few of my favorite things
Here are some of my favorite clinical tools and lifestyle self-care treats. Been There Counseling, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. A portion of the proceeds received through the Amazon Associates Program will be donated to the Nebraska Children's Home Society. The Nebraska Children's home is a nonprofit agency who helps children, adolescents, and families by providing them with adoption, pregnancy, and mental health services. I was a counselor with the agency for 8 years and it is an honor to not only be a part of their legacy, but to make donations they can continue their positive work!
Boundaries and Boundaries Workbook by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend are two of my most highly recommended books to clients. Their concepts are clear, direct and applicable to our lives. Their books can be read in their entirety or you can pick which specific chapters best match your current experiences. I do not always recommend the companion workbooks to text and this one really helps clients who are in action mode and ready to make healthy relationship changes!
The definition of codependent in this text is not necessarily what you think....it's not just a clingy person who desperately seeks approval of their partner. It really is a set of "emotional, psychological, and behavioral conditions that develops as a result of an individual's prolonged exposure to, and practice of, a set of oppressive rules-rules which prevent the open expression of feelings, as well as the direct discussion of personal and interpersonal problems(Beattie, pg. 30, p.4)." Sound familiar? Get both the book and workbook then read them at your own pace, taking your time contemplating your experiences and patterns. Clients reported that they found great relief reading and completing exercises from these books together in session.
