REPEAT AFTER ME offers help to those who were raised in dysfunctional families characterised by abuse, addiction, other compulsive behaviour or mental illness. This remarkable, self-help workbook, takes the reader through a process of letting go of hurtful beliefs and behaviour. While insight is often the precursor to change, people need to develop skills that make change occur.
Adult children tend to repeat the life scripts of their challenged, troubled families as a result of internalised beliefs and behaviour that were either modelled for them or were a part of their survival strategy. Dr. Claudia Black, world-renowned expert on dysfunctional families, articulates a four step process for readers to heal the wounds of their past:
1. Explore their past, for the purpose of coming to terms with the
losses and acknowledging the pain associated with past history.
2. Connect the past history to present day life.
3. Identify and challenge internalised beliefs, differentiating between
beliefs that are healthy and useful and those that are self-defeating
and need to be let go.
4. Learn and practise skills, focusing on the basics such as learning to
listen, identifying needs and options, identifying and expressing
feelings, defining successes, establishing healthy boundaries,
recognising intrusive behaviour, creating healthy rituals,
identifying strengths and developing realistic expectations.
This is an excellent resource to aid therapists, counsellors and other professionals in their work with clients to help them become aware of how their family system affected them and how they can grow beyond it.