Helpful Books Recommended by Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Here is a list of books and other resources on such topics as alcoholism and drug abuse, chemical dependency, codependency, family dynamics of addiction and recovery, co-occurring disorders or dual diagnoses, mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, forgiveness, bipolar disorder, couples' money issues, family business issues, work addiction, sexual addiction, chronic pain and addiction, relationship issues, including pre-marriage, marriage, divorce, and remarriage, mid-life issues, professional and entrepeneurial issues. 

These resources are personally recommended by me, for their educational or therapeutic value.  Many are considered "classics" in the field of alcohol/drug abuse counseling.  Some are contemporary, theoretical or academic books that are usually best utilized by counseling professionals or students.  Some are classic and contemporary self-help books and resources meant for the non-professional person seeking help.

The list(s) represent my own personal opinions, tastes, and preferrences.   I am including an option to purchase these directly from Amazon.  Although Amazon is not the only bookseller on the internet, it does have a feature that I really, really like.  Once you find the book you want on Amazon, most of the time, you can pull it up, and "search inside this book".  You are able to search keywords from the pdf, which gives you clickable page numbers.  I like this feature, since you can get a sense of whether the book has what you are looking for.  Having the Table of Contents also helps.

Since this is a work in progress, check back often.   If you have a subject that you would like book recommendations for, drop me an email and ask me what to read. 

Thanks.

Peggy

 

 

 

The Greatest Miracle in the World - Og Mandino

Out of the Fog:  Treatment Options and Coping Strategies for Adult Attention Deficit Disorder - Murphy and LeVert

Codependency

Codependent No More - Melody Beattie

The Language of Letting Go - Melody Beattie

Codependents' Guide to the 12 Steps - Melody Beattie

The New Codependency - Melody Beattie

Co-Dependents Anonymous

Facing Codependence - Pia Melody


Family Dynamics of Addiction and Recovery

Love First:  A Family's Guide to Intervention - Jeff Jay
 
Understanding Addiction and Recovery Through A Child's Eyes:  Hope, Help, and Healing For Families - Jerry Moe

Adult Children:  The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families - John and Linda Friel

Getting Them Sober Volume 1 - Toby Rice Drew

Getting Them Sober Volume 2 - Toby Rice Drew

An Adult Child's Guide to What's Normal - John Friel

Bradshaw on The Family - John Bradshaw
Family Secrets - John Bradshaw

it Will Never Happen to Me  (ACA) Claudia Black


Individual Dynamics of Addiction and Recovery

Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love: The Love Connection to Codependence - Pia Melody

Courage to Change: Personal Conversations About Alcoholism - Dennis Wholey

Passages Through Recovery - T. Gorski

Addicted to Love - Arteburn

Obsessive Love - Susan Forward

Accepting Our Selves and Others - Shepard Kominars

Trauma and Recovery

Healing the Child Within - Charles Whitfield

A Gift to Myself:  A Personal Workbook and Guide to "Healing the Child Within" - Charles Whitfield

Healing the Shame that Binds You - John Bradshaw

Homecoming:  Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child - John Bradshaw

Trauma and Addiction:  Ending the Cycle of Pain - Tian Dayton

Family Secrets:  The Path From Shame - John Bradshaw

Complex PTSD:  From Surviving to Thriving - Pete Walker

Sexual Addiction

Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies, and Secrets - Claudia Black

Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction - Patrick Carnes

Don't Call It Love - Patrick Carnes

Facing Heartbreak:  Steps to Recovery for Partners of Sex Addicts - S. Carnes

Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction - Mark Laaser

Disclosing Secrets: An Addicts Guide to When, To Whom, and How Much to Reveal - D. Corley and J. Schneider

In the Shadow of the Net: Breaking Free of Online Sexual Behavior - Patric Carnes

Intimate Treason: Healing the Trauma of Partners Confronting Sexual Addiction - Claudia Black

Mending A Shattered Heart - A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts - S. Carnes

Mental Health

Anxiety and Worry Workbook - The Cognitive Behavioral Solution - D. Clark & A. Beck

Learned Optimism - M Seligman

An Unquiet Mind  (Bipolar) Kay Redfield Jamison

Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and Artistic Temperament - Kay Redfield Jamison

The Depression Workbook - Mary Ellen Copeland

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder - Julia Fast

ADD & The College Student - Patricia Quinn

The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain - Nancy Ratey

Delivered from Distraction (ADD) John Ratey

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion - C. Germer

The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD - L. Zylowska

Learned Optimism - M. Seligman

Complex PTSD: From Surviving To Thriving - C. Germer

Out of the Fog: Treatment Options and Coping Strategies for Adult ADHD - Murphy and Lavert

Relationships

Fighting For Your Marriage - H. Markman and S. Stanley

Take Back Your Marriage - William Doherty

The Dance of Anger - Harriett Lerner

The Dance of Intimacy - Harriett Lerner

The Dance of Connection - Harriet Learner

Seven Principles for Making Your Marriage Work - John Gottman

To Love and Be Loved - Sam Keen

The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman

The Journey from Abandonment to Healing - Susan Anderson

Love Me Don't Leave Me: Overcoming Fear of Abandonment and Building Lasting, Loving Relationships - Michelle Skeen

Hold Me Tight: 7 Conversations for a Lifetime of Love - Susan Johnson

 

 

Divorce

Rebuilding:  When Your Relationship Ends - Bruce Fischer

Joint Custody with a Jerk:  Raising A Child with An Uncooperative Ex - Julie Ross


Spirituality and Daily Meditations

Courage to Change: One Day at a Time In AlAnon - AlAnon

Touchtones:  A Book of Daily Meditations for Men - Anon

Journey to the Heart:  Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul - Melody Beattie

Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women - Karen Casey

The Language of Letting Go:  Daily Meditations for Codepedents - Melody Beattie

Keep It Simple:  Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginning and Renewal - Anon

Believing in Myself:  A Self Esteem Daily Meditations - Earnie Larson

The Promise of a New Day - Karen Casey

Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters - Elizabeth L.

The Greatest Miracle in the World - Og Mandino


Men's Issues

Iron John:  A Book About Men - Robert Bly

Fire in the Belly:  On Being a Man - Sam Keen

The Flying Boy:  Why Men Run From Relationships - John Lee

Family Businesses

Family, Inc:  How to Manage Parents, Siblings, Spouses, Children, and In-laws in the Family Business - L & L Colin

Baby Boomer Issues

A Bitter-Sweet Season - Caring For Our Aging Parents and Ourselves - Jane Gross

Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents - C. Rosenblatt

Taking Care of Parents Who Didn't Take Care of You - Eleanor Cade
 

 

 

A Recommended Reading:

 

“Chapter Nine of The Greatest Miracle in the World” By Og Mandino 

By Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Chapter 9 of the Greatest Miracle in the World is one of my favorite reads of all time.  A million years ago when I worked at an inpatient treatment center, I gave a lecture on this piece once a month.  There was never a dry eye left in the room.  There is not much you can say about it, other than to encourage its reading.  I still cry every time I read it.  When you feel alone, depressed, abandoned, discouraged, or resentful, this passage can assist you in regaining your perspective.  I have included its reading in treatment planning for almost thirty years.  I call it a “prescription for depression”.  To read the rest of this review (and Chapter Nine) follow this link: Chapter Nine Greatest Miracle

Recommended Reading:  Out of the Fog: Treatment Options and

Coping Strategies for Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

by Kevin Murphy and Suzanne LeVert 

By Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D.

 

Out of the Fog: Treatment Options and Coping Strategies for Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, written by professionals for non-professionals, dispels the mistaken assumption that people simply outgrow Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  In this book, Murphy and LeVert explain the neurobiology of ADD/ADHD without giving you a headache trying to read it.  They  use case scenarios to make it easy for the public to be able to relate to the problems, symptoms, and possible solutions that adults with ADD/ADHD often experience. To read the rest of this review and Chapter Seven, Taming The Organizational Devil, follow this link: Taming The Organizational Devil

 "The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it."  - James Bryce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Providing services for Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Chemical Dependency, Sex Addiction, Mental Health Issues, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Management, Addiction Recovery, Drug Abuse, Spouse of sex addict, Relapse prevention, Drug cravings, Family Business Issues, Couple Money Issues, Co-dependency, Adult Children of Alcoholism Issues, Cross-addiction, Co-occurring disorders, marital family therapy, marriage family counseling, step-parenting, step-family issues, couple money issues, grief, mid-life issues, college success, infidelity.  Providing individual, group, marriage, family, and couples sessions.  Providing professional supervision and training and consultation services.