Facing the Shadow: Starting Sexual and Relationship Recovery

by Patrick J. Carnes

For all addicts, a moment comes when they realize they have a problem. There is sudden clarity—the insight that life has become unmanageable. That moment, however, is fragile. It is easily lost to craving and denial. People struggling with sex addiction find the old refrains creeping back into their thinking: My situation is different. . . . This will all blow over. . . . People are over-reacting to my behavior. Or, This is hopeless. I'm just too perverted to change.

"If any of those thoughts occur to you, you are exactly where you should be," notes Dr. Patrick Carnes in the introduction to Facing the Shadow. Starting with those gentle words, he guides readers through a series of reflections and exercises that pierce denial and light the path to healing from sex addiction.

Facing the Shadow, used by thousands of therapists with their clients, is based on the thirty-task model of recovery from addiction that forms the basis of Carnes's work. This newly revised and expanded edition takes readers through the first seven of those tasks, including specific performables that are built in to the exercises. The model also supports Twelve Step recovery programs.

Patrick Carnes, PhD, is a therapist, speaker, trainer, and author whose books include Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction, A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps, Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict, and Don't Call It Love: Recovery From Sexual Addiction.

Genres: Psychology, Sexuality, Addiction, Self Help, Counselling

464 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Patrick J. Carnes, Ph.D., is an internationally known authority and speaker on addiction and recovery issues. He has authored over twenty books including the bestselling titles Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction, Facing the Shadow, Betrayal Bond, Don’t Call It Love, A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps and The Gentle Path through the Twelve Principles.

Dr. Carnes’ research provides the architecture for the “task model” of treating addictions that is used by thousands of therapists worldwide and many well-known treatment centers, residential facilities, and hospitals. He founded IITAP (International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals), which provides CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) training and certification as well as cutting-edge information for addiction professionals. Dr. Carnes currently serves as a Senior Fellow and Executive Director for the Gentle Path Program at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

First workbook of three for walking from sexual addiction to recovery. Carnes has a thirty step guide (!) based on his research of those who have successfully recovered; who ever said recovery was easy? This a great resource, though, to accompany you as you work with your therapist, your sponsor, and your group to get healthy again. This is also the first book that therapists like me who are working on their CSAT (certified sex addiction therapist) read in preparation for Module 1.

[Dmitry Dyatlov · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a fan..........

[Fr Adam Zettel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource, a workbook for people struggling with sexual addictions. I'm finding myself recommending it to many people who need a serious way to work on their addiction and face it realistically and practically. It invites them through many detailed exercises to make lists and analyze the facts about their addiction in a way that is raw and real.