Grace Lost and Found is a collection of essays directed to those with with addictions, compulsions, negative thinking, or other unhealthy responses to living. Each essay is followed by thought-provoking "personal growth questions" and affirmations, intended to provide insight and motivate the reader to take specific positive actions.      

Written in an easy-to-understand and conversational format, it is an enjoyable read while being extremely informative. Grace provides so much fantastic information in such a concise and easy manner, that this reviewer felt like he was reading a high-intensity graduate dissertation while receiving a comforting massage in an easy chair.

Although the primary target audience seems to be the person seeking recovery, we recommend the reading for addiction counselors - especially Chapter 2 "Responses to Stress, Fear and Pain", and the essays "Healing for Clients and Counselors" (page 28) and "Domestic Violence and Addiction" (page 104) - as it provides positive and practical methods of dealing with a person's negative approach to life events. These can be beneficial to the counselor, who works in what can be a stressful environment, and are useful as instructional tools that the counselor can pass on to clients for their personal use.

Mary Cook holds a Master's Degree in psychology and the Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS)credential.  Ms. Cook has been in clinical practice since 1976, and has 29 years of university teaching experience. She maintains a private practice, and provides in-service training seminars, workshops, and guided meditation, and is a contributing author to The Clinical Supervisor, Training Manual for Clinical Supervisor Competency in the Addiction Treatment Setting (2010) published by Breining Research and Education Foundation. Ms. Cook may be contacted, and her book is available, through www.marycookma.com.

Breining Institute, March 2010