Changing Course: Healing from Loss, Abandonment and Fear [Paperback]

Claudia Black Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2002

In Changing Course, the best-selling sequel to It Will Never Happen to Me, Claudia Black extends a helping hand to individuals working their way through the painful experience of being raised with addiction.

"How do you go from living according to the rules--Don't Talk, Don't Trust, Don't Feel--to a life where you are free to talk and trust and feel?" Black asks. "You do this through a process that teaches you to go to the source of those rules, to question them, and to create new rules of your own," she explains. Using charts, exercises, checklists, and real-life stories of adult children of alcoholics, Black carefully and expertly guides readers in healing from the fear, shame, and chaos of addiction.

Key features and benefits

• a proven seller by a trusted recovery author
• presents a clearly articulated process for healing
• excellent self-help resource for overcoming the experience of abandonment

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

When I wrote It Will Never Happen To Me in the early 1980's it was a major revelation for those raised with addiction. It would become the framework for understanding what it means to grow up in fear and shame and it would give a voice to those who lived in silence. It broke not only a family Don't Talk rule, it broke the cultural rule of Silence. While I have written other books, Changing Course is the true sequel to It Will Never Happen To Me. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Claudia A. Black, M.S.W., Ph.D., is a renowned lecturer, author and trainer internationally recognized for both her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. Dr. Black's work encompasses the interest of both the professional and lay audiences; she originated a successful model of change in the 1970's that, today, is used in treatment programs worldwide. She designs and presents workshops and seminars, authors books and interactive journals, produces educational videos and consults to various healthcare programs in the United States and abroad. She is currently the Clinical Consultant of Addictive Disorders for The Meadows and a Senior Fellow for the Meadows Institute in Wickenburg, Arizona.Dr. Black is the recipient of a number of National awards including the Marty Mann Award, the 1991 SECAD Award, and the NCA's Educator of the Year. She is also the past Chairperson of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, presently serving on their Advisory Board and most recently, in celebration of Al-Anon's 50thanniversary, spoke on Capital Hill to members of Congress, constituents and representatives of various addiction and treatment organization.Black's books generate wide appeal. She is the author of It Will Never Happen To Me (two million copies sold and now in it's 2nd updated edition,) Changing Course, My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has A Disease, Repeat After Me II, It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood, The Anger Guide, Relapse Toolkit and her latest release, A Hole in the Sidewalk. Claudia has produced eighteen videos including her two latest, The History of Addiction and The Legacy of Addiction and jut released two new CDs, A Time for Healing from Abandonment and Shame and Putting the Past Behind.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden; 2nd edition (February 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568387997
• ISBN-13: 978-1568387994
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Adult Children of Alcoholics
  • #59 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Alcoholism

More About the Author

Claudia Black, M.S.W., Ph.D. is a renowned addictions and codependency expert, author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. Since the 1970s Dr. Black's work has encompassed the impact of addiction on young and adult children. She has offered models of intervention and treatment related to family violence, multi-addictions, relapse, anger, depression and women's issues. Dr. Black designs and presents training workshops and seminars to professional audiences in the field of family service, mental health, addiction and correctional services. She serves on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Children of Alcoholics, and the Advisory Council of the Moyer Foundation. A schedule of Claudia's events are on her website claudiablack.com

Claudia is the author of It Will Never Happen To Me, Changing Course, My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has A Disease, Repeat After Me, It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood, Relapse Toolkit, A Hole in the Sidewalk, Depression Strategies, Straight Talk, The Stamp Game, Family Strategies, Anger Strategies and her newest title Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets. She has produced seven audio CDs addressing issues of addiction and recovery. They are A Time for Healing, Putting the Past Behind, Triggers, Emotional Baggage, Trauma in the Addicted Family, Imageries and Letting Go Imageries. And, she has over 20 DVDs for professionals to use working with families and clients.


Dr. Black has been a keynote speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Her workshops have been presented to an extraordinarily wide array of audiences including military academies, prison systems, medical schools, and extensive mental health and addiction programs. Claudia has extensive multi-cultural experiences working with agencies and audiences in Japan, Brazil, Australia, Scotland, Iceland, Germany, England and Canada. Many of her books and videos have been translated and published abroad. Dr. Black is the recipient of numerous national awards including the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Social Work.


Claudia resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two Westies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight and solutions for both addicted & family., October 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Changing Course (Hardcover)

Claudia Black has an inside track of what it feels like to be a family member in a family where addictive behavior is going on. She is able to write in understandable fashion the complex dynamics that go on in addictions and recovery. She never fails to understand the heart and soul and the sheer pain involved in addiction; she also provides insight and solutions for healing. Great work! All her work is very insightful. This is an author who cares about those who read her books.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, December 7, 2007

By 

W. Ess (Tulsa, OK.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Changing Course: Healing from Loss, Abandonment and Fear (Paperback)

This book I found to be exceptional in helping you to determine what issues you are dealing with, as well as very practical and workable solutions as to how to begin making some positive corrections to your own life and the way you deal with the difficulties.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, April 8, 2009

By 

Sandra Klein (Poulsbo WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changing Course: Healing from Loss, Abandonment and Fear (Paperback)

This book helped me understand why I struggle with some of the things I do and helped me take responsibility for how I live my life today. I especially appreciated the 'exercises' wherein you are given the opportunity to reflect and respond to what is being discussed which truly made me become involved in my own healing process. So many 'self-help' books I've read were just a passive read. This one invited and encouraged me to take action and gave me the direction to do just that.