The Gift of Recovery: Mindfulness Skills for Living Joyfully Beyond Addiction

Description

If you're recovering from addiction, The Gift of Recovery offers quick, in-the-moment tips and tricks to help you cope with daily stress and stay firmly on the path to wellness. With this gentle, easy-to-use guide, you'll learn how to navigate relationships, take time for self-care, and build a mindful, sustainable, and joyful recovery.Deciding to get help for addiction is the first step toward recovery. But addiction recovery doesn't happen all at once - it's something that must be worked for, every day. Sometimes, it will be easy. When things are going well, you may not be tempted to give in to your cravings. But when life is stressful, you'll need strategies to help you cope. Written by the authors of The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction, this on-the-go mindfulness guide offers fifty-two powerful and effective meditations to help you manage the stress, depression, and strong emotions that can get in the way of a full and lasting recovery. You'll also find skills based in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you stay grounded, as well as links to online resources.Deciding to overcome an addiction can feel like leaving a relationship. It's hard and sometimes lonely - but it is truly an act of courage. This book will help guide you as you continue making courageous steps toward peace, joy, and fulfillment.

Rebecca E. Williams, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in recovery from mental illness and addictions. She received her master's degree from Harvard University and her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently the Wellness and Vocational Enrichment Clinic director of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. In addition, she is an associate clinical professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Diego, and coauthor of Couple Therapy for Alcoholism. Williams is coauthor, with Julie Kraft, of The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction. She has a psychotherapy practice in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit www.mindfulnessworkbook.com. Julie S. Kraft, MA, LMFT, received her master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of San Diego's school of leadership and education sciences. She has provided counseling to veterans and their family members at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and has provided psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups in community settings. In her current position with Sharp HealthCare, she treats clients struggling with both addiction and mental health concerns. She lives and works in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit www.mindfulnessworkbook.com.

"The Gift of Recovery is a well-crafted, beautiful illustration of the power of mindfulness in healing from addiction. From compelling examples to memorable metaphors, the authors use a conversational approach to appeal to their audience and simplify the often-confusing jargon of psychotherapy. Short chapters, organized as 'gifts, ' compel the reader to redefine their view of the recovery process. Mindful exercises and affirmations help the reader transform thoughts into action. Audiences will find it helpful to use independently or as an adjunct to their work in therapy. Comprehensive, masterful, and approachable, Williams and Kraft have done it again, bringing together the best evidence-based concepts to addiction recovery in this one absolutely essential guide." --Gina M. Bongiorno, LMFT, manager of the co-occurring substance and eating disorder program at the University of California, San Diego's Eating Disorder Clinic; and adjunct faculty member at the University of San Diego--Gina M. Bongiorno, LMFT "The Gift of Recovery presents a precious path into a new way of living for people recovering from any kind of addiction (or just struggling with life). Williams and Kraft were able to capture every scenario and situation that a person in recovery might face, and give them tools that could literally save their lives. They intimately know the world of addiction and its struggles as well as the way to recovery and its joys. I highly recommend this book." --Lynn Rossy, PhD, author of The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution, and executive director of Tasting Mindfulness, LLC--Lynn Rossy, PhD "The Gift of Recovery will be a valuable guide for anyone wanting to incorporate mindfulness into your path of recovery from addiction." --Tim Desmond, LMFT, author of Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy and The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook--Tim Desmond, LMFT "If recovery is what you're looking for, look right here. ... Without question, The Gift of Recovery has become an integral part of my mindfulness practice and is already weaving its way into programming throughout my three organizations. Highly recommended for all those looking to say goodbye to addiction and hello to serenity." --Christopher Bennett, CADC-II, CIP, BRI-I, chief executive officer and founder, Chris Bennett Interventions; cofounder of the Chris Buro Foundation; and founder of Encore Recovery Solutions--Christopher Bennett, CADC-II, CIP, BRI-I "In today's world focused on apps and technology, this 'gift' brings it back to the fundamental instruments needed to help keep my clients focused and being present. As a clinician, I am inspired to use this as a parallel process and enhance my skill set." --Jason R. Allison, SAP, ICADC, LAADC, licensed addiction professional and cofounder of National Therapeutic Alliance--Jason R. Allison, SAP, ICADC, LAADC "Invite The Gift of Recovery to accompany your journey home to yourself. You'll meet no better guides to support your day-to-day recovery goals than authors Williams and Kraft. Their exercises, meditations, affirmations, and self-inquiry questions are grounded in their non-judging and compassionate understanding of addiction and recovery. This book will help you be kinder to yourself, even as you deepen your self-awareness and commitment to sobriety." --Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression and Yoga Skills for Therapists, and founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute--Amy Weintraub "Kind, wise, and eminently practical, The Gift of Recovery provides powerful skills and practices to help transform the habits, urges, and thought patterns that keep you hooked in unhealthy behaviors. Rebecca E. Williams and Julie S. Kraft offer a generous toolbox of mindfulness skills to help you live your life with joy and freedom. A true gift!" --Hugh Byrne, PhD, senior teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, cofounder of the Mindfulness Training Institute of Washington, and author of The Here-and-Now Habit--Hugh Byrne, PhD "Sustaining recovery is a complex process--it involves learning skills that will help you get through tough moments, and figuring out how and when to implement them when you need them most. Even more than making healthy choices in the moment, sustaining recovery also comes to life when you learn to be kind, curious, and even forgiving of yourself along the way. The Gift of Recovery strikes that beautiful balance. Williams and Kraft teach practical steps while fostering a spirit of compassion that will facilitate you making choices that honor your values, needs, and goals in an effort to live beyond addiction." --Rachel Hershenberg, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, and author of Activating Happiness--Rachel Hershenberg, PhD "This is one of the few books I've read that zeros in on recovery principles I believe are essential in achieving long-term recovery. It is an easy read that identifies issues that lead to relapse, and provides practical anecdotes using mindful meditation techniques. A simple read of this valuable recovery material will be helpful in itself, but practicing the mindful meditation techniques will put learning into practice and optimize one's comfort level in recovery." --Bob Tyler, BA, LAADC, CADC II, owner of Bob Tyler Recovery Services; CAADAC past president and CCAPP founding board member; LMU Extension faculty in the alcohol and drug studies program; author of Enough Already!; and producer of the DVD, Craving and Relapse--Bob Tyler, BA, LAADC, CADC II "This is the gift that keeps on giving. In The Gift of Recovery, Rebecca Williams and Julie Kraft provide the reader with fifty-two gifts to guide them through their recovery from addiction. I believe this book is a gift for everyone who struggles with leaving behind unhelpful and unhealthy habitual behaviors. Rebecca and Julie provide great mindfulness skills and multiple affirmations for each day of the week. They make the reader feel that they are with the intelligent and compassionate companions that we all need as we face the challenges on our journey to a healthier, joyful life. This is the best mindfulness book I've read in a long time. Give yourself this gift. You deserve it!" --Michelle Skeen, PsyD, author of Love Me, Don't Leave Me; and host of Relationships 2.0--Michelle Skeen, PsyD