Veronica Ramos Clark, LCAC, a licensed clinical addiction counselor and Executive Director of Fresh Start Counseling Services, has announced the September 22, 2026 release of her new book, A Fresh Start: Breaking the Cycle. The book, which combines memoir and practical guidance, addresses adults who grew up with an alcoholic parent or in a dysfunctional home, offering insight into why childhood struggles often persist into adulthood.
Clark's announcement carries significance because it brings professional expertise and personal experience to a subject that affects millions of adults. As an adult child of an alcoholic herself and one of eleven children, Clark draws on nearly three decades of counseling experience to explore how early family roles—such as keeping the peace, taking responsibility for others, or staying quiet to avoid conflict—can continue to shape adult relationships and self-worth.
The book examines a central question familiar to its intended readers: Why do the same struggles keep appearing long after childhood has ended? It invites readers to identify those patterns and consider how they might respond differently. Topics include people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, grief, suppressed emotions, and the difficulty of setting boundaries. Clark provides 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. By addressing these issues, the book offers a path toward healing and hope, as noted in an endorsement by Patty Aubery on Clark's website: "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.
Clark's work as a counselor and speaker focuses on helping adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional homes understand learned patterns and make changes in their lives. The release of A Fresh Start: Breaking the Cycle provides a timely resource for those seeking to break the cycle of family dysfunction and build healthier relationships.
