Melody Bacon, PhD, is a professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Marriage and Family Therapy department and a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Dr. Bacon is a clinical psychologist specializing in relational issues and has been in practice for over 20 years.
In her latest book, Family Therapy and the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Dr. Melody Bacon offers an innovative approach to a problem that has plagued individuals, families, and societies for millennia. By outlining the history of substance use and the efforts taken in the US to combat the devastating results of misuse, she provides the context for introducing her Family Matters Program. This integration of Bowen Family Systems Therapy with the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous is a much-needed addition to our tools to help families find healing and freedom from addiction. Rigo Brueck, Ph.D., Clinical Director, Covenant Hills Treatment Centers, Inc. Dr. Bacon's book Family Therapy and the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders offers fresh hope and practical guidance for working with one the most challenging populations in mental health. Much needed, this book awakens even experienced clinicians to new to possibilities for treatment and recovery. Diane R. Gehart, Ph.D., author of Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy and Professor, California State University, Northridge Dr. Bacon's lively inquiry, compassionate nature, and practical wisdom make this book a pleasure to read. Useful for those who are new to the field as well as more experienced practitioners, this book makes an important contribution to the available literature on the treatment of substance use disorders. The balance of context, real life stories, and expert reflection make this book a vibrant learning experience for the reader. Dr. Bacon's Family Matters Program is an emerging and promising addiction treatment paradigm. As I read this book, I was impressed with how effortlessly Dr. Bacon weaves together themes of family therapy, psychodynamic insight, and behavioral change. In these pages you will find an optimistic voice describing the avenues for growth that are within reach for those with substance use disorders as well as their families. Sean Sterling, Ph.D., ABPP, Department Chair, Applied Clinical Psychology Program, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology