Women, Girls, and Addiction: Celebrating the Feminine in Counseling Treatment and Recovery [Hardcover]

Cynthia A. Briggs (Author), Jennifer L. Pepperell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415993520 | ISBN-13: 978-0415993524 | Publication Date: June 19, 2009 | Edition: 1

Women, Girls, and Addiction is the first book on the efficacy of treatment approaches and interventions that are tailored to working with addicted women, and the first publication of any kind to provide a feminist approach to understanding the experience of addiction from the female perspective. Part I of the book provides an overview of feminist theory and addiction counseling, followed by an historical look at women and addiction (research, treatment, demographics). The three chapters in part two give an in-depth look at the biological, psychological, and social factors of the experience of addiction as unique in women. The final section of the book presents a series of chapters spanning the lifespan, which each feature age-specific special issues, treatment strategies, interventions, and commonly encountered topics in therapy with the population.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this landmark text, [the authors] have given a voice to a population and attention to a problem that heretofore has been overlooked, underserved, or inappropriately treated. Readers will find within these pages a wealth of ways to productively work with addicted women and girls. This book is both a first and a foremost contribution to the field of addiction. - Samuel T. Gladding, Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA

In a field with no shortage of literature on addiction focused on men and boys, Women, Girls, and Addiction is crucial to developing effective helping approaches with women and girls. Briggs and Pepperell deliver a thorough and informative research- and practice-based exploration of addiction from a feminist perspective that takes into account various sociological, cultural and contextual realities that converge and interact. - Hugh C. Crethar, Oklahoma State University, USA 

As Cyndi Briggs and Jennifer Pepperell mention in this book, men and women differ on many levels, yet, for some reason, therapeutic treatment for them does not. This becomes problematic in treating females exhibiting addictive behaviors, as the current methods of treatment fail to focus on the relational and cultural aspects of women and the possible underlying reasons they suffer from substance or process addictions. Briggs and Pepperell offer empowering approaches of working with females across the lifespan in addictions treatment, taking into consideration the multifaceted contexts of women’s lives. A feminist perspective in working with women, particularly in addictions, has been needed in mental health! - Dr. Kelly L. Wester, University of North Carolina, USA

"The authors...have taken a refreshing approach to addiction counseling by unabashedly asserting their feminist perspective and integrating it throughout their discussion of counseling issues...well written and organized. To be commended for covering a wide range of topics, often in novel ways. This book provides a useful overview of critical and timely issues related to understanding and treating women and girls with addictive disorders." - Christine Grella, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 55, Release 15

About the Author

Winona State University, Minnesota, USA Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (June 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415993520
• ISBN-13: 978-0415993524
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Cyndi Briggs is an assistant professor of counseling at Winona State University and lives in Rochester, MN. She graduated with a BS in Psychology from Guilford College and an MAEd in Community Counseling from Wake Forest University in NC. After working for five years as a substance abuse counselor and higher education administrator, Cyndi moved to Oregon to complete her doctorate at Oregon State University. This is her fourth year at Winona.

During her years as an addiction counselor, Cyndi was frustrated and dismayed by the lack of gender-sensitive counseling options for her women clients. She became an advocate for women seeking addiction treatment, and includes gender issues into her addiction counseling classes.

Cyndi loves teaching, and focuses her efforts on addiction courses, group counseling, and counseling skill development. She infuses social justice, multicultural issues, and wellness into her class presentations and discussions. She also conducts workshops related to interpersonal issues, use of Motivational Interviewing, veterans issues, and process addictions. She is a licensed counselor, a certified life coach, and a consultant. You can learn more on her website, DrCyndiBriggs.com.

Cyndi has several journal articles and textbook chapters to her credit. But her baby is the textbook Women, Girls, and Addiction: Celebrating the Feminine in Counseling Treatment and Recovery, co-authored with her dear friend and colleague Jennifer Pepperell.

One final note: the author photo is copyright Clarissa Hadler of Lilypad Photography in Minnesota. She is awesome. Hire her.