Licensed clinical addiction counselor Veronica Ramos Clark 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, according to a press release. Clark is the executive director of Fresh Start Counseling Services and an adult child of an alcoholic herself.
The book addresses a persistent question for its intended readers: why do the same struggles keep appearing long after childhood has ended? It 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 shape adult relationships and self-worth. Clark draws on nearly three decades of counseling experience and her own journey growing up as one of eleven children in an alcoholic home.
Topics include people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, grief, suppressed emotions, and the difficulty of setting boundaries. The book offers tools for examining childhood beliefs and developing a clearer sense of personal needs and worth. It speaks to adults who appear capable and dependable to others but feel exhausted by always being the responsible one, as well as those who want to understand recurring relationship difficulties and avoid passing destructive patterns to another generation.
An endorsement from Patty Aubery published on Clark’s website states, “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.
The release matters because it directly addresses a widespread but often unspoken struggle: the long-term effects of family dysfunction on adult mental health and relationships. With addiction and family instability affecting millions of households, Clark’s dual perspective as a clinician and someone with lived experience provides a credible resource for those seeking to understand and change inherited patterns. The book’s focus on breaking cycles also has implications for preventing the transmission of trauma to future generations.
Clark works with adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional homes at Fresh Start Counseling Services, helping them understand learned patterns and make changes in their lives. Her new book extends that mission to a broader audience, offering hope and practical steps for healing.
