I'm Claudia Black and I know first hand what it's like to grow up in a family affected by addiction. Alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive disorders, depression, emotional abandonment, physical abandonment and family violence leave scars that can last a lifetime.

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.

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. 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 such as 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.

My newest book as of September 2011 is The Truth Begins With You: Reflections to Heal Your Spirit and provides a moment for daily reflection, allowing the deeper truth of the words on the page to take root in the reader's consciousness.

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.

I have a new E-Book Legacy of Shame and the Recovery Process, which is derived from a talk that I gave at the US Journal Training Conference in March 2011. Put out by Central Recovery Press you can find out more and download the E-Book by clicking here.

And I have an interactive journal I've completed with the

Change Companies. The journal, Perspective: Exploring Healthy Sexual Behaviors, allows participants in drug and alcohol treatment programs to address co-occurring sexual behavior issues and explores the psychological, emotional and physical effects alcohol and other drugs can have on sexual behavior, providing participants with the tools necessary for positive, personal change. I explore issues such as sexual self esteem, conflicting values, beliefs that drive sexual behavior, and sexual secrets.Visit their website for more information.

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.