Licensed clinical addiction counselor Veronica Ramos Clark, LCAC, Executive Director of Fresh Start Counseling Services, has announced the release of her new book, A Fresh Start: Breaking the Cycle, on September 22, 2026. The book combines memoir and practical guidance for adults who grew up with an alcoholic parent or in a dysfunctional home, addressing a question familiar to many: why do the same struggles keep appearing long after childhood has ended?
Clark explores how roles learned early in life—such as keeping the peace, taking responsibility for others, or staying quiet to avoid conflict—can continue to influence adult relationships and self-worth. Drawing on both professional and personal experience as an adult child of an alcoholic who grew up as one of eleven children, Clark brings nearly three decades of counseling experience to the subject. Her work also reflects her own efforts to understand the family patterns she carried into adulthood.
The book invites readers to identify those patterns and consider how they want to respond differently. Topics include people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, grief, suppressed emotions, and the difficulty of setting boundaries. A Fresh Start offers tools for examining childhood beliefs and developing a clearer sense of personal needs and worth.
The intended audience includes adults who appear capable and dependable to others but feel exhausted by always being the responsible one. It also speaks to readers who want to understand recurring relationship difficulties and avoid passing destructive family patterns to another generation.
In an endorsement published on Clark's website, Patty Aubery writes, "Veronica's wisdom and compassion shine through every page. This book is a gift to anyone seeking healing and hope."
Readers can view A Fresh Start: Breaking the Cycle on Amazon and visit VeronicaRamosClark.net for book updates, information about the author, and Reading Your Story, a free companion self-assessment.
This book matters because it addresses a widespread but often overlooked population: adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families who struggle with lasting emotional and relational patterns. According to Clark, these individuals may appear successful and dependable but feel drained by their responsibilities. By providing both a personal narrative and professional insights, A Fresh Start aims to help readers break cycles of people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and suppressed emotions. The release could have significant implications for the self-help and addiction recovery communities, offering a resource that bridges memoir and therapeutic guidance. It may also encourage more open discussions about the long-term effects of childhood trauma on adult mental health and relationships. As Clark notes, understanding these patterns is the first step toward change, and her book provides a roadmap for those seeking to create healthier futures for themselves and their families.
