Depression is a debilitating and sometimes, life-costing illness. Yet it is imminently treatable. Depression is very common among spouses/partners of addicts and adult children raised in addicted families. I have observed how relapse is fueled and recovery is impeded by depression that is unrecognized and untreated. Depression is often a co-occurring or subsequent disorder in the addicted client.

What sets this book apart from other depression workbooks is that it holds a healthy respect for cognitive behavioral modalities as well as recognizing the role of affective and spiritual interventions related to depressive disorders. Because of what I've learned from my experiences, I have included in this book material that will assist health care professionals in bridging a long time gap between the mental health and addiction fields.

Take a look inside the book by clicking on - Inside Depression Strategies

This workbook is composed of six sections:

Depression: An Overview

Depression History Strategies

Cognitive Strategies

Affective Strategies

Behavioral Strategies

Conceptive Spiritual Strategies

A sampling of sessions included are: Depression History - Addiction/Depression History - Interrupting Faulty Thinking - Defenses and Feelings - Anger Patterns - Personal Choices - Potential Depression Triggers - Spiritual History Discussion

In many of the strategies sections, ideas and formats are presented for structured interventions. The use of handouts in the form of written exercises, checklists, sentence stems, structured dialogues and/or art activities is an integral part of this therapeutic technique.

All handouts are designed for clinicians to reproduce and use without restriction as to copyright permission.

The audio CD, Imageries, offers structured meditations for recovery. The disc contains four imageries: Relaxation Exercise, Inner Child Affirmation, Inner Source of Wisdom, and Letting Go and Receiving. It can be used in a group or individual setting.

This is not a how-to-treat depression book. It is meant for use by the clinician versed in identifying and treating depression. By providing strategies and exercises, this book will be a source of inspiration and a valuable aid to the mental health addiction practitioner or health care provider who is working with clients experiencing depression.

Readers Comments

This is wonderfully comprehensive. I've seen nothing like it.

Joel S. Ph.D.

This is great. I use it with clients with co-occurring addiction and depression issues and also with those who are only depressed.

Nancy M. M.A.