Unlike most books on families and addiction that provide prescriptive advice, When the Solution Becomes the Problem takes a different approach. This book partners with families, aiming to help them understand why implementing expert recommendations can be so challenging. By delving into the "why," families gain insights into their current crisis and the factors contributing to it.
The book's primary goals are twofold. Firstly, it aims to provide comprehensive information on addiction and trauma, drawing from scholarly literature while presenting it in a family-friendly style with relatable stories and clinical descriptions. Real-life scenarios woven through the chapters allow readers to recognize themselves and their families' circumstances from fresh perspectives.
Secondly, the book encourages readers to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery that leads to growth, healing, and positive change for the entire family system. Divided into two parts, the educational section offers insights into addiction as a chronic, progressive disease that hijacks the brain's reward system and impairs a loved one's self-awareness of their problem. The trauma chapters introduce readers to a continuum of traumas, including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Transgenerational Trauma, Complex/Developmental Trauma, and Secondary Trauma arising from living with a loved one struggling with addiction and trauma.
The second part of the book expands on resilience as both an individual and family process, exploring the dynamics of change, improving communication, and the path to family healing. These chapters provide practical steps empowering individual family members to effect positive changes that ripple into transformative shifts for the entire family. The book guides families in supporting their loved ones' journey to recovery and reintegration into the family with full membership.
Ultimately, the book aims to guide families away from the perspective of "we are a family with a loved one who struggles with addiction" towards embracing the identity of "we are a family in recovery from addiction and trauma." By fostering understanding, empathy, and actionable guidance, this book seeks to empower families to break free from the cycle of addiction and trauma, promoting healing and a renewed sense of togetherness.
About the Author :
Dr. Michael Barnes is an addiction counselor, professional counselor, and family trauma expert with 40+ years of experience. He is the Director and Founder of the Michael Barnes Family Institute and Senior Clinical Advisor at NRT Behavioral Health in Broomfield, Colorado. He has served as the Chief Clinical Officer at Foundry Treatment Center in Steamboat Springs, CO, and Residential Manager/Clinical Educator at the Center for Dependence, Addiction, and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) at the University of Colorado Health System. Prior to returning to clinical work, Dr. Barnes was a faculty member in the MA Programs in Counseling and MFT at the University of Colorado in Denver. He earned his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University, his M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and his B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He published numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. In 2023, he published a book titled "When the Solution Becomes the Program: Helping Families Struggling with Addiction and Trauma." Dr. Barnes now resides in Tampa, Florida.
