Another book that was required reading for grad courses in a LPC/LADC program. While better, and definitely less 'self-helpy' that other similar booksAnother book that was required reading for grad courses in a LPC/LADC program. While better, and definitely less 'self-helpy' that other similar books, it shares some of the same failings as a lot of non-clinical work in this area. Namely, falling back heavily (though less so than some) on the 12 Step model (even though it seems misapplied to codependence in general), a tendency to exclude atheists from the treatment model, etc. Strengths in comparison to some similar works would be Mellody at has at least conceptualized a clear structure within the disease model with core symptoms, origins of disease, differentiation within the model, and specific approaches to treatment. I think it could be refined for actual clinical application, but in this case there's enough self-help aspects to this that it is still probably not of much use to actual professionals in the field. But enough structure that I would feel *more* comfortable recommending it as self-help than other similar works (though still not as comfortable as recommending an actual clinical skills workbook)....more
Another book required for a counseling course, this time from the substance abuse and addiction department. This gets an especially poor rating not becAnother book required for a counseling course, this time from the substance abuse and addiction department. This gets an especially poor rating not because its not readable or poorly put together/organized. Rather it is because I find the vast majority of the book, from a professional perspective, rather questionable. The book reads like a self-help book rather than any sort of serious scientific study of the issues. I suppose it may have been intended as a self-help book, but it presents itself as something more serious. I won't digress into my feelings regarding pop-psychology and its dangers, and I'm familiar with arguments for lived experience being an important component in addiction treatment. However, I think those need to be tempered with actual expertise. Especially as a grad or post-grad student, its important to take the time to look into the credentials of anyone who's work we're reading. And it would appear that this particular author has essentially no qualifications beyond her lived her experience and being treated as an expert by the pop-psych, public consumption machine. She lacks any sort of formal training in therapy, psychology, or psychiatry, seemingly only having completed high school and never obtained even an associate or bachelors degree. Lived experience alone does not qualify one to provide 'expert' advice in any field, let alone one as tenuous as mental health. I think one of the largest weaknesses here is the conceited notion that one persons lived experience not only qualifies them to provide expert advice, but somehow generalizes to the lived experiences of everyone else more broadly. The second major failing is that her advice and techniques lean very heavily into the religious aspects of the 12 step program. 12 step programs can be very successful, and even adapted for the nominally atheistic (again, I won't digress into dissecting the pros and cons of the 12 step program), and I have seen it have very positive effects on a lot of lives. But if there is a common thread among those rejecting 12 step programs it is that they lean far too heavily into the religious aspects of treatment, and this book does that in spades. Even as a self-help book, even for codependents or other addicts, I would discourage anyone from reading this book. Perhaps her other books are more balanced, but I have significant doubts. In general, find a support group, get a therapist, maybe get some psychopharmaceutical treatment, and skip this book....more
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