448. “You Are Not Alone in This” | Parenting, Sobriety, and the Truth About Recovery with Sarah Benton
Jan 12, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Benton, a licensed mental health counselor, alcohol and drug counselor, and the author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic and Parents in Recovery. Sarah brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation, sharing her own journey of recovery and the clarity it gave her as a therapist, parent, and advocate. Her work has been featured in major media outlets, yet her perspective remains grounded in compassion and practicality.
Our conversation explores what it really means to build a sober life as a parent, not by simply removing substances, but by reshaping daily rhythms, boundaries, and identity. Sarah challenges the myth that recovery is a single decision rather than a lifestyle, and she speaks candidly about why honest conversations with children matter more than silence shaped by stigma. We also examine the modern pressures parents face, from digital overload to social drinking norms, and how self-awareness can interrupt cycles before they take root.
This episode is an invitation to replace shame with curiosity, and isolation with connection, for anyone questioning their relationship with substances or supporting someone who is.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“There are 23 million Americans in recovery. You are not alone.”
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Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.
Resources:
- Parents in Recovery: Navigating a Sober Family Lifestyle by Sarah Benton
- Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic by Sarah Benton
- Follow Sarah on Facebook
- Join Parents in Recovery Support Group on Facebook
- Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
- Follow Sarah on Instagram: @parentsinrecovery
- Visit her Website Benton Behavioral Health Consulting
- Waterview Behavioral Health Website
- Sarah’s Psychology Today blog (with many Holiday Sober Survival blogs)
Produced by NOVA
There is incredible potential that lies within each and every one of us to create positive change in our lives (and the lives of others) while achieving our dreams.
This is the Power of You!
