"I never thought I could feel hopeful again. Paula's group gave me back my sense of self."
— Sarah M., ITC Group participant"After years of chaos, Paula helped me find calm. The tools she teaches actually work."
— David R., One-to-One Coaching client"For the first time I felt understood — not judged. This group changed how I see everything."
— Group participant
About Paula
I came to this work as a mother — desperately searching for a way to help myself cope with my own sons' substance use disorder. I was specifically looking for an alternative to the 12-step approach, and what I found changed everything.
The compassionate, science-based techniques I learned improved my connection with my sons in a way I hadn't thought possible. They gave them a safe space to be honest with me — and allowed me to listen with an open heart rather than react from a place of fear.
Coming out of that darkness — and helping to lead my sons out too — is why I do this work. With 6 years of experience in groups and one-to-one coaching, I want every family to have what I have. This work broke my heart wide open, and it's my hope it does the same for you.
My own story
I also bring something deeply personal to this work. I am in long-term recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder — 35 years sober. My own recovery journey taught me what it truly takes to change, and the courage it requires. It also means I understand addiction from both sides: as the person who once struggled, and as a mother who has watched her own children struggle. When you sit with me, you are sitting with someone who gets it from the inside out — not just professionally, but personally and profoundly.
"I came in completely broken, convinced I had failed as a mother. Paula helped me understand addiction in a way that replaced my shame with compassion — for my son and for myself."
— CRAFT Group participant, mother of twoA New Perspective Coaching
If you've ever been made to feel ashamed, judged, or utterly alone in this — you are in the right place.
Here, we do things differently. We believe the language we use about addiction matters deeply. Words like "addict," "junkie," or "clean" carry shame that gets in the way of healing — for your loved one and for you. We use compassionate, person-first language that reflects what the science actually tells us: addiction is a complex condition, not a moral failing. The people we love who struggle with it are whole human beings, fully deserving of dignity and connection.
This is a space where there is no judgment, no shame, and no pressure. Tough love and "rock bottom" are not the only paths forward — and if those approaches have left you feeling helpless, there is another way. Whether you walk in angry, exhausted, heartbroken, or quietly hopeful, you are welcome here exactly as you are.
SAMHSA's Definition of Recovery
"A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential."
SAMHSA identifies four dimensions that support recovery:
Health
Overcoming or managing one's disease or symptoms
Home
Having a stable and safe place to live
Purpose
Meaningful daily activities and independence
Community
Relationships and social networks that provide support
A new perspective changes everything.
My Story
Before I was a coach and facilitator, I was someone in the grip of Alcohol Use Disorder. Getting sober was the hardest and most transformative thing I have ever done. I have now been in long-term recovery for 35 years — and that journey gave me a deep, firsthand understanding of what addiction really is, how it thinks, and what it takes to find a way through.
Years later, I found myself on the other side of addiction — this time as a mother, watching my sons struggle with substance use disorder. The fear, the grief, the desperate searching for answers. I know that place too. It was in looking for help for myself — specifically for something beyond the 12-step model — that I discovered the science-based approaches that would change everything for our family.
What I found didn't just help my sons — it helped me. It taught me how to communicate from a place of love instead of fear, how to connect rather than control, and how to rebuild something I thought was broken beyond repair. That experience — from both sides of addiction — is the foundation of every group I facilitate and every coaching session I lead.
35
years in recovery
6
years facilitating
3
evidence-based methods
2
sides understood
A poem
Before dawn, the ocean holds its breath —
a vast stillness, heavy with waiting.
Then, on the rim of the world, light stirs,
a slow spill of gold across trembling blue.
Waves catch the first glimmer,
each crest igniting like a promise kept.
Salt air carries the warmth inland,
brushing over faces that have seen long nights.
For every family fighting the undertow of addiction,
the horizon opens — wide, forgiving,
as sunlight bends gently toward their walls,
reminding them that the dark does not endure.
Hope moves like the tide, returning without fail.
It softens the edges, smooths the scars,
and in the hush between wave and wind
you can almost hear it whisper: begin again.
So stand by the shore as the day unfolds —
each dawn a quiet rebirth,
each beam a step toward healing,
each shimmer is proof: even the ocean rises again.
— A New Perspective Coaching
What I Offer
Facilitated groups using evidence-based ITC, CRAFT, and SMART Recovery methods. A safe, non-judgmental space to connect with parents who truly understand what you're going through.
$10 per person / per weekPrivate sessions tailored to your unique situation. We work through practical strategies, emotional resilience, and communication — learning how to respond rather than react.
$75 per hourPayments are processed securely via Stripe
Based in Idyllwild, CA — sessions are available both in person and online, so you can access support wherever you are in the world.
Idyllwild, CA & OnlineHave questions about which service is right for you? Send Paula a message ↗ — she'd love to hear from you.
Support Groups
All groups are $10 per person per week. Email paulabrowne.itc@gmail.com to register or find out more.
Draws on the best of CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Learn to respond to your loved one's behaviour in ways that invite positive change — while taking care of yourself.
Payments are processed securely via Stripe
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) equips you with positive, evidence-based strategies to reduce your loved one's use and gently encourage them toward treatment — without ultimatums.
Payments are processed securely via Stripe
A science-based mutual support programme that helps family members cope with a loved one's addictive behaviour, set healthy boundaries, and build a fulfilling life of their own.
Payments are processed securely via Stripe
Not ready to book yet? That's completely okay. Send Paula a message instead ↗ — no pressure, no obligation.
Helpful Websites & Resources
These are some of the approaches and organisations that have shaped Paula's work and may be helpful for your own journey.
A compassionate, science-based approach that blends CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing, and ACT to help families support their loved ones while caring for themselves.
Visit cmcffc.org ↗Community Reinforcement and Family Training is one of the most effective evidence-based approaches for families. Paula trained directly with Dr. Robert Myers and WE The Village.
Learn about CRAFT ↗Science-based tools and mutual support for family members and friends of people with addictive behaviours. Free online and in-person meetings available worldwide.
Visit smartrecovery.org ↗The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free, confidential helpline available 24/7 for information and treatment referrals.
1-800-662-4357 ↗The organisation behind Paula's coaching training — a leading resource for families navigating a loved one's substance use, with free helpline support and expert guidance.
Visit drugfree.org ↗A valuable resource for families affected by a loved one's substance use — Paula is a member and recommends it highly for practical guidance, community, and support.
Visit helpingfamilieshelp.com ↗Self-compassion is the cornerstone of this healing work. Dr. Kristin Neff's research and resources offer parents a powerful foundation for treating themselves with the same kindness they so freely give to others.
Visit self-compassion.org ↗Paula's Communities & Online Groups
Paula is an administrator of these Facebook communities — free, supportive spaces for parents navigating a loved one's substance use.
Recommended Reading
These books have shaped Paula's practice and her personal journey. Each one offers a different lens on addiction, healing, and love.
Jeffrey Foote
The book behind CRAFT for families. A warm, practical, science-based guide for anyone who loves someone struggling with substance use.
This link offers the latest edition of Beyond Addiction, the companion workbook, and the Invitation to Change workbooks — resources not available through Amazon.
Get the latest edition + workbooks ↗Brandi Mac
A compassionate, honest guide for families navigating a loved one's addiction, offering practical wisdom for the impossible decisions parents face.
Find on Amazon ↗Frank Andrews PhD — 20th Anniversary Edition
A profound and practical guide to cultivating love as a daily practice, offering families a deeper foundation for connection and healing.
Find on Amazon ↗Gabor Maté MD
A groundbreaking exploration of addiction that blends science, compassion, and personal story. Essential reading for anyone seeking to truly understand what drives addictive behaviour.
Find on Amazon ↗What parents say
"I'd tried everything — therapists, Al-Anon, tough love. Nothing prepared me for how transformative Paula's approach would be. Learning to communicate without fear changed my relationship with my daughter completely."
Linda T.
ITC & CRAFT Group participant
"The one-to-one coaching with Paula was worth every penny. She helped me set boundaries without guilt, stop enabling without abandoning my son, and find peace in a situation I can't fully control."
Mark K.
One-to-One Coaching client
"The SMART Recovery group Paula facilitates is unlike anything I'd experienced before. Science-based, practical, and warm. I finally feel equipped — not just supported, but actually equipped."
Janet W.
SMART Recovery Family participant
"I was skeptical at first — I thought nothing could help. But Paula's personal story gave me hope that change was possible. Six months later, my son is in treatment and I finally sleep at night."
Robert C.
CRAFT Group participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions Paula hears often. Don't see yours? Get in touch — there are no silly questions here.
Get in Touch
Reaching out is often the hardest part. Fill in the form and Paula will get back to you within 48 hours — no obligation, just a conversation.
Prefer to reach Paula directly? Message her on WhatsApp:
Message Paula on WhatsApp"You don't have to choose between loving your child and taking care of yourself. That's the new perspective — and it changes everything."
— Paula Browne-Stumpf"The moment I stopped reacting from fear and started responding with love — everything shifted. That's what I want to give you."
— Paula Browne-Stumpf"Addiction is not a moral failing. Your child is not broken. And neither are you."
— Paula Browne-Stumpf
