I'm Claudia Black and I know first hand what it's like to grow up in a family affected by addiction. The journey to healing and recovery begins with breaking the silence, letting go of denial, and the willingness to go beyond yourself to find the answers.

Welcome to my world of healing and recovery.

Alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive disorders, depression, emotional abandonment, physical abandonment and family violence leave scars that can last a lifetime.

The statistics are staggering. In the United States over 22 million people have a substance dependence or abuse problem, and over 8 million children live with at least one parent who is dependent on, or abused alcohol or an illicit drug.* Every year approximately 3 million adults meet the criteria for pathological gambling* and it is estimated that 18 million people act out sexually in an addictive manner.*

Healing and recovery is possible and you can be a part of that process.

Within families impacted by addiction, depression, chronic anger, anger avoidance, denial, and shame are pervasive. Spouses, partners, children young and old, and certainly the addicted person all suffer.

Children, spouses, and partners in addictive family systems are at greater risk for physical and sexual abuse. Addiction in the family severely impairs parenting skills. Children are scared and confused and their childhood experiences are reflected in adult child and trauma issues. Codependence becomes a long standing lifestyle. Relapse is pervasive and destructive for everyone involved.

In my books, CDs, and DVDs there is a foundation for understanding addiction, family systems, family roles and rules, and relationship dynamics and tools that will give you the opportunity to break the silence, let go of your denial, say 'No' to your shame, discover your self-worth and develop greater self-esteem.

I am probably best known for It Will Never Happen to Me in which I offer a foundation for understanding what occurred growing up in an addictive family. You will experience validation of your history, a framework for understanding what happened and why you are where you are today, and hope for the future.

Changing Course (which I consider to be the sequel to It Will Never Happen to Me) provides a framework for understanding the recovery and healing process from childhood family pain and it will help you to understand the beliefs and behaviors that have perpetuated your pain. I offer a path wherein you live with choices versus living a family script.

Today, more than ever, women are being challenged by the addictive nature of their partner's sexual behavior. My newest book Deceived teaches women how to protectively emerge from emotional isolation, shed secrets and shame, and discover the power to incite positive change in their relationship. You also have the opportunity to view a short video here wherein I speak about this book.

A Hole in the Sidewalk is a self-help relapse prevention workbook that can be utilized for a wide range of addictive disorders ñ from nicotine, alcohol, drugs, sex, work, spending, gambling, food and relationship addictions.

Repeat After Me is a step-by-step self-help workbook that provides a framework and a guide to take you through a process to recognize how your present life is influenced by your past. It is written so the reader has a hands-on tool to do personal work, but is also a fine tool for clinicians to use with clients.

It's Never Too Late to Have a Happy Childhood is a lovely inspirational book. It will validate your inner strength and wisdom.

Some incredible tools to help you in being the best parent you can be are My Dad Loves Me, for children ages 5 to 12, which gives them the opportunity to own and express their feelings and perceptions through drawing and writing, and Straight Talk which provides clear direction and gentle support for discussing addiction with your children of all ages.

There are various CDs in which I offer meditations and address the issues of emotional baggage, healing from abandonment, putting your past behind you, the trauma of being raised in an addictive family system and avoiding triggers that can lead you back into your addictive behavior.

For the professional working with addicted persons, individuals or families impacted by addiction I have created the Strategies Series. Each book offers hands on practical strategies that can be used with individual clients or within a group, didactic information to be used in sessions, reproducible handouts, exercises, and specific instructions for assignments that can be an integral part of the therapeutic process. There are also Toolboxes which combine a Strategies book with a corresponding DVD.

And The Stamp Game is a wonderful therapy tool to help people of all ages indentify, clarify, and discuss feelings.

You will find many DVDs meant to be used with clients and families to address issues such as anger, addiction and depression, relapse, relapse triggers and emotional baggage. There are other DVDs that address addiction in the family, the legacy of addiction, family roles, the recovery process, issues that affect recovery, relationships, shame, denial, and how to talk with children of any age about addiction and recovery. And DVDs that address abuse both physical and sexual. On each DVDs page you have the option to view a 5 to 6 minute preview.

You can learn how to access the power within you - own your truth and garner the courage to walk through the pain.

Does the pain ever go away? - Yes

Recovery is an exciting process of establishing healthy boundaries, reframing belief systems, finding a greater trust in your self, reconciling the issues of forgiveness and embracing a spiritual process.

I am in awe of the miracles of recovery and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your personal or professional journey.

Claudia Black Ph.D.

*Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2007

*National Council on Problem Gambling 2007

*National Council on Sexual Addiction Compulsivity 2007