The Dbt Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Addiction - by Laura J Petracek (Paperback)

About the Book

Written by clinical psychologist, Laura Petracek, this workbook applies the principles of DBT to popular recovery programs for addiction. Ideal for those managing a mental illness alongside an addiction, it equips you with the tools to regulate your emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, maintain sobriety, and feel yourself again.

Book Synopsis

When recovering from addiction and managing a mental illness, it can feel like both have the ability to take over your life. By applying the principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to the 12 Steps addiction recovery approach, this workbook equips you with the tools to regulate your emotions, develop self-management skills, reduce anxiety and stress, and feel yourself again.

DBT is a combination of CBT, mindfulness, and distress tolerance skills tailored to those who feel emotions very intensely. Exploring skills and strategies drawn from DBT that work in tandem with your recovery program, this book provides a new roadmap to reduce symptoms of emotional distress and to support your sobriety and mental health.

Written by clinical psychologist, Laura Petracek, this ground-breaking workbook draws on the author's clinical and lived experience of addiction recovery, bipolar disorder, and other mental health challenges.

Review Quotes

Laura Petracek, Ph.D.'s work on connecting the evidence based, effective psychotherapy treatment of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous is a great addition for extra tools for people recovering from addiction. The 12 Steps are predicated on giving oneself over the process and following the program, and adding in DBT skills can help provide additional tools for supporting one's work through the 12 steps and deepening one's understanding of the Steps. The author's use of her own experience and how DBT added to her recovery is a great use of the values of AA/NA of being open, honest, vulnerable and using one's own process to allow others to take what they need and leave the rest in finding their ways through the 12 Steps.--W. Keith Sutton, Psy.D. - Psychologist - Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy

Dr. Petracek provides a step-by-step guide to DBT for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. This book is accessible, comprehensive and practical. A truly valuable resource!--Elaine Beale, author of Write for Wellness: Write Your Way to Health, Happiness and Healing

The connection between mental health challenges and addiction is strong, complicates recovery, and is regrettably still associated with much stigma. In The DBT Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Dr. Petracek helps readers to understand their struggles with mental illness and addiction, and to address those struggles through a combination of AA/NA and DBT skills. Drawing on her own personal experience, Petracek's warmth and compassion will make these ideas and skills more approachable for those in recovery and will remind people that they are not alone on their difficult journey.--Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist, international speaker, and author of several DBT books, including The DBT Workbook for Emotional Relief

About the Author

Laura Petracek is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience in the fields of psychology and social work, specialising in anger control issues and addiction recovery. She is the author of The Anger Workbook for Women and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA.