Journey Toward Complete Recovery : Reclaiming Your Emotional, Spiritual & Sexual Wholeness (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Have you ever seen a powerful movie, listened to a great piece of music or finished a really good book and, coming away with a..." (more)
Key Phrases: journey toward complete recovery, stage two healing, fundamental stations, Stage One, John Bradshaw, Sister Greta (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Founder of the Institute for Staged Recovery in New York City and creator of "Authentic Process Therapy," Picucci is an addictions counselor who bases his methods primarily on personal experience. In this updated edition of his self-published Complete Recovery, Picucci describes a "Stage Two" recovery program for evolving beyond freedom from addictions to "holism," which encompasses "joy, bliss, love, empowerment, creativity, respect for all life, and peace." Picucci makes an interesting distinction between "'recovery from' addictions and childhood traumas" and "recovery of fulfillment, wisdom, serenity, and emotional, spiritual and sexual wholeness." Using a structure of 12 "stations," which can be visited and revisited in any order as often as needed, he guides readers through six "fundamental" and six "emergent" modules of this process for healing the "spiritual-sexual split" and the "cultural pain... of oppressed minorities," and ultimately achieving the "shame-free presentation of self." Picucci says he offers "nothing less than a re-birthing process" through a combination of one-on-one psychotherapy, support groups and spirituality. His own life experiences?as a gay man, once married, now HIV positive, surviving AIDS, cancer, a heart attack, triple-bypass surgery and drug and alcohol addictions?give him a uniquely credible perspective on healing and wholeness. In his cogent, well-organized handbook, Picucci functions a bit like the gay shamans who had a special place in North American Indian tribes. His compassionate acceptance of diversity will inspire many readers to care to take the next step and seek the help they need.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...a uniquely credible perspective on healing and wholeness. In his cogent, well-organized handbook, Picucci functions a bit like the gay shamans who had a special place in North-American Indian tribes. His compassionate acceptance of diversity will inspire many readers to care to take the next step and seek the help they need." -- Publishers Weekly

"Recovery takes on new meaning in Dr. Michael Picucci's The Journey Toward Complete Recovery. He expands our hearts and opens our minds to the wonders, the growth and the tremendous rewards of a holistic, ongoing approach in recovering the lost parts of our Self. Anyone touched by the dis-ease of addictions or 'blocked energy,' will be awakened and transformed by this work, as I have. He gives both promise and hope." -- Carolyn Craft, Director and Host, Wisdom Channel Radio and Television Network

A comprehensive map for recovering joy and meaning in our lives. If you want to understand how transforming your life can also transform the world, then read The Journey Toward Complete Recovery. -- Roshi Bernie Glassman, co-founder, Zen Peacemaker Order author of Bearing Witness: A Zen Master's Lessons in Making Peace

Michael indeed takes the reader on a "Journey" - a courageous journey from addiction to wholeness, from isolation to community, from shame to love. The approach is fresh - Michael's deep commitment to healing comes alive on every page. -- Dr. Robert Gass, creator of Opening the Heart Workshops

Picucci teaches us how to integrate the mind, body, and spirit and to reclaim our lives, our passion, and our humanity. Written with great clarity and compassion, this is a must-read for anyone wishing to recover, to grow, and to love. -- Joyce A. Kovelman, Ph.D., author of Once Upon ASOUL: The Story Continues... Science, Psychology and the Realms of Spirit

Picucci's book supports the efforts of everyone-gays, lesbians, bisexuals, heterosexuals-to explore who they are now and who they can become in the future. This insightful and objective handbook will make the journey more joyful and loving. -- Dr. Sheppard B. Cominars, co-author of Accepting Ourselves and Others

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (September 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556432860
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432866
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #822,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Finally Found the Book (Map) I've been Looking ....., December 2, 1998

By A Customer

What a powerful and real tool this book immediately became for me. I don't know who Michael Picucci is, but when reading the book I feel like he is whispering in my ear. A tickle goes down my spine because he is saying things I've been needing and wanting to hear. Things I somehow knew to be true but didn't have the words for. What a rich feeling it has been, and is, to connect so deeply with a book, and at the same time have it offering me gifts, one after another. These invaluable gifts, like the "living map", the "fruits of the tree", the "four powers" of emotional healing, and the promise of a sexual/spiritual epiphany, among many others, will be the new guiding lights on my life journey. I am grateful to Dr. Picucci for sharing his wisdom and his life in such a bountiful way. If you care about recovery, if you care about life, read this book! Carolyn Kern

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great books on recovery!, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

With the 'Journey Toward Complete Recovery,' Dr. Michael Picucci has written one of the most useful books on recovery we've ever seen. Its insights and exercises make it invaluable for anyone wishing to heal deep traumas that remain even after sobriety.

Even more helpful for those of us who use books as part of our support group, Michael Picucci makes himself available to us. He's open in a way that makes readers relate to him like an old friend - and a guide through even the later, more complex stages of recovery.

This is as good as bibiotherapy gets, so if you can only afford a few books on recovery, be sure this one is on your list!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hpoeful, clear roadmap to the recovery process., October 7, 1999

By	David J.Shaw ([e-mail]) (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

For those who have been in long-term psychotherapy/personal growth/recovery or those who are contemplating making positive changes in their lives, Picucci's book offers an overview,supported by his personal experiences of a professional healer who "walks the walk", of what to expect, what to look forward to, and how to get where you want to go.