Meet Darlene

I’m Darlene, a mother, a faith-based coach, and the founder of Courage to Change Academy.

This work was born from lived experience, deep love, and profound loss. I am a mother who walked the long and painful road of loving a child through addiction. Like so many parents, I loved fiercely, prayed endlessly, and did everything I knew to do, while still feeling exhausted, afraid, and unsure whether I was helping or harming the child I loved more than anything.

My son, Jamen, shaped this work in ways words can never fully capture. Loving him required courage, honesty, boundaries, and grace. Our journey together taught me that love does not mean losing yourself. You can hold hope for your child while also reclaiming your own life, your health, your joy, and your identity.

I believe addiction does not have to destroy the relationship between parent and child. I believe it is possible to have an unbreakable bond with your child, even in the midst of addiction, just as I did with my own son, Jamen. I believe love can be steady, honest, and protective at the same time. And I believe parents deserve support, rest, and permission to care for themselves without guilt, so they can love their children to the best of their ability.

Courage to Change Academy was created during my journey with Jamen, long before his passing. It became a foundation for the bond we shared and gave me tools to love without enabling and to stay connected without losing myself. After his passing, I felt called to continue this work with full honesty, faith, and compassion, walking alongside other parents who should not have to navigate this road alone.

If you are struggling with mental health concerns or feel you need additional support, I strongly encourage you to seek care from a licensed mental health therapist in your local area.

Courage to Change Academy is a faith-based coaching program. It is not therapy. I walk beside parents as someone who has been here, who understands the tension, the heartbreak, the hope, and the love that refuses to let go. When professional mental health care is needed, I believe seeking licensed support is an important and courageous step.

If you are here, your story matters. Your love matters. And you are allowed to move at your own pace.

You do not have to walk this alone.

—
Darlene Friend
Founder, Courage to Change Academy