Mindfulness is a quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it is. Mindfulness is tremendously useful in the addiction recovery process, Dr. Lawrence Peltz explains, because at the heart of addiction is the fear of painful emotional states—addicts compulsively seek drugs and alcohol to avoid or escape emotional pain. Mindfulness, on the other hand, helps us develop greater acceptance and ease with life's challenges, as well as greater self-compassion. Drawing on his experience as an addiction psychiatrist and on the techniques of mindfulness-based stress reduction, Dr. Peltz, who is the medical director of the Bournewood Caulfield Center, a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Woburn, Massachusetts, has written an informative and inspiring book about how mindfulness can be a critical component in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. This book is for recovering addicts, their families, and the professionals who treat them. It explores the fundamental dynamics of addiction and the stages of the recovery process, including patient stories. Dr. Peltz also explains what mindfulness is and how to use it to support recovery, including practical exercises and techniques. He reviews the recent scientific research on the benefits of mindfulness for mental health in general and for addiction recovery specifically.

Basics of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Introductory Guide provides a unique combination of step-by-step basics of group counseling and psychotherapy and considerable depth of understanding of the intricacies of group process. Students learn how to identify what is going on in their groups, what interventions are most likely to be effective, and when to make those interventions. The text provides readers a competent and effective foundation for their study and practice in group work. The text is divided into three parts: The Core of Group process and Leadership, Pragmatic Considerations, and The Future. Part I offers a thorough introduction to brief, closed groups, guidance through four key phases of group counseling and psychotherapy-preparation, transition, treatment, and termination-and practical advice regarding leadership, therapeutic interventions, the essentials of training, ethical practices, and co-therapy. In Part II, the book dives into more advanced material, specifically addressing how to work with clients with difficult behaviors and offering the reader structured exercises and techniques they can apply in groups. Part III provides a perspective on the current state of group work and its future, touching on diversity, training, research, and more. Written by counselors and therapists who have conducted group counseling and psychotherapy sessions for decades, Basics of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy is an invaluable resource for individuals who are new to group treatment and for those experienced group therapists looking for a review.