Children of Alcoholism: The Struggle for Self and Intimacy in Adult Life

"Informed and practical advice on how to successfully treat adult children of alcoholics. The author, a clinician with many years of experience working with adult children of the chemically dependent, uses object relations theory and Heinz Kohut's self psychology to explore the underlying reasons for these patients' dangerously low self-esteem."

"Neatly packaged, intelligently written, and intensely interesting. . . .Drawing on her training and personal experiences, Wood has written a book about development of the essence of oneself, impediments to fulfillment of personal needs, and encouragement of more satisying forms of self-expression. Her insightful vignettes illustrate both the rationale and application of the strategies she suggests and explain her terapeutic mistakes. Regardless of one's theoretical alliances and level of treatment expertise, this book can be used to enhance conceptualization of psychopathology, reevalaute the emotional climate fostered in the therapeutic situation, and refine processes for encouraging patient confidence, creativity, and positive affect. Compelling from intellectual and emotional standpoints, this compact volume is highly recoommeded to a general clinical readership."

Barbara L. Wood, a counseling psychologist is cofounder of Bethesda Psychological Center, a clinic specializing in the treatment of compulsive disorders, including alcoholism and other chemical dependencies as well as problems associated with co-dependency. She is also on the adjunct faculty of the University of Maryland and lectures widely on her work.