The Wisdom to Know the Difference: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Substance Abuse

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

Maybe you’ve just started on the road to recovering from addiction. Or you’ve tried to stop abusing alcohol or drugs before, but haven’t been successful. Perhaps you’re making progress in a support group or 12-step program, but want to add an approach grounded in science. No matter how far you’ve come, how far you still have left to go, or which path you’ve chosen, this book can help you end your struggle with addiction.

The Wisdom to Know the Difference is an addiction recovery workbook based in acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT. Research shows that ACT is a powerful treatment for alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, and other issues, and it can be used alone or in combination with any 12-step program. On this particular path, you’ll learn to accept what you can’t change about yourself and your past and commit to changing the things you can. You’ll overcome your addiction by focusing on what you value most, like your talents, friends, career, relationships, and family. There’s no need to wait any longer. This book will help you find the serenity, courage, and wisdom it takes to leave substance abuse behind for good.

This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit — an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, is a cofounder of the ACT treatment model, associate professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi, and coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness for Two. He lives in Oxford, MS.

Troy DuFrene is a writer who specializes in psychology and has coauthored several books, including Coping with OCD and Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.