Monday, April 02, 2007

The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment


The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment

by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, Robert M. Pressman

ISBN-10: 0787908703
ISBN-13: 978-0787908706




Editorial Reviews:

"The authors have skilfully presented an often difficult topic in an easy-to-read work which will be of value to helpers at any stage of their professional development." (Anglican Theological Review)

"So readable and chock full of understandable case examples that it demands to be shared with patients. It focuses on the conduct of parents and their children trying to make sense out of their chaotic lifestyles in search of love, self-esteem, acceptance, and inner peace. Its valuable insights can be potent reinforcers of the therapeutic experience." (Jack G. Wiggins, Ph.D., past president, American Psychological Association)

"Such a find. The concept is an artful and practical synthesis that bears effective witness to the authors' depth of knowledge of contemporary psychotherapeutic literature." (Joseph R. McCool, Ph.D., past president, Academy of Family Psychology)

"I believe that this book should be required reading for every family physician. It is a real eye opener for those physicians who routinely prescribe psychotropic medications without psychiatric input and without insisting on the patient's participation in therapy." (Laurence Bouchard, D.O., past president, American Association of Doctors of Osteopathy)


Customer Reviews:


This is the first book that actually described my situation, December 25, 2004
Reviewer: Fresh Cut Rose (USA)

For years, I associated myself with avoidant personality disorder. I didn't understand why other than the fact that I was teased in school. I read this book and couldn't put it down. If your parents provided for you in terms of giving you food and shelter but you felt betrayed by them or couldn't tell them your feelings because they didn't care, then this book is the book for you.

The book offers some superficial solutions to get over the problems created by the Narcissitic Family, which I am not sure will work, but other than that, I recommend the book highly.

The strongest point I picked up from the book is that I trust no one because I couldn't trust my parents. I never realized this but it all makes sense. This book points you in the right direction; it is up to you to take the road to recovery.



Well Done-Let the healing begin, December 12, 2002
Reviewer: Say Grace "dirtyh20sam" (Incline Village, NV USA)

Thank goodness I found a wonderful therapist who told me that my family was narcissistic. Then I found this book on amazon (it wasn't what my therapist recommended though). I needed a book that was not autobiographical, I needed to hear many stories of others lives with covert and overt male and female narcissistic abuse, in order to unlock myself from my disbelief. Finished it last night, still crying this morning, but I know things are going to be uphill for me from here. This book was written by therapists for therapists but I got so much out of it, I would recommend this highly for any adults recovering from "N" abuse who have had at least some therapy. As a victim I found that some of the techniques and methods described for recovery very helpful. (The Lavender Saphire is one of them) There are so many very specific things included in the Pressmans book that really touched home for me, opening doors and fitting puzzles together that had been unsoved for a lifetime. My book is filled with my highlights and dogears,well worth many times its listed price.