Melody Beattie
Encyclopedia
Melody Beattie is the author of Codependent No More
, published in 1987 by the Hazelden Foundation. The book was successful and influential within the self-help
movement, selling over eight million copies and introducing the word codependent to the general public.
Following the success of Codependent No More, Beattie authored over a dozen other books, including Beyond Codependency and The Language of Letting Go. Her most recent book is Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have into What You Want, published in 2010. Several of her books have been published in other languages.
Similar to the work of Bill W.
and Alcoholics Anonymous
five decades earlier, Beattie's early work synthesizes psychoanalytic theory
(especially object relations and the work of Heinz Kohut
, Wilfrid Bion, and Otto Kernberg) into language people can easily grasp and use. In Codependent No More, Beattie also functioned as a popularizer of science, especially the work of psychiatrist Timmen Cermak, author of Diagnosing and Treating Co-Dependence.
Codependent No More and Beyond Codependency translate many of the ideas expressed in the Al-Anon 12-Step movement into more modern language. Beattie's work contributed to the general emergence within American society of the idea that addiction
to a person (who was addicted to a substance or a behavioral process) was a possibility.
Beattie's early works also served as the first the Big Book
for a new, and fast-growing 12-Step program called Co-Dependents Anonymous
. Although "CoDA" now has a conference-approved (official) '"the Big Book" of its own, Beattie's works continue to be central texts in CoDA meetings.
Co-Dependents Anonymous
has influenced over a million people, and licensed mental health professionals increasingly suggest participation in CoDa to clients as an adjunct treatment for marital, family of origin and other relationship difficulties well beyond involvement with practicing substance or process abusers.
Codependent No More
Codependent No More was the debut book of self-help author Melody Beattie. It was originally published in 1987 by the publishing division of the Hazelden Foundation, and became a phenomenon of the self-help movement, going on to sell over eight million copies, six million copies of them in the...
, published in 1987 by the Hazelden Foundation. The book was successful and influential within the self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
movement, selling over eight million copies and introducing the word codependent to the general public.
Following the success of Codependent No More, Beattie authored over a dozen other books, including Beyond Codependency and The Language of Letting Go. Her most recent book is Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have into What You Want, published in 2010. Several of her books have been published in other languages.
Similar to the work of Bill W.
Bill W.
William Griffith Wilson , also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous , an international mutual aid fellowship with over two million members belonging to 100,800 groups of alcoholics helping other alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety...
and Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
five decades earlier, Beattie's early work synthesizes psychoanalytic theory
Psychoanalytic theory
Psychoanalytic theory refers to the definition and dynamics of personality development which underlie and guide psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. First laid out by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalytic theory has undergone many refinements since his work...
(especially object relations and the work of Heinz Kohut
Heinz Kohut
Heinz Kohut was an Austrian-born American psychoanalyst best known for his development of Self psychology, an influential school of thought within psychodynamic/psychoanalytic theory which helped transform the modern practice of analytic and dynamic treatment approaches.-Early life:Kohut was born...
, Wilfrid Bion, and Otto Kernberg) into language people can easily grasp and use. In Codependent No More, Beattie also functioned as a popularizer of science, especially the work of psychiatrist Timmen Cermak, author of Diagnosing and Treating Co-Dependence.
Codependent No More and Beyond Codependency translate many of the ideas expressed in the Al-Anon 12-Step movement into more modern language. Beattie's work contributed to the general emergence within American society of the idea that addiction
Behavioral addiction
Behavioral addiction is a form of addiction which does not rely on drugs or alcohol. Increasingly referred to as process addiction or non-substance-related addiction ) behavioral addiction includes a compulsion to repeatedly engage in an action until said action causes serious negative consequences...
to a person (who was addicted to a substance or a behavioral process) was a possibility.
Beattie's early works also served as the first the Big Book
The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism is a 1939 self-help text on alcoholism, written by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. & Dr. Bob...
for a new, and fast-growing 12-Step program called Co-Dependents Anonymous
Co-Dependents Anonymous
Co-Dependents Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to develop functional and healthy relationships. CoDA was founded in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona...
. Although "CoDA" now has a conference-approved (official) '"the Big Book" of its own, Beattie's works continue to be central texts in CoDA meetings.
Co-Dependents Anonymous
Co-Dependents Anonymous
Co-Dependents Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to develop functional and healthy relationships. CoDA was founded in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona...
has influenced over a million people, and licensed mental health professionals increasingly suggest participation in CoDa to clients as an adjunct treatment for marital, family of origin and other relationship difficulties well beyond involvement with practicing substance or process abusers.
Books
- Codependent No MoreCodependent No MoreCodependent No More was the debut book of self-help author Melody Beattie. It was originally published in 1987 by the publishing division of the Hazelden Foundation, and became a phenomenon of the self-help movement, going on to sell over eight million copies, six million copies of them in the...
: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (Hazelden, 1986) ISBN 978-0894864025 - Beyond Codependency: And Getting Better All the Time (Hazelden, 1989) ISBN 978-0894865831
- Codependent's Guide to the Twelve Steps: How to Find the Right Program for You and Apply each of the Twelve Steps to Your Own Issues (Simon & Schuster, 1990) ISBN 978-0671762278
- The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency (Hazelden, 1990) ISBN 978-0894866371
- A Reason To Live (Tyndale House Pub, 1991) ISBN 978-0842309882
- The Lessons of Love: Rediscovering Our Passion for Life When It All Seems Too Hard to Take (Harper Collins, 1994) ISBN 978-0062510785
- Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations On The Path To Freeing Your Soul (Harper Collins, 1996) ISBN 978-0062511218
- Stop Being Mean to Yourself: A Story About Finding The True Meaning of Self-Love (Hazelden, 1998) ISBN 978-1568382869
- Finding Your Way Home: A Soul Survival Kit (HarperOne, 1998) ISBN 978-0062511188
- Playing It by Heart: Taking Care of Yourself No Matter What (Hazelden, 1999) ISBN 978-1568383385
- More Language of Letting Go: 366 New Daily Meditations (Hazelden, 2000) ISBN 978-1568385587
- Choices: Taking Control of Your Life and Making It Matter (HarperOne, 2002) ISBN 978-0060088293
- 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact: Meditations for Connecting with God, Self, and Others (Hazelden, 2003) ISBN 978-1568388809
- The Language of Letting Go Journal: A Meditation Book and Journal for Daily Reflection (Hazelden, 2003) ISBN 978-1568389844
- The Grief Club: The Secret to Getting Through All Kinds of Change (Hazelden, 2006) ISBN 978-1592853496
- Gratitude: Inspirations by Melody Beattie (Hazelden, 2007) ISBN 978-1592854080
- The New Codependency: Help and Guidance for Today's Generation (Simon & Schuster, 2008) ISBN 978-1439101926
- Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have into What You Want (Simon & Schuster, 2010) ISBN 978-1439102152
DVD
- Caring for Ourselves: Hope For Healthy Relationships (Hazelden, 1989) ISBN 9781592854561