Family Secrets - The Path from Shame to Healing

by John Bradshaw

What you don't know can hurt you—
but it can also lead to self-acceptance and healing.

Family Secrets gives you the tools you need to understand your family—and yourself—in an entirely new way.

In his bestselling books and compelling PBS specials, John Bradshaw has transformed our understanding of how we are shaped by our families. Now join him on this fascinating journey of discovery, which starts with your life today and takes you back through the conflicts, the strengths, and the weaknesses of your parents’ generation—and even your grandparents’. Using a powerful technique for exploring your “family tree,” you’ll trace the visible and invisible patterns that have influenced you. You’ll learn about family secrets that are healthy and necessary, and also about the secrets that can limit your wholeness and freedom— even if you don’t know they exist.

This work is sometimes painful, but it is always enlightening—filled with the kind of “aha” moments and realizations that make everything fall into place. With John Bradshaw’s guidance, you will come to a new appreciation and acceptance of yourself. You will also be able to build more open, honest, and loving relationships with the people who matter most.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Relationships, Family, Mental Health

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

John Bradshaw has been called "America's leading personal growth expert." The author of five New York Times bestsellers, Bradshaw On: The Family, Healing the Shame That Binds You, Homecoming, Creating Love, and Family Secrets. He created and hosted four nationally broadcast PBS television series based on his best-selling books. John pioneered the concept of the "Inner Child" and brought the term "dysfunctional family" into the mainstream. He has touched and changed millions of lives through his books, television series, and his lectures and workshops around the country.

During the past twenty-five years he has worked as a counselor, theologian, management consultant, and public speaker, becoming one of the primary figures in the contemporary self-help movement.

Reviews

[Pamela Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does a Seeker liberate themselves from disempowering and limiting beliefs? By understanding your past personal history and then rewriting it, you empower yourself to move forward to recreate a timeless, limitless and abundant you. Cleaning out the family closet isn't easy but eventually it must be done! John Bradshaw's book can help. I highly recommend this book and think it is a classic for many more years to come.

[Heather]

In depth look at how the thoughts and behaviors of a generation can be passed to the next generation without having been purposely taught. These are unspoken but learned. Showed several famous family trees as examples, such as the Kennedy family, who are known womanizers and substance abusers. It was informative and eye opening.

[Lori Calico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is intense and disturbing, but is a strong voice for working your process so you don't pass the junk down to your kids!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back through the generations of my family this book helped me to see more clearly why i think, act, feel, react, etc. to outside influences and to look more closely at the strengths, and weaknessess of my parents and parents' generation to discover invisible family patterns that have influenced my life up to now. a great psychological read!

[Arminda Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest takeaway from this book was the creation of my own family genogram. The insights and the perspective I gained led to deep internal shifts of my thinking and to how I relate to myself in the larger context of my family unit, as well as how I relate to myself and my personal growth opportunities.

[Rosemary]

not yet read

[Emmy]

I was able to understand my own reactions to life that used to be a mystery. It helps cut the cords to weights from the past that you are not even aware of.

[Soaringspirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life, loved it.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for therapists and some of their clients :)

[jonny diane - Professional Wedding Officiant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful.

[Della Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening perspective to re-visit your traumatic past and shape your malleable future, one thought at a time.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Besser nur mit psychotherapeutischer Begleitung lesen. Kann sehr triggernd und überfordernd sein.

[Renata Shura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful! A tough read, but such a valuable piece of work! Bravo!

[Paul Clarkson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I needed to read this but I don’t. There comes a time when you know you have moved beyond something that was important. This was so for this. So, I think it can be valuable for readers, but I don’t need it. I read it far later than was useful. I did pick up though that there are some valuable insights, and I liked the author’s style of communication.