A Hole in the Sidewalk: The Recovering Person's Guide to Relapse Prevention [Paperback]

Claudia Black (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0910223270 | ISBN-13: 978-0910223270 | Publication Date: September 1, 2000 | Edition: 1

The journey along the road to recovery may be a glorious and fulfilling adventure, but there are dangers and pitfalls along the way. The person recovering from any addiction needs to be aware of the hazards that lead to relapse. A Hole in the Sidewalk points out ways to avoid the holes; as one travels the path of recovery.

Each section offers additional tools for recovery. The more tools one gathers and uses, the more recovery will be strengthened.

Key sections include:

Overconfidence
Resentments
Relationships
Anger
Priorities
Plus many more...

This book is written in a style that allows the reader to skip to the various themes which explore issues that one identifies to be a priority. This book is not meant to be a program of recovery, but to be used as an additional tool for recovery.

I walk down the street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in
I am lost - I am helpless
It isn't my fault
It takes forever to find a way out

I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I pretend I don't see it
I fall in again
I can't believe I am in the same place
But it isn't my fault
It still takes a long time to get out

I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I see it is there
I still fall in-it's a habit
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault
I get out immediately

I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it

I walk down another street
Poem by Portia Nelson

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Claudia 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. Since the mid 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 authors books, interactive journals, and creates and produces educational videos for use with both the addicted client and families affected by addiction. Since 1998 she has been the primary Clinical Consultant of Addictive Disorders for The Meadows Institute and Treatment Center in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Dr. Black has been a keynote speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and on Parlaiment Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Her workshops have been presented to an extraordinarily wide array of audiences including the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Texas prison system, the Milton Erickson Psychotherapy Conference, Maxey Training Schools for Violent Youthful Offenders and Harvard Medical School. 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 a number of National awards including the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Social Work, the Marty Mann Award, the 1991 SECAD Award, the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Addiction Educator of the Year and the California Clinical Social Work award.. She is the past Chairperson of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics and presently serves on their Advisory Board.

Claudia is the author of It Will Never Happen To Me (two million copies sold and now in itÂ’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, A Hole in the Sidewalk, Depression Strategies: Practical Tools for Professionals Treating Depression and Straight Talk: What Recovering Parents Should Tell Their Kids about Drugs and Alcohol. Claudia has produced twenty videos including, Double Jeopardy: Addiction and Depression and the classic Children of Denial.

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Mac Publishing; 1 edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910223270
• ISBN-13: 978-0910223270
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT recovery resource, December 26, 2008

By 

Jann James Anointed Mnstrs "Dr. Jann" (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Hole in the Sidewalk: The Recovering Person's Guide to Relapse Prevention (Paperback)

This is a great resource applicable to recovery from any kind of addictive behavior. With 29 sections, it works well for an intensive one-a-day structured format for focused attention to relapse prevention. Very readable and engaging, it covers all aspects of relapse mindsets in a memorable and individualized way. For those needing to address multiple addictions, it is helpful to identify interactions and substitutions among various behaviors in order to extricate yourself from the web. For example, addictive behaviors may manifest in relation to pornography, alcohol, illegal and prescription drug use, sexual issues, eating, exercise, shopping, codependent relationships. Just when you think you have your addiction under control, it pops up as another aspect of your life. Knowing how to feel good about "walking down another street" while still on the alert for other "deep holes" is essential. As counselors, we find this to be a great resource for arming clients with an overview to achieve - and the insight to maintain their own unique recovery - while pursuing healing from destructive root issues through cultivation of intentionally authentic, nurturing relationships. More at [...]