This week, Dr. Mike Barnes welcomes longtime friend and tech-forward recovery expert Steve Millette, founder of Climb LLC and partner at LifeLab Studios. Together, they dive into the evolution of virtual family programming, weaving together personal anecdotes, clinical wisdom, and an inspiring look at how technology is revolutionizing support for families navigating addiction and trauma.

🚀 From their early days at CEDAR to the cutting-edge design of the Michael Barnes Family Institute app, Mike and Steve discuss:

• Why virtual doesn’t mean lesser, especially when it comes to accessibility
• How storytelling and community fuel healing (and yes, even from across state lines!)
• Why older generations are surprisingly tech-savvy when the content is life-changing
• What it means to treat family members as clients, not just support characters
• And how chronic disease models of care are reframing the recovery journey

Whether you're a family member searching for hope or a clinician curious about new models, this episode is a must-listen.

🧠 Insightful. 📲 Tech-savvy. ❤️ Heartfelt. Click play—you just might find your story in someone else’s.

In this eye-opening continuation of the conversation from Episode 1, Dr. Mike Barnes takes us beneath the surface to explore how addiction doesn’t just impact the individual—it shakes the entire family system to its core.

Drawing from years of research, clinical experience, and deeply personal stories, Dr. Barnes examines the powerful concept of secondary and systemic trauma, revealing how families often develop survival strategies that—while well-intentioned—can perpetuate dysfunction and pain.

In this episode:

• What secondary trauma looks like in families of individuals with addiction
• The emotional toll of hypervigilance, shame, guilt, and grief
• The impact of transgenerational trauma and how the past echoes into the present
• How family roles, routines, and boundaries shift—and sometimes fracture—under pressure
• Why “enabling” is often a misunderstood trauma response, not a flaw in character
• How to begin shifting from a crisis mindset toward a healing, recovery-focused lens

Dr. Barnes also shares data from real families—95% of whom described living with a loved one’s addiction as traumatizing—and offers insights into how recovery for families isn’t about returning to the old “normal.” It’s about creating a newer, healthier normal grounded in awareness, support, and resilience.

🧠 Packed with validation, truth, and hope—this episode is essential listening for anyone navigating the complexities of family recovery.

Links:

Website: Drmikebarnes.com

Book: When the Solution Becomes the Problem

Youtube: https://youtu.be/B6ItN_a11Ik

In the premiere episode of Beyond Addiction and Trauma: The Family Recovery Podcast, Dr. Mike Barnes lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of how trauma, addiction, and family dynamics intersect. Drawing on extensive clinical experience and research, Dr. Barnes offers a “101” crash course into the prevalence, complexity, and co-occurring nature of substance use disorders and trauma.

Key highlights include:

• Staggering statistics on substance use and trauma in the U.S., including the widespread familial impact.
• The disease model of addiction, as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine—highlighting its chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal nature.
• Three pathways to addiction: genetic predisposition, self-medication for other mental health disorders, and environmental normalization.
• Common co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders—and how these complicate recovery.
• The role of the family, likened to a mobile constantly adjusting to maintain balance amidst dysfunction.
• Process addictions (e.g., gambling, sex, work, food) that often accompany substance use disorders.
• Three stages of healing for individuals with SUDs: abstinence, sobriety, and full recovery, emphasizing holistic wellness.
• The emotional toll on family members, who often develop their own trauma symptoms and must engage in their own recovery process.

Dr. Barnes emphasizes that addiction is not just an individual issue—it's a systemic one that demands family-wide healing. He advocates for a shift from blame and control to understanding and supportive recovery.

Listeners are encouraged to engage via his YouTube channel, social media, or directly through email. Resources and Dr. Barnes’ book When the Solution Becomes the Problem are also available for those seeking further insight.