Alcoholic Parents? Help for the Children?

Are you concerned about the child of alcoholic parents? Is alcoholism an issue in your family or the family of a child you care about? Do you wonder how you can help children of alcoholics and prevent the child problems they are at risk of developing? Or do you wonder how to help the child of a drug addicted parent?

Family problems like problem drinking, drug abuse and codependency effect children and contribute to child problems.

I CAN BE ME is a helping book for children who are experiencing family stress with a special focus on children of alcoholic parents or substance abusers.

With--I CAN BE ME--You Can Help Children when problem drinking or drug abuse effects their families. Children can suffer whether the addicted family member is a parent, sibling or other close relative.

Children often need help during the alcoholic parent's stage of active alcohol or substance abuse and through their struggle for recovery. Unhealthy family patterns can continue long after sobriety is achieved and effect the child.

Without help, children of alcoholics are at increased risk of developing social, emotional, behavioral and learning problems. These issues can predispose them to problems as adults.

I CAN BE ME is a helping book for professionals and parents who want to help children of alcoholics. It addresses family problems from the perspective of children whose parents are addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

I CAN BE ME can also help children who are experiencing other family problems. Family problems rarely occur in isolation. Children of alcoholic parents may also experience the separation or divorce of their parents and/or family violence.

In addition, the parent with a substance abuse problem may also suffer from other mental health problems such as depression, problems with anger and personality disorders.

Whatever the family problem children share similar feelings, experiences and coping behaviors,and they can benefit from similar intervention strategies.

Through entertaining drawings and text I CAN BE ME teaches children of alcoholics about addiction. It also suggests strategies for helping children to cope when problem drinking or drug abuse effects their family.

Through a series of creative exercises and activities children learn:

• They are not responsible for their parents' addiction.
• About feelings and how to express them.
  
• About the masks we use to hide our feelings.
  
• How addiction affects the entire family.
  
• They can take good care of themselves.
  
• How to make good decisions and solve problems.
  
• There are good things about their families.
  
• There are lots of kids with alcoholic parents.
  
• They are not alone and can find help.

Designed for children ages 4 to 12, I CAN BE ME can be read by a child alone or worked through with a caring adult. Simple line drawings and text speak to children in a language they understand.

I CAN BE ME is written from a child's perspective. The pictures and text are based on the experiences of children who have attended support groups or individual sessions for children of alcoholic parents.

Children hear others speak to them through the pages of this book. They learn they are not alone .... there are other kids just like them. The drawings and text help children to express their feelings and thoughts through work-book activities, drawing, writing or discussion.

Use I CAN BE ME with an individual child or several children in group settings.

Eight separate units make this an ideal companion to counseling or support group sessions.

A single unit can also be used by parents or counselors to address the unique concerns of an individual child.

View the TABLE OF CONTENTS

I CAN BE ME also includes suggestions for integrating this book into your own helping program or family life.

Parents, as well, as counselors and therapists who deal with children, families and addiction will love the easy-to-understand-text, the simple format and entertaining drawings. They will also appreciate the way children are invited to share their fears, hopes and experiences through drawing, writing and discussion.

Find out who has bought I CAN BE ME to help children of alcoholic parents.

"I CAN BE ME" Has Been Well Received

Find out more about what people are saying about I CAN BE ME.

Although there are numerous resources to help children who are dealing with other family problems--divorce, abuse, family violence and grieving--there are few resources to help children of alcoholic parents or drug addicted parents. I CAN BE ME helps you help these "Forgotten Children."

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Recommended for ages 4-12: soft cover-173 pages, 9x6, ISBN: 978-1-4259-9899-8

With I CAN BE MEyou can make a difference in the lives of the children you care about and help children of alcoholic parents.

I CAN BE ME helps you make that difference.

Sincerely Yours,

Dianne O'Connor, Ed.D.,C.Psych.
Psychologist

P.S. "I Can Be Me" helps you...help children of alcoholic parents.

Stop wondering about what to say or how to help. With "I Can Be Me" you will discover how to support children of alcoholic parents. These children need your help-now.

Copyright 2002 (c) Dianne S. O'Connor, Ed.D. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. O'Connor runs her practice, Assessment Based Solutions, in Toronto (Yonge & St.Clair) and the Hamilton/Burlington/Niagara region.

She can be reached at 416-592-0838 or 905-648-8116.

You can also contact Dr. O'Connor by email.