My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction [Paperback]

Claudia Black (Author)

Book Description

The basic premise of this book is that chemical dependency is a disease; the alcoholic/addict is a sick person not a bad person. This disease affects not only the addicted person but those who love that person as well. This is a book that will help others affected by chemical dependency to become well.

My Dad Loves Me My Dad Has A Disease was originally written as a result of Claudia Black's work with young people who had a parent in treatment for their alcoholism. These children were learning at a very young age that it was not safe for them to openly talk about their family experiences. Art therapy was a wonderful medium for them to find the words and a voice in which to talk honestly. It was also a wonderful tool in which to not only share feelings but to problem solve, lessen denial, and to put words to that which was so confusing.

The original pictures were all drawn and the stories written by children age five through fourteen that had one or two alcoholic parents. After many years and thousands of children using this workbook, it has been revised to address the fact that today, if a child lives with addiction, it may not be alcohol addiction. The family member may be addicted to other drugs as well. Words have been rewritten, some pictures changed and new pictures added making it possible for more children of addiction to experience their own recovery process.

Many years ago when Claudia Black was a counselor in an alcohol and drug treatment program, she asked a six-year-old daughter of a man in treatment for his addiction if she knew why her father was in this program. The girl paused and with confidence said, My Dad Loves Me, but My Dad Has a Disease. In spite of her father's addiction she knew her father loved her. That is a message Claudia would like all young people to be able to believe. Unfortunately when people are addicted they often lose the ability to act in loving ways toward those they love.Growing up in an addicted family usually means living by the rule: it is not all right to talk about the drinking or using in your family. Having been raised in an alcoholic family herself, by the age of six Claudia shared the feelings of loneliness, fear and frustration of her family.

Working through the loneliness, fear and frustration by expressing feelings is what this book is all about. This workbook gives children age 5 - 12 the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings and to better understand addiction.

Although this workbook was designed for and the illustrations created by young children, it may also hold insights for the now adult age person raised in an addictive home.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Many years ago when Dr. Black was a counselor in an alcohol and drug treatment program, she asked a six-year-old daughter of a man in treatment for his addiction if she knew why her father was in this program. The girl paused and then with confidence said, "My Dad loves me, but my Dad has a disease." In spite of her father's addiction she knew her father loved her.

This is a message all young people need to be able to believe. Unfortunately when people are addicted they often lose the ability to act in loving ways toward those they love.

Growing up in an addicted family usually means living by the rule: It is not all right to talk about the drinking or using in your family. Working through the loneliness, fear, and frustration by expressing feelings is what this book is all about. This workbook gives children the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings and to better understand addiction.

From the Author

My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease was originaly written as a result of my work with young people who had a parent in treatment for their alcoholism. These children were learning at a very young age that is was not safe for them to openly talk about their family experiences. Art therapy was a wonderful tool in which to not only share feelings but to problem solve, lessen denial, and to put words to that which was so confusing.

After many years and thousands of children using this workbook, it has been revised to address the fact that today, if a child lives with addiction, it may very well be to other drugs, not just alcohol. I have rewritten some parts and added new pictures making it possible for more children of addiction to experience their own recovery process.

The basic premise of this book is that chemical dependency is a disease. The addict is a sick person, not a bad person. This disease affects not only the addicted person but those who love that person as well. Having been raised in an alcoholic family myself, by the age of six I shared the feelings of loneliness, fear and frustration of my family. This is a book that will help the "others" affected by chemical dependency to become well.

There is hope for the addicted person and those affected by their addiction. We, the children, do not have to remain confused and silent.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Mac Publishing; 3rd edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910223238
• ISBN-13: 978-0910223232
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Drugs

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, December 6, 2007

By 

Sonny G - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction (Paperback)

I received this book when I was a teenager. At the time, my mother was married to a drug addict and one of the counselors at the treatment program recommended it. Also, those many years ago, it only applied to alcoholics. I found it to be a very, very helpful book. Seeing my own experiences through the eyes of much younger children really helped me to understand what I was going through and not feel alone. I am so happy to see that it has been updated to include drug addiction and mothers. I know this book will continue to make a valuable impact on the lives of many children.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children of Alcoholics - a young perspective, August 3, 2007

By 

E. Tafel Shuster (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction (Paperback)

A rare find. While most other publications are geared to teenagers or adults living with addicted parents, this book offers younger children's perspectives. It combines young children's artwork and observations about the problems they have to cope with along with a helpful guide/workbook to help explain this disease. Reading through this with a 6 year old was an amazing experience. In the first chapter, she was able to recognize the signs and understand that others are going through the same experiences. I wish there were more books like this.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction, May 25, 2007

By 

Kathryn M. W. Barrett "rockon" (Minnepolis, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction (Paperback)

This is one of the only resources I could find to aid in my work with children of addicts. It is easy to use and gives a good structure for addressing issues of addictions from a childs point of view.