Loving Lions: A guide for families struggling with addiction - Paperback

by Michael J. Jr. Wilson (Author)

In Loving Lions, author and family-recovery specialist Michael Wilson takes readers on a candid journey through the chaos of addiction, revealing both the addict's inner turmoil and the heartbreak families endure. Drawing on his own life story of active addiction and eventual recovery, Wilson exposes the emotional complexities that keep loved ones trapped in confusion, fear, and denial.

Through relatable anecdotes and unvarnished accounts, Loving Lions shows how addicts' behavior creates ripple effects that threaten to tear families apart. More importantly, it offers a new lens on how families can respond. Wilson's "lion" metaphor re-frames addiction as a force that must be confronted directly-by adapting boundaries, communication, and genuine support in ways traditional approaches often miss.

Far from a simple memoir, Loving Lions is a practical guide, brimming with real-world advice and strategies for parents, siblings, friends, and spouses who feel powerless watching someone spiral into substance use. Wilson provides:

• A fresh perspective on how families can effectively intervene.

• Concrete tools to replace enabling with sustainable, boundary-driven support.

• Emotional insights that bridge the gap between empathy and proactive change.

For anyone who loves someone caught in the addictive cycle, or for professionals seeking to enrich their expertise, Loving Lions delivers hope, clarity, and a road map to healing. Wilson's honest storytelling and proven family-focused methods make this a must-read for anyone determined to help an addict break free and find lasting recovery.

Author Biography

Michael Wilson was born in Brunswick, Maine in 1976. He currently works and resides in his life-long hometown of Beverly, Massachusetts with his amazing children and his extended family.

Michael spent many of his younger and more formative years in active addiction - struggling with his various unsuccessful attempts at "sobriety". His experiences throughout those years, and the recovery process that eventually led him to get well and change his life, has become the foundation for his work with families in the community and nationwide.

Michael's service work in his hometown of Beverly began in 2008, and includes various supportive and leadership roles in coalitions and a local substance abuse task force. His passion for helping families drove him to carve out a new set of services for families in his area, paving the way for more family-focused work to be available regarding addiction and recovery.

The personal touch that he provides for each family is often met with a sigh of relief that someone is listening and finally understands what is happening to them. The services that he has created and provided are often seen as a beacon of hope for families who had previously been left feeling hopeless and confused in their attempts to navigate a fractured system that was not set up to meet their growing needs.

Michael found a way to bridge that gap, and fill that void. He offers his insights and experience through a variety of mediums, including support groups and speaking engagements. He is always looking for new ways to be involved with, and be a part of, the solution!

Michael was the founder and executive director of Renewed Hope Project, a local non-profit organization geared toward providing services and community supports for families struggling with addiction between 2009 - 2014.

In 2014 he transitioned to Co-Owner and Director of Family Services for Baystate Recovery Services, LLC. His company currently operates in Beverly, MA and provides a variety of family-focused and individual services, each dedicated to helping address the addiction issues that families are facing across the country.

In addition, Michael is now providing education, training, and certification for other professionals and individuals seeking to build on, and add to, their existing knowledge in this field.