Recommended Readings
Books on Spirituality
A Man’s Journey to Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach and Michael Segell
A New Earth: Awakening to your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course In Miracles by Marianne Williamson
Living in the Light: A Guide to Personal and Planetary Transformation by Shakti Gawain
The Power of Intention by Wayne W. Dyer
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Books on Relationships
After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful by Janis Abrahms Spring, Ph.D.
The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.
I Don’t Have to Make Everything All Better: Six Practical Principles That Empower Others to Solve Their Own Problems While Enriching Your Relationships by Gary and Joy Lundberg
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson
How Can I Forgive You? The Courage to Forgive, The Freedom Not To by Janis Abram Spring, Ph.D.
How One of You Can Bring the Two of You Together: Breakthrough Strategies to Resolve Your Conflicts and Reignite Your Love by Susan Page
Lies at the Altar: The Truth About Great Marriages by Dr. Robin L. Smith
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman, Ph.D.
The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and How to Respond by Patricia Evans
Books on Family Life & Parenting
Another Chance: Hope and Health for Alcoholic Families by Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse
Blending Families – A Guide for Parents, Stepparents, Grandparents and Everyone Building a Successful New Family by Elaine Fantle Shimberg.
Children the Challenge by Dr. Rudolph Dreikurs
Get Out of My Life, but First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?: A Parent’s Guide to the New Teenager by Anthony E. Wolf
I’m Not Mad, I Just Hate You!: A New Understanding of Mother-Daughter Conflict by Roni Cohen-Sandler, Ph.D. and Michelle Silver
Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Bray Pipher
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey
Step Families: Love, Marriage and Parenting in the First Decade by Dr. James Bray and John Kelly
Books on Depression, Anxiety & Related Disorders
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D.
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood’s Most Misunderstood Disorder by Demitri F. Papolos, M.D.
Bipolar Disorder: A Family Focused Treatment Approach by David J. Miklowitz and Michael Goldstein
The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing: The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Judith L. Rapoport, M.D.
How to Heal Depression by Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., and Peter McWilliams
New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder by Jan Fawcett
Overcoming Depression by Janice Papolos and Dimitri Papolos, M.D.
Stop Depression Now – Sam-e the Breakthrough Supplement by Richard Brown, M.D., Teodoro Bottligliere, Ph.D., and Carol Colman
Books on Personal Growth
Anger Kills: Seventeen Strategies for Controlling the Hostility That Can Harm Your Health by Redford Williams, M.D. and Virginia Williams, Ph.D.
The Angry Book by Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D.
Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps by Melody Beattie
Co-dependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself by Melody Beattie
God on a Harley (If You’ve Ever Had a Broken Heart) by Joan Brady
In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want by Iyanla Vanzant
The Knight in Rusty Armor by Robert Fisher (for men)
Money, Emotions and Recovery by Mary Raphel M.S.
The New Codependency: Help and Guidance for Today’s Generation by Melody Beattie
Overcoming Perfectionism: The Key to a Balanced Recovery by Ann W. Smith Perfectionism can be an obstacle to quality living, even when it appears to produce significant rewards. For those struggling with issues such as intimacy, control, letting go, relaxing and enjoying life, this book offers practical guidance about “living in the middle.”
The Princess Who Believed in Fairy Tales by Marcia Grad (for women)
Books on Sexual Abuse
The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of…by Patrick Carnes
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women… by Ellen Bass, Laura Davis Also available: Courage to Heal Workbook
The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for… by Wendy Maltz
What About Me? A Guide for Men Helping… by Grant Cameron
Women, Sex, and Addiction: A Search for… by Charlotte Davis Kasl
Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from… by Ellen Bass
Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and… by E. Sue Blume
Books on Compulsive Behaviors & Disorders
The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.
Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism by Katherine Ketcham
Credit, Cash & Co-Dependency: How the Way You Were Raised Affects Your Decisions About Money by Yvonne Kaye
Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.
Don’t Call it Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.
Getting Them Sober, You Can Help by Toby Rice Drews
How to Get out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously by Jerrold Mundis
I’ll Quit Tomorrow: A Practical Guide to Alcoholism Treatment by Vernon E. Johnson
Losing Your Shirt: Recovery for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families by Mary Heineman
Under The Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism by James Robert Milam and Katherine Ketcham
Women, Sex and Addiction by Charlotte Davis Kasl, Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Testimonials
Katryn Cross
Susan is a bright and compassionate woman who sees the best in people and genuinely wants to help them get to a place where they are living a joy filled life!
Terence Gorski
Susan Berlin is an excellent psychotherapist and a person of high integrity.
Chris Bennett
Susan Berlin is an expert clinician specializing in substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. I have known Susan personally and professionally for many years and she is always a top referral for clients I have in need of individual, couples, or family therapy in the DC area. Her ability to establish a beneficial relationship with clients, and the skill to motivate, empower and support growth are the keystones of Susan's top-notch ability to help those suffering. Susan comes with my highest recommendation.
Graham Hall
I have known Susan Berlin for over a decade. When I was running the evening program for the Kolmac Clinic in Washington, DC, an Intensive Outpatient Program for individuals seeking treatment for alcohol and or substance abuse issues, I referred heavily to Susan when our patients were completing our program and looking for continued support in their recovery, or to continue working on deeper issues needing psychotherapy. The results were always outstanding and the feedback from the patients wonderful. When I left Kolmac and entered into private practice, Susan was instrumental in my success and mentored me in the transition from an institutional to a private practice environment and I continue to have the honor and privilege of doing co-facilitated couples work with her. To be an outstanding psychotherapist one must possesses vast knowledge, compassion, insight, and empathy. To practice addiction work one must possesses great passion, grit, experience and determination. Few therapist posses either, Susan Berlin possesses both and her knowledge of the addiction field is second to none, which is paramount in a time when once privately operated addiction programs are being acquired by large profit-driven conglomerates. I am proud to consider Susan a college and friend and do not hesitate to refer patients of mine to her when I believe she is more appropriate to their circumstance.
Meghan Riordan
I was exceptionally lucky to be introduced to Susan in the early days of my work in the field of addiction and trauma. She is an incredible therapist, whose work demonstrates the highest level of integrity, skill and empathy. Susan is the cornerstone of a large network of therapists, all of whom have benefitted from both Susan's core knowledge of addiction work as well as a connection to skilled treatment providers nearby and across the country. She is generous, and warm, and uses a variety of techniques to help move her clients to grow and change . I count Susan one of the gems in our field and I feel grateful to know her as a colleague and a friend.
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