us All for being present for one another
— Vicky B.
Donna was a Godsend when I was trying to cope with my daughter’s addiction. She was a place/group I could go to in order to get support and help me to love her with detachment and to be able to take care of myself instead of losing myself during that time. I would recommend connecting with her if you are struggling with a loved one’s addiction.
— Patty W.
Donna helped me 10 years ago when my son first became addicted to heroin. Her groups were so empowering making me feel that I was not alone navigating something I really had never dealt with before. Fast forward to today...my son is now in recovery (although shaky), and living back at home after a rocky decade in and out of treatment, sober houses and being homeless. Our family dynamics were way off, I forgot how to take care of myself and was so tired of giving in because it was easier than fighting. But we all were. My husband was on the brink of leaving. My son felt like we hated him and not one of felt like we were heard. I called Donna and she was the support I needed. Her experience is so relatable and helped so much. She really cares. She empowered me to think about what I wanted and encouraged me to stop the enabling and that I didnt need to fix anything. She came up with an agreement I had remembered all those years ago. Now that my son is 30 and an adult we felt it was best to talk through the points to let him know we were hurting but serious. It was the magic catalyst that broke that awful silence barrier that was crippling us. All of us. We talked about chores, budgets, trust and mutual respect. We talked about jobs and the future. Gosh it was so unbelievable that I'm actually crying while writing this. We finally felt "heard" by each other. Trust Donna. She's one in a million. If you or your loved one needs help and firm but loving guidance reach out. She was the lifeline we all needed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Donna.
— Kimberly E.
COMMUNITY
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
The free Families Sharing Without Shame® community gives parents a private place to connect with others who understand the fear, grief, uncertainty, and decisions that come with loving someone through addiction.
You can love your child
without losing yourself.
You do not have to keep living in chaos, guilt, and fear. You can learn to set clearer boundaries, make more informed decisions, and respond with greater confidence — even when your child is not ready to change.
Practical tools and guidance for parents navigating their teen or adult child’s addiction, recovery, relapse, and the messy in-between.
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Sharing With Out Shame® is a federally registered trademark of Donna Marston.
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