Boundaries and Relationships: Knowing, Protecting and Enjoying the Self (Paperback)

~ Charles Whitfield (Author) "Being aware of our boundaries and limits is useful in our relationships and recovery..." (more)
Key Phrases: full recovery program, core recovery issues, having healthy boundaries, Higher Power, Never Seldom Occasionally Often Usually, Stage Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A renowned psychotherapist explores healthy and unhealthy relationships and personal boundaries, with self-assessment tests, descriptions of ten types of human interaction, and more. Original. 50,000 first printing. National ad/promo.

About the Author

Charles L. Whitfield, M.D., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Atlanta. He is a nationally known speaker and a bestselling author.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155874259X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558742598
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #32 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Codependency
  #34 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Relationships > Codependency

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on boundaries and relationships!, June 3, 1998

By A Customer

This to me is one of the best books ever written on boundaries and relationships. Talks of the structure of a person's boundaries, ways to know where your boundaries are, the necessity of having boundaries within your relationships. Written with sensitivity and love. Anything further that I could say about this book would fall short of its quality. I consider this a must read for anyone from any kind of dysfunctional background, especially those struggling with boundary issues.

89 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacking substance, January 30, 2001

By	"ginazone" (Glens Falls, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I had expected from this book on setting Bondaries in relationships, at least an example of exactly how one does that. Not once does the author give step by step examples or instructions on how to set a boundary. I believe in the entire 234 pages (before I got to the appendix on using psychic abilities??? No idea why that's in there!) he only used 3 ambiguous case stories which rarely proved a point or educated.

The most annoying intrusion into my book-buyer's boundary of not being advertised & spammed to in a book I've paid for, was on almost everyone of those 234 pages, he plugs ALL of his other books. Instead of explaining his point he would say "refer to chapter whatever of his other book(s) #1-#5). In one chapter he actually used a big topic heading only to write below, for this topic see such & such of my other books! So he expects me to buy ALL of his books in order to read THIS book.

He also repeats himself over & over, which seems like he is trying to fill blank space just to meet a quota since none of the repititions were needed to prove a point & instead felt intrusive & unnecessary to the point of irritation. As one other reviewer said already, he also hasn't decided who his audience is & tries to write to both at once, failing to reach anyone by alienating the reader.

I gave this book a 3 because the ideas the author expressed were useful & mostly on target and applicable. His theories deserve attention & expansion, and this book will at least be helpful in illuminating the need for healthy boundaries.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title of this book REALLY says it all!, February 3, 2001

By A Customer

The issue of boundaries, whether in a therapeutic setting or interpersonal, this book will be helpful in going from dysfunctional states to holding and containing your core SELF boundaries thereby experiencing life in a manner that is enjoyable...JOY! Written with examples from Family situations - also relationship situations (boyfriend/girlfriend,etc.)- this book is practical in its approach but teaches from a technical point of view that is based on sound academics. It even has a section written by a massage therapist which is very nice in that is describes how ultra-sensitive people can really experience loose boundaries in the psychic/mental realm and how this can affect you. I'm rereading this book for the 5th time. It always seems that I get new depths of understanding each time I find a passage to read for the day at hand. It's for true recovery work. I share this book with lots of folks and they all benefit from it. This book had helped me heal!Really! Move forward and evolve my inner self. And isn't that the goal of any therapy.