Judith R Smith
I am a PhD, licensed clinical social worker, professor at Fordham University, and researcher who specializes in understanding the experiences of mothers of adult children with serious mental illness or substance use disorder.
My book is told from the perspective of mothers who've lived it, Difficult focuses on mothering challenging adult children.
Difficult brings to life the conflicts that arise for mothers who are confronted with the unexpected and burdensome dependencies of their adult children associated with mental illness, substance use, or chronic unemployment.
I now offer support groups for mothers with difficult adult children. The groups provide support for parents who feel alone and often live in secrecy, hiding the strain they face as they cope with their adult children's problems.