Healing from a Dysfunctional Family

“As someone who has spent years untangling the impact of early trauma, loss, and shame, I know how overwhelming the healing journey can feel. This workbook offers clarity, validation, and the steady guidance I once searched for. Kara leads readers with compassion and expertise, helping them confront their past while building a healthier future. Her work is a powerful resource for anyone ready to heal.”–Matthew Bocchi, motivational speaker, and author of Sway

“Having worked alongside Kara for many years, I’ve witnessed her exceptional blend of warmth, insight, and leadership. Healing from a Dysfunctional Family reflects her rare ability to bring complex psychological ideas to life with compassion and clarity. This workbook is a road map for anyone seeking to understand their family patterns, reclaim their emotional balance, and chart a healthier, more connected path forward.”–Kerrie Mohr, LCSW, founder and executive director of A Good Place Therapy

“I absolutely love this workbook. It opens space for relief, recognition, and possibility for my patients, my friends, and me. Kara deftly weaves her personal story and sharp intellect into clear explanations and exercises that guide readers through a thoughtful, transformative process of self-compassion and empowered change. This book offers wisdom, depth, and the reminder that our damage does not define us. As she writes, ‘You must quiet those echoes of your parents’ stories while you write your own.‘”–Kelsey Crowe, PhD, psychotherapist, and coauthor of There Is No Good Card for This

“With warmth and clear guidance, Kara’s workbook helps you untangle what you lived through in a dysfunctional family and why it still shows up in how you feel. It helps you name your experiences, understand why you feel the way you do, and begin healing in a way that feels grounded and doable. It is thoughtful, accessible, and deeply validating.”–Kimberly Meehan, PMHNP, psychiatric nurse practitioner in private practice

Kara Lissy, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice who specializes in working with adult children from alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional families. She is author of Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents: An Evidence-Based Workbook to Heal Your Past. She also writes on Substack about the intersection between being a therapist and a new parent. She lives in Westchester, NY, and maintains a hybrid practice with an office in New York City, NY.