Melody Beattie is an American author of self-help books on

codependent In sociology, codependency is a theory that attempts to explain imbalanced relationships where one person enables another person's self-destructive behavior such as addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or under-achiev ...

relationships.

Education and career

Born Melody Vaillancourt in Minneapolis, Beattie graduated from high school with honors. She began drinking at age 12, was an alcoholic by age 13, and a drug addict by 18. Beattie published 18 books including ''Codependent No More'', ''Beyond Codependency'', ''The Language of Letting Go'' and ''Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have into What You Want'', published in 2010. Several of her books have been published in other languages.

Ideas

Beattie, along with Janet G. Woititz and

Robin Norwood Robin Norwood (born July 27, 1945) is the author of the international best-selling book, '' Women Who Love Too Much'' as well as ''Letters from Women Who Love Too Much, Daily Meditations for Women Who Love Too Much'' (illustrated by Richard Torregr ...

, were popularizers of science, helping to digest and explain the work of psychiatrist Timmen L. Cermak, author of ''Diagnosing and Treating Co-Dependence''. Beattie popularized the concept of codependency in 1986 with ''Codependent No More,'' which sold eight million copies. ''Codependent No More'' was published by the

Hazelden Foundation The Hazelden Foundation is an American non-profit organization based in Center City, Minnesota. Hazelden has alcohol and drug treatment facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, Florida, Washington, and New York. It offers assessment and prima ...

Beattie's early works also served as the first the Big Book for a 12-Step program called

Co-Dependents Anonymous Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a twelve-step program for people who share a common desire to develop functional and healthy relationships. Co-Dependents Anonymous was founded by Ken and Mary Richardson and the first CoDA meeting attended by 30 pe ...

. Although "CoDA" now has a conference-approved (official) '"the Big Book" of its own, Beattie's works continue to be central texts in some CoDA meetings.Co-dependent no more celebrates 20th anniversary. , Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly (, 2007)
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Beattie, Melody 1948 births Codependency Living people Self-help writers Writers from Saint Paul, Minnesota