Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction [Paperback]

Thomas Bien Ph.D. (Author), Beverly Bien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2002

"This wise book provides practical exercises that will help us to develop conscious awareness and inner understanding, and the ways and means to free us from unsatisfying habits, addictions, and unconscious behavior patterns. I recommend it highly."
--Lama Surya Das, author of the bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within

"Anyone interested in finding a kind, spiritual guide to recovery that focuses on flexibility rather than the 'one true way' will benefit from this enjoyable and helpful book."
--Maia Szalavitz, coauthor with Joseph Volpicelli, M.D., of Recovery Options: The Complete Guide

In Mindful Recovery, you'll discover a fresh and effective method for healing from addiction that can help you handle important challenges, from managing anxiety and resisting cravings to dealing with emotional and physical imbalance.

Drawing on both ancient spiritual wisdom and the authors' extensive clinical psychological work with their patients over many years, Mindful Recovery shows you how to use the simple Buddhist practice of mindfulness to be aware of-- and enjoy-- life in the present moment without the need to enhance or avoid experience with addictive behaviors. Mindful Recovery guides you step by step through ten powerful "doorways" to mindful recovery, giving you specific strategies that can help you cultivate a sense of calm awareness and balance in your life.

Filled with personal stories of recovery, practical exercises, instructions for meditation, and more, Mindful Recovery accompanies you on a journey of exploration and healing that will help you find the strength and the tools to change, leading you to a fresh new experience of everyday living.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These very different books share the premise that spirituality rather than pharmacology or will power underlies successful recovery from addiction. Both expand on the idea of spirituality beyond the doctrinal and ritualistic form to a wider range of thought. Mindful Recovery flows out of a Buddhist perspective that substitutes the authors' "ten doorways" for the more rigorous 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Based on research and professional experience, the book argues for "mindfulness," a quality of openness to life's experiences, as a lifestyle for the recovering addict. Presented here are both specific techniques and "practices" (e.g., journaling and meditation) for attaining mindfulness and composite life stories that illustrate various themes. Thomas Bien, a clinical psychologist and lecturer, and Beverly Bien, director of an agency that provides services to the disabled, have written a soothing and sensible self-help book that could be useful to open-minded individuals facing addiction issues. Based on interviews, research reviews, and visits to programs and conferences, The Soul of Recovery is rooted in the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy, though Ringwald's perspective is more expansive. The author, a reporter for Newsday and director of the Faith and Society Project at the SAGE Colleges in Albany, NY, covers the theoretical relationship between addiction and spirituality; treatment programs (e.g., Hazelden) and specific modalities for women and minorities; the science of addiction and research on effective treatament; and policy implications for recent political initiatives advocating "faith-based" social programs. The result is an impressive, straightforward synthesis of diverse and controversial issues. Both books provide viable alternatives to the "broken brain" thesis of biological psychology/psychiatry. Ringwald's presentation is more analytical, comprehensive, and research based, making it better suited to public and professional libraries. The Biens' book would make a sound addition to specialized collections on alternative approaches to addiction. Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...a soothing and sensible self-help book that could be useful to open-minded individuals facing addiction issues." (Library Journal, July 2002)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471442615
• ISBN-13: 978-0471442615
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 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: #195,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Bien is a practicing psychologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers College summa cum laude, a master's of theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of New Mexico. He teaches professional and non-professional audiences alike, topics including Mindful Living, Mindful Therapy, Life-Changing Insights of the Buddha, and others. His work is in the vanguard of the integration of psychology, mindfulness, and spirituality. Dr. Bien presents internationally. He is currently at work on his sixth book.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A flexible, integrated approach to overcoming addiction..., February 8, 2004

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction (Paperback)

Mindful recovery is a book that focuses on maintaining your abstinence from any addiction, once you have made the decision to quit: "...if you can build a happy, fulfilling, meaningful life, relapse will be much less of an issue." It's a flexible approach to recovery based on facing life with an attitude of acceptance, rather than running away from life through an addiction.

I love how Thomas and Beverly Bien integrated the spiritual concepts of the East with the more scientific ideas found in psychology: "While our approach is rooted in Eastern traditions of mindfulness...The West has its own approaches to mindfulness. Journaling, narrative psychology, insight-oriented psychotherapy, relationship work, and dream analysis...we present a blend of Eastern and Western wisdom." They also briefly touch upon the fallacy of black and white thinking, borrowed from cognitive styles of recovery. In ten "doorways," this book presents many little essays that elaborate on these themes through quotes, personal stories, and practical applications. By the time you finish this book, you will have a full understanding of mindfulness and how to use it to free yourself from addiction.

Mindful recovery, however, has a potential negative: the reader can easily become overwhelmed by the myriad of "Practices" the authors have developed to explore mindfulness in every capacity - work, relationships, dreams, and the like. The "Practices" seem to be endless. But the authors wisely predict this: "...having so many tools can also seem a little overwhelming - as though you had a lot of things to do and remember. It isn't so. Whenever you feel this way...remind yourself that there is really only one thing to remember and it is the simplest thing of all: to be mindful, to be aware."

I also strongly agree with their paradigm of change. It's a process of six stages, borrowed from James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, who co-authored Changing for Good. And it's empowering, because their notion allows for relapse with a mentality of acceptance and learning: "...most people do go through these stages several times before establishing permanent change. For this reason, it is equally important to be able to view a slip...as a temporary setback rather than ultimate failure."

At the heart of this book are the practices of meditation and journaling. Regardless of how many Practices mentioned throughout the book, these two are definitely the twin pillars that support mindfulness. They are simple, flexible, and easy to implement in your life.

I highly recommend this book. Just make sure to stay on course with the simplicity of mindfulness, and let your intuition guide you as to how to implement it into your life.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must read!, April 2, 2002

By 

Drs. Charles Elliott & Laura Smith "Author" (Corrales, NM USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction (Paperback)

Mindful Recovery makes the breakthrough teachings of mindfulness accessible to those who struggle with addiction. It is an extremely wise and helpful book--clearly the best of its genre and written by authors who obviously know how to reach out to their audience. Mindful Recovery teaches the reader how to use meditation both on and off the cushion as the basis for a more fulfilling life--bringing calm awareness into work, relationships, and emotions. The only problem I have with the book is that its suggestions are equally helpful to those who do not struggle with addictions, yet the title and marketing do not target these broader audiences. This is a must read. As a surprisingly refreshing alternative to other approaches to addiction, I think it could easily become a classic in the field.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good alternative to AA and to non-chemical addictions, August 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction (Paperback)

I had been searching unsuccessfully for a book that dealt with computer games addiction. A friend suggested that the 12-Step program could help with all kinds of addictions, but I was just not comfortable with the whole religious aspect of that model.
This book offered just what I needed. I could just substitute the words "computer gaming" whenever alcohol or drugs were mentioned, and the information related ever-so-well. The author writes with a warm, non-threatening style which really helped me to be able to confront my demons. I highly recommend it!!!