Friend in Need... : How to Help When Times Are Tough

Is one of your friends in trouble, depressed, seriously ill, grieving, or a substance abuser? When our friends are going through difficult times, they need us most, but it's at just such times that many people are at a loss about what to say or do. Psychologist Sol Gordon has written this sensitive, insightful book to help us become better friends and to teach us how to deal with the serious problems of those we care most about. Beginning with the nature of friendship and its responsibilities and rewards, Gordon then looks at a variety of challenging situations: violent or abusive relationships, friends with problem children, addiction, depression, suicidal tendencies, bereavement, and terminal illness. Offering specific advice, moving real-life stories, and practical resources, Gordon shows us how to nurture our friendships and understand the problems our friends face in order to give them the help they need. He offers suggestions on how to respond appropriately to delicate situations, from the use of compassion to the gentle reminder that we are always ready to listen when our friends need to talk. Everyone will find this book useful at some point in their lives when they need to show support for a troubled friend. But in the end it is a book about how to be a thoughtful, caring, and compassionate friend.

Sol Gordon, Ph.D., is a lecturer, educator, professor emeritus of child and family studies at Syracuse University, and the founding director of the university's Institute for Family Research and Education