Helping You, Help Children of Alcoholic Parents

Are you worried about the child of alcoholic parents? Are you a Helping Professional who works with families where alcoholism is a concern? Is alcoholism an issue in your family or the family of a child you care about? Do you wonder how to help children of alcoholics and reduce the risks they face? Or do you wonder how to help the child of a drug addicted parent?

You are not alone. Family problems like problem drinking, drug abuse and alcoholism effect children and contribute to child problems. An estimated 11 million children under the age of 18 live in US households with at least one alcoholic parent. Their families and the helping professionals who work with them are looking for support to help them.

No wonder. Children of alcoholic parents are children at risk. They face up to 4 times the risk for developing alcoholism as adults.They are also at risk for developing a range of other psychological and living problems both as children and adults.

In addition, alcoholism is an inter-generational problem. Without help, children of alcoholics are at increased risk of developing social, emotional, behavioral and learning problems. They are also at risk of alcoholism and other living problems as adults, and of perpetuating the inter-generational cycle of addiction through to the next generation of children.

There is good news. Dr. O'Connor has written I CAN BE ME -- A Helping Book for Children of Alcoholic Parents.

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.

In addition, 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 also continue long after sobriety is achieved and exert detrimental effects on the child.

I CAN BE ME is a helping book for helping 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.

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.

I Can Be me also integrates proven, evidence based interventions to help build psychological well being and resilience in children.

These include:

• The healthy validation and expression of feelings.
• The promotion of positive parenting strategies such as a caring but firm and consistent parenting style.
• A focus on helping children move through their defenses toward increased psychological well-being and healthier coping strategies.
• A focus on helping children build healthier, more positive views of their lives, themselves and their capabilities.
• A focus on building increased independence, self-reliance and competence.
• Strategies for developing appropriate problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• A focus on building healthier family relationships and attachment bonds.
• A focus on helping children build an increased sense of confidence and esteem.

You can adapt I Can Be Me me to help the Children of Alcoholics you care about and work with.

• 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.
• Parents or counselors can also use I CAN BE ME to address the unique concerns of an individual child.
  
• The introduction suggests strategies for integrating I CAN BE ME into to your own helping program or family life.

I CAN BE ME is a helping book for professionals and parents working to help children of alcoholic parents. Professionals such as psychologists, social workers, guidance counselors, EAP counselors, addiction counselors, physicians, clergy and other mental health professionals will find it a useful resource. They can use this resource to help children understand alcoholism and move toward healthier coping strategies.

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.

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.

Information and support are organized into eight core chapters. Addiction -- a family problem children can't cause or stop; Feelings: Feeling Masks; A Family Problem; Help Yourself; Decisions; Family Change; Lots of Kids Like Us.

View the TABLE OF CONTENTS

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There are few resources to help children of alcoholic parents or drug addicted parents. I CAN BE ME helps fill this gap and provides you with a comprehensive, yet inexpensive and easy to implement resource help you help these "Forgotten Children."

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