Episode Summary: In this episode, Empowering Change at Home: How Parents Can Help Their Adult Children Rise and Thrive, Dr. Barry Gregory Ed.D., M.Ed., BA breaks down why so many young adults become stuck at home—isolating in their rooms, avoiding work or school, and losing motivation—and how this pattern quietly harms the entire family. Barry explains the “reinforcement trap” that keeps everyone stuck, the impact on the young adult’s development and identity, and the emotional toll on parents and marriages.

Using proven strategies from psychology, family systems, and behavioral science, this episode offers a clear roadmap for parents to create a healthy structure, set boundaries with love, use effective contingencies, and guide their young adult toward independence and confidence. This is a hopeful, research-backed guide for any family wanting to bring change, peace, and direction back into the home.

For recovery support services or coaching, contact Barry at 561-689-5022.

How Parents and Family Members Can Use Contingency Management to Support Recovery

In this episode of Break Free From Addiction, host Barry Gregory introduces one of the most effective and research-backed tools in addiction science: Contingency Management (CM). Listeners will learn how CM uses simple, immediate rewards to reinforce positive recovery behaviors—and why it consistently outperforms willpower alone.

Barry breaks down what CM is, why it works, and how parents and family members use it to strengthen motivation, rebuild trust, and support long-term recovery. You’ll hear practical examples of how to set up a CM system at home or in aftercare settings, how to choose meaningful reinforcers, how to reinforce progress (not perfection), and how to remove reinforcement from unhealthy behaviors without shame or confrontation.

This episode offers a step-by-step guide to building a recovery-focused environment that makes healthy behavior immediately rewarding and sustainable. Whether you’re a parent, counselor, coach, or community provider, you’ll walk away with tools you can use today.

Recovery grows where reinforcement flows. This episode shows you how to make that

Disclaimer: This podcast is not medical advice, and we recommend that people consult with a licensed medical doctor and/or mental health professional with questions about their health and care.

The Break Free From Addiction Podcast is a free resource for individuals, families, and communities seeking science-based information about addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Each episode breaks down evidence-based strategies, practical tools, and real-world insights to help people understand addiction, support loved ones, and build healthier lives. Whether you’re in recovery, helping someone you care about, or working in the field, this podcast empowers you with the knowledge and hope needed to break free and stay free.

Pro Bono Speaking Engagements Available That Advocate For Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery In Our Communities.

Contact Information

Barry M. Gregory Ed.D., M.Ed., BA

Recovery Coach Trainer and Consultant

Phone: 561-685-0222

Email: ⁠barrygregory1955@gmail.com

Episode Summary: How Reinforcement Shapes Addiction and Recovery

In this episode of Break Free From Addiction, host Barry M. Gregory breaks down one of psychology’s most powerful principles—reinforcement—and explains how it shapes both addiction and enabling. Drawing from B.F. Skinner’s behaviorism, Barry explores why addicted individuals continue using, why parents (especially moms and dads) unintentionally enable, and how both sides get trapped in a cycle of negative reinforcement.

Listeners learn what Skinner would recommend today to reduce addictive behaviors: removing reinforcement for use, avoiding intermittent rescuing, allowing natural consequences, and powerfully reinforcing sober actions through contingency management and environmental changes. Barry also shares the most effective types of reinforcers for building recovery: tangible, social, privilege-based, identity-based, natural, and personalized rewards.

This episode gives families clarity, offers practical tools for breaking enabling patterns, and provides a roadmap for using reinforcement to strengthen recovery rather than addiction.