Reader Views on “The Essential Addiction Recovery Companion”

The Essential Addiction Recovery Companion
Richard A Singer
Loving Healing Press (2018)
ISBN 9781615994021
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (4/19)

Essential Addiction Recovery Companion

Richard Singer has both personal and professional knowledge about recovering from addiction and incorporates this experience into “The Essential Addiction Recovery Companion: A Guidebook for the Mind, Body, and Soul.” It follows on the footsteps of “101 Tips for Recovering from Addictions,” which was written by the author after going through his own relapse and subsequent recovery.

The guidebook offers 101 tips to help the reader through the steps to recovery. Relapse is also addressed. Each tip includes a meaningful quote, a discussion about the tip, questions for further growth with space to journal, and a positive message for each day. The tips progress through the stages of recovery. All of them involve some aspect of healing the psychological, physical and spiritual parts of addiction. The questions for further growth are perfect for journaling or discussing in group sessions.

“The Essential Addiction Recovery Companion: A Guidebook for the Mind, Body, and Soul,” was written for therapists, family members and individuals dealing with addiction. I love that it is so holistic in nature. Having spent part of my MS in Counseling learning about addiction, it was refreshing to see a resource that helps address all aspects of an individual. I remember learning about biological and psychological aspects of addiction, but I have no recollection of the addict’s spirit being addressed. It seems like the spiritual aspects of an individual could help them with staying on their path to recovery.

Knowing that the author has spent twenty years applying these tips to his patients and himself makes the advice in this book even more meaningful. It is not only reality based, but much of it also has scientific evidence supporting it. I also appreciate that this guide is not written for one specific recovery program. The author leaves it up to the reader to decide which path to take. Personally, I feel that “The Essential Addiction Recovery Companion: A Guidebook for the Mind, Body, and Soul.” By Richard Singer would be an excellent tool for a therapist to use to help guide people through the recovery process. Individuals will also benefit from using it on their own. The information presented is very concise and easy to follow.