SMART Recovery Family & Friends Handbook: For people affected by the addictive behavior of a loved one.

by Roxanne Allen (Editor)

Two powerful approaches are combined in this Handbook to help individuals who are affected by the addictive behavior of someone they care SMART Recovery tools for dealing in a healthy way with emotionally challenging situations, and the principles of the evidence-based Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach. Studies have shown CRAFT to be significantly more effective than either Al-Anon or Johnson interventions for getting addicted individuals into treatment. Written in simple, straightforward language, this Handbook includes tools, exercises, and practical strategies. Topics Change and Motivation, Positive Communication, Healthy Boundaries, Safety and Support, Coping with Lapses, Disabling the Enabling, Trust and Forgiveness – and much more. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with attendance at SMART Family & Friends online or community meetings. A Family & Friends meeting participant “I came to SMART to get help dealing with my partner's addiction. What I got are tools that help me deal more effectively with almost every aspect of MY life.”

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2015

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well worth the $10 I spent for a copy of my own that I could write in. I've read a lot of this stuff already in other books, I find I need to keep reenforcing these ideas through rereading and writing, so having this handbook helped with that.
Some of the most helpful exercises were the ABC exercises using Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and those are exercises that could help a broader audience than just the one targeted in this book.
Now that I've gone through it once and have some written thoughts and goals, it will be even more helpful to go back and reread later. It also has a nice list of references in the back for further reading.
The Smart Recovery approach makes a lot of sense to me. Although sometimes on the page it's simpler than in real life, for the most part, I've found it a great help in my efforts to get my head on straight and work on my own goals for change.
Highly recommended, especially for people whose loved ones struggle with addiction, but also for people who are trying to get a grip on how much their emotions govern their actions.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

SMART is a great alternative to AA and Al-anon. It offers actionable, religion-free advice. This book seemed like common sense to me, and at times it came off condescending. If your “LO” is an abusive addict, don’t bother with this book. If your children aren’t safe in the care of the addict and your childcare options are limited, also skip this book. No ones going to take guitar lessons as self care while worrying if their “LO” is driving around drunk or high with their kids.
The book has lots of great advice, it just definitely won’t apply to everyone at every stage of life.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, first of all this book can be obtained as an A4-sized paperback as well as on Kindle, and there is much to be said for getting the paperback. With the paperback there is room for filling in the various exercises given and for taking notes. My copy is now full of completed exercises, underling and notes, and is all the more helpful for it.

It was written to accompany the SMART Recovery Family and Friends Meetings, for anyone who has a loved one with substance or behavioural problems. I found that the combination of attending meetings and using the handbook to be incredibly helpful. The SMART Recovery Family and Friends philosophy is based on CRAFT ideas and, as this article shows - there has been a lot of success with CRAFT methods.

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-craf...

I personally found the methods and tools described in the book and meetings to be non-intuitive. There was a lot I had to learn. There are some wonderful ideas about communication, questioning our irrational beliefs and the use of boundaries. There is also a lot of emphasis on taking time out for self care as well. The whole approach of this method is kind and caring - both towards the loved one and towards the relevant concerned person. I found that very appealing too.

There is however one thing missing. Although the book has a good list of contents, it lacks an index. I found it very helpful to create my own index in the back as I read the book. Even though it wasn't in alphabetical order, I found it essential for locating tools or ideas.

I consider this to be one of the best books I've read - and a book that has genuinely changed my behaviours - especially in terms of communication. Highly recommended.

[Terri Fuentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprisingly helpful

I admit I was thinking this was just another gimmicky alternative to AA that made promises for easy success. I was wrong, the smart recovery for friends and family clearly showed me how I am unknowingly contributing to the loved one's addiction and what I can do to change myself for the better. I would recommend this book to anyone not getting benefits from Al-Anon or counseling.

[Carol Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic REBT manual with perhaps a little more jargon than helpful. I wish they could manage this without feeling a need to slam other paths to recovery. Also, saying “loved one” assumes a LOT because often the people reading this stuff aren’t all that emotionally engaged any more.