Lisa Smith is a nationally recognized TEDx speaker and author of Parallel Recovery. With a background as a certified Peer Recovery Specialist and over 20 years as a master’s-level educator, Lisa brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work with families navigating substance use and mental health challenges.

She is the creator of the ParallelRecovery™ process — a structured, compassionate approach that helps the entire family system shift patterns of behavior, communication, and engagement. Rather than focusing solely on the individual in crisis, ParallelRecovery™ empowers family members to create meaningful change within themselves, sharing the burden of change and opening the door for their loved one to engage.

Through tools for effective communication, healthy boundaries, and mindset shifts, families learn to reduce their own distress in response to dysregulated behaviors and foster deeper, more authentic connection. The process not only supports personal growth, but also creates an environment that encourages openness, accountability, and the possibility of professional support or healing for the person struggling.

Lisa’s work centers on meeting families where they are, honoring their unique path, and equipping them with sustainable tools for long-term resilience and relational wellness.