Healing The Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families (Paperback)

by Charles L. Whitfield M.D. (Author)
Key Phrases: parental conditions, creative child, piritu ality, True Self, Never Seldom Occasionally Often Usually, Real Self (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The "Child Within" refers to that part of each of us which is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and fulfilled; it is our real self-who we truly are.

About the Author
Charles L. Whitfield, M.D., is a physician, psychotherapist, and internationally recognized expert on mental illness, behavioral problems, and recovery. He has been on the faculty of the Rutgers University Summer Institute of Alcohol and Drug Studies from 1978 to 2003, and in private practice of medicine and psychotherapy since 1976. He has been voted by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America every year since 1994. He lives in Atlanta, GA.

Cardwell C. Nuckols, Ph.D., is an expert on brain development and recovery who has been described as "one of the most influential clinical trainers in America." His many publications include the national best-seller, Cocaine: Dependency to Recovery. His recent DVD, "The Science Based Treatment of Addictive Disorders," provides a scientific basis for many of the ideas first addressed in Healing the Child Within.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: Health Communications, Inc. (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932194400
• ISBN-13: 978-0932194404
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,194 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

  #2 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Inner Child
  #4 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Recovery > Adult Children of Alcoholics
  #19 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Codependency

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

176 of 178 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Turning Point in My Life, March 10, 2000

By A Customer

After a tumultuous adolescence and early adulthood I found myself in therapy. My therapist recommended that I attend a self-help group for adult children of dysfunctional families. The therapist also suggested that I read "Healing the Child Within". I didn't think I needed any self help group -at least not badly enough to go through the trouble of actually finding such a group in my area. After being in therapy for one year I read "Healing the Child Within".

I was not physically or sexually abused as a child. What I did not understand was how pervasive and harmful the emotional NEGLECT was and how it still affected me as an adult. What I learned from this book was how much I had been deprived of as a child. How feelings of fear and anxiety as an adult could be the result of childhood experience. After reading this book I was left with a very strong desire to attend a self help group. I attended my first ACoA group in October 1988 and my life has gotten better in ways I cannot put into words. This book for me was not the answer but a trigger to seek further help. But if I had not had this trigger I would not be where I am today. In the context of a trigger, I can honestly say that this book changed my life in a very profound way.

153 of 159 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ for spiritually abused adult children!!!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

Most books on disfunctional families assume alcoholism and/or drug abuse. There isn't much literature that addresses the problem of family disfunction recognising that symptoms/causes can manifest in other ways.

The parental conditions he lists that tend to stifle the child within are: chemical dependence; co-dependence; chronic mental illness or disabling physical illness; extreme rigidity, punitiveness, judgementalness, non-loving, perfectionism, or inadequacy; child abuse--physical, sexual, mental-emotional and/or spiritual; denial of feelings of reality.

Spiritually abused adult children, even if no physical abuse ever occurred in conjunction, tend to have experienced co-dependence (boundaries are crossed and roles are mixed up in unhealthy ways), rigidity, judgementalness, perfectionism, and denial of feelings of reality, in addition to the description he gives for mental/emotional/spiritual abuse.

He develops heirarchical list of 20 human needs, drawing from Maslov, Miller, Weil, and Glasser, and develops the concept that in order for a human being to be whole and healthy and ready to follow a truly spiritual path, these needs must first be met, in order of most basic to highest potential. Most basic, of course, survival and safety; highest potential is unconditional love (including connection with a Higher Power.)

He explains the cycle of shame and low self esteem, and maps how healthy boundaries are crossed by all in a shame based family.

He describes the role of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and it's treatment.

He then describes the steps of healing; no step can be skipped in order to reach true "Genesis (Spirituality)":

Begin to deal with core issues, identify and re-experience our feelings, go through the process of grieving, integrating, and finally, spirituality.

If you have experienced spiritual abuse in your life (as a child or adult), or aren't sure whether you have, but relate to these issues, then this book is a MUST READ!!!!

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening Book, May 26, 1999

By A Customer

Prior to reading this book, I didn't consider that I was an abused child. Dr. Whitfield explores all forms of abuse with the reader. I considered my family Dysfunctional, but not to the extent of abuse. I now realize that emotional abuse is as real as physical abuse and can deal with it and get on with a more emotionally healthy life. Dr. Whitfield does a marvelous job assisting the reader in discovering their pain and themselves. Thank you Dr. Whitfield, I can now stop making excuses for my parents, deal with my pain, forgive my parents, heal, and discover my child within.