Choosing a treatment center can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re scared, exhausted, and trying to do the “right” thing for someone you love. In this episode of The Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast, we break down how to navigate this decision with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

We start by unpacking what “the right fit” really means. It’s not just about a glossy website or a quick admission date—it’s about matching your loved one’s needs with the appropriate level of care, philosophy, and support. We talk about how to avoid panic-driven decisions and instead move toward thoughtful, informed choices.

Next, we zoom out from the crisis moment. Recovery isn’t a 30-day event; it’s a long-term process. We explore how treatment centers fit into the bigger picture of ongoing care, relapse prevention, and rebuilding a life. You’ll hear why families should think past “getting them in somewhere” and focus on what comes after discharge.

Not everyone needs or benefits from the same level of care. We break down PHP and IOP—what they are, who they’re for, and how they differ from residential treatment. We discuss how these programs support step-down care, help maintain progress, and can be powerful tools in a continuum of treatment, especially for people balancing work, school, or family responsibilities.

Here we get specific about what should be non-negotiable when choosing a program. We cover essentials like evidence-based treatment, licensed clinicians, medical oversight, individualized care plans, family involvement, and ethical marketing and billing practices. We also talk about red flags—high-pressure sales tactics, vague clinical information, or promises that sound too good to be true—and how to spot them.

We close by focusing on you—the family. Recovery isn’t just about the person entering treatment; it’s a family process. We discuss how families can participate in treatment in healthy ways, support without enabling, and get their own help through therapy, support groups, and education. You’ll learn why your healing matters just as much, and how an effective treatment center will include and support the family as part of the plan.

By the end of the episode, you’ll be better equipped to ask the right questions, recognize quality care, and choose a treatment center that supports real, sustainable recovery for your loved one—and for your family as a whole.

In this podcast, Jen announces the rebranding of her podcast from Maneely Consulting to The Recovering Family, focusing on helping families with substance abuse issues. She outlines five principles for creating unbreakable boundaries: the Exchange Principle, emphasizing equal exchanges in financial, time, and energy; the Action Principle, stressing the importance of actions over words; the Present Principle, urging focus on the here and now; the Love Principle, advocating for loving communication; and the Joy Principle, highlighting the need for self-care and joy. She also promotes her nonprofit's donation-based services and encourages listeners to visit therecoveringfamily.org for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, host Jen Maneely welcomes Katie Kocher and her mother, Barb Kocher, to share their heartfelt journey through addiction and recovery. Katie opens up about her feelings of isolation and misunderstanding during her youth, despite excelling academically and athletically. Barb reflects on her unawareness of the signs of Katie's struggles and acknowledges the effects of their strict parenting approach. As Katie's addiction worsened, it led to serious consequences, including expulsion from sports teams and a car accident. After 15 tumultuous years, Katie found hope in rehab, discovering the healing power of art therapy. Now five years clean, she and Barb discuss the importance of grace and understanding in their relationship, highlighting the joy of reconnecting and the lessons learned along the way. This insightful conversation sheds light on the complexities of addiction and the strength found in family support.

Another Reddit Story/Question. What was dating in recovery like for you?

Another Reddit Story for you. This one is AITA for refusing to forgive my drug addict BIL.

I share my perspective on how to cope with a loved one's addiction, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries.

What happens when mothers and daughters have to “adult” together? In this episode, My mom, Lynn Carnes and myself, along with another mother Christine Dickson and her daughter Lauren Martinson got together and talked about the challenges, the experiences, the memories, and some hard conversations we've experienced and how we navigated them, as well as the healing journey we've taken to mend, repair, grow, and thrive in our relationship with one another.

We did something different with this podcast and invited people to listen in LIVE. So we put together a 2 hour event to really be able to dive deep into this conversation.

Are you willing to dive into some of the things that are coming up for you in order to be the support person that your loved one needs?