Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families (Paperback)

by John C. Friel Ph.D. (Author), Linda D. Friel M.A. (Author) "In July of 1985 thousands of people from all over the world descended on Montreal, Canada, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of perhaps the most..." (more)
Key Phrases: paradoxical dependency, adult child issues, addictive agent, Littlest Gosling, Little Rabbit, Alcoholics Anonymous (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
It is estimated that as many as 34 million people grew up in alcoholic homes but what about the rest of us? The authors provide a readable explanation of what happens to those of us who have had no alcoholism, but did have perfectionism, workaholism, compulsive overeating, intimacy problems, etc.

About the Author
John C. Friel is a psychologist in private practice and is director of the St. Paul/Minneapolis Lifeworks Clinic, an intense short-term treatment program for Adult Children, Co-dependency, Addiction and compulsivity issues.

Linda D. Friel is a Certified chemical Dependency Practitioner and has designed and implemented a hospital-based co-dependency treatment program. She currently specializes in therapy for Adult Children, Co-dependency issues and for Survivors of Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: HCI (January 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932194532
• ISBN-13: 978-0932194534
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Family
  #28 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Codependency
  #29 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Recovery > Alcoholism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and Extremely Informative, September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This book appears at first to deal just with additctions. Further reading proves this book to be excellent reference for any individual suffering from depression, anxiety, childhood trauma and different kinds of abuse suffered during childhood. It explains how being an addict, depressed, anxious etc...are only symptoms of a dysfunctional family system. It will become easier to understand while reading this book why we are the way that we are. It offers comfort, insight, and the how to change if we so choose to. To me this book is the Bible that unlocks the secrets of the symptoms to my sometimes very difficult life.

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Achieving Understanding, August 23, 2000

By	Karen Kelly (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This incredible book leads those of us in recovery from dysfunction to attempting normalcy. It is written specifically for those who have no idea what normalcy is. Our parents, who loved us, unknowly led us into a life that is lived without the skills to develop intimacy that is necessary for our closest relationships. The Friels explain our losses without blaming anyone and give concrete ways to help adult children recover their true selves.It explains how some of the most severe comditions of mental illness can be related to our dysfuncional families. Most of all it gives us hope for the future and for developing loving relationships.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well focused approach to codependency, July 27, 1998

By A Customer

Having read several books on the adult child isssue, I found this book to be the most straight forward and specific that I had read. This book explains the origins of the adult child, the process that can lead to addiction, and the personal work necessary to get to the root of the problem. While many books explain the symptoms and the cause of codependency, I found this book to also address what needs to been done to enter recovery. All this is accomplished is a very practical and easily read manner.