Constance Scharff PhD

Constance [Ahuva Batya] Scharff holds a PhD in Transformative Studies, specializing in addiction recovery and radical personal transformation.

She is the Senior Addiction Research Fellow and Director of Addiction Research at Cliffside Malibu, an industry-leading addiction treatment facility in Malibu, California.

Dr. Scharff co-authored Ending Addiction for Good with Cliffside Malibu founder Richard Taite. In that book, she and Taite share both their personal stories of addiction recovery as well as outline the groundbreaking treatment protocol used at Cliffside Malibu. Dr. Scharff shares this treatment protocol and the science behind it worldwide with mental healthcare professionals, government agencies, and clergy.

She writes for a variety of publications and speaks internationally on expanding access to mental healthcare and the latest therapies that improve treatment outcomes for addicts. She has traveled extensively across the globe, learning how to help individuals create life-transforming experiences and improve their psychological well-being.

In addition to her addiction work, Dr. Scharff is also an author and poet. Under her Hebrew name, her award-winning book of Jewish themed poetry, Meeting God at Midnight shares how she grew through sexual abuse and infertility to find a life of meaning and hope.

Dr. Scharff is currently completing her first novel.

Book Reviews by Constance Scharff PhD

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If your “to do” list is never ending, set it aside, get cozy on the couch, and read Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

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“By seeing the magic that is around us, we can be motivated to respond to the climate crisis.”

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“an exceptionally well-written, illustrated guide to understanding and improving mental health for tweens, teens, and young adults.”

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Writing Coach in a Box is an exemplary course to improve one’s writing.”

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“Aundi Kolber’s Strong Like Water is an excellent resource for Christians, and those who don’t mind Christian theology, to find greater compassion for themselves and others . .

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“Providing tools and inspiration to clients who may not respond to talk therapy is . . . an opening to provide creative modes of healing to clients and communities.”

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“insightful and inspiring and will remind you why relationships matter so much in our lives.”

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“The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head by Dr.

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Do you have a friend who without symptom or diagnosis is worried about their health?

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Self-Care in Underwear is another lovely gift book from Ton Mak. Get one for your friends who need a gentle reminder to be here now.”

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Simply Psychology is an utter letdown. There are many introductory books on psychology that are much better written and more accessible to readers. Give this book a hard pass.

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“The people who hold the public purse strings and make decisions about funding mental healthcare and other social services need to read this outstanding book.”

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Do you want to feel more connected to the divine or your source of creativity?

Do you want to learn how to pray in a way that feels meaningful to you?

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“What if death is just the beginning of life?” With that question, author Laura Formentini dives into an exploration of loss that will ultimately help her heal from the feelings evoked by her son’s

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“a well-written, well-argued book about how we can make a real difference in preventing suicide by challenging the assumptions we have about why people kill themselves and addressing oursel

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Illuminating and uplifting, I Am a Girl from Africa is a must-read.

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Trauma doesn’t develop only from violent incidents. It can manifest through institutional racism, the stress of cultural bias, or the isolation of pandemic.

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“a pocket-sized paper embrace that will encourage all readers to find hope when life upends our schemes.”

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“Get this book if you’re in the industry. With better understanding, we may be able to help more of our musicians heal.”

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Are you stuck at home dreaming of creating a new life for yourself?

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$9 Therapy is a delightful book, sure to bring a smile to those who read it.”

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“would make a lovely gift for a friend who is interested in learning more about personal change, who is exploring recovery from physical or mental illness, or who enjoyed and wants to learn

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“This book’s strongest message is one of hope.

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“We need a change in our healthcare system now.

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“Deep Hope: Zen Guidance for Staying Steadfast When the World Seems Hopeless is a wonderful read for those interested in Zen Buddhism and its application, helping

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“Any friend or family member who enjoys meditation—or who might appreciate a gentle nudge in that direction—will smile thumbing through A Sloth’s Guide to Mindfulness by Ton Mak.”

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“Birds of a Feather is a powerful glimpse into the struggles of people and animals who are working to overcome trauma.”

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If anyone knows Transcendental Meditation, it’s Bob Roth.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that in 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from accidental opioid overdose.

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To Heal a Wounded Heart: The Transformative Power of Buddhism and Psychotherapy in Action by Pilar Jennings PhD is a tender and compassionate memoir of the experiences of an early career p

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If you work with children, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Nadine Burke Harris MD may be the most important book you read this year.

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In a time when substance abuse is killing tens of thousands of Americans each year and quality training for addiction treatment providers can be difficult to find, The Spectrum of Addiction: Ev

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Breathing regulates our everyday experience. What if we could change our lives by changing our breathing?

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“Horse enthusiasts regularly experience the ways in which horses uplift and save us, giving meaning and peace . . .”

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". . . might be the most informative, useful book on trauma treatment . . ."

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Depression and anxiety affect more than 50 million Americans in any given year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

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When Sheryl Sandberg’s husband unexpectedly died while on a trip to Mexico, her world turned upside down.

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“this book provides critical, factual information to families who feel alone and under-resourced, facing an impossible situation.”

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Deepak Chopra MD and Menas Kafatos PhD’s new book, You are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters, is a powerful, compelling discussion of an emerging perspective in

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The Case Against Sugar is not another diet book, which is precisely why it might change your life.

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There are times when a psychotherapist makes a huge difference in a client’s life and there are times when, despite best efforts, lives are lost.

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if you are looking for a book that describes the brain’s role in how we create perspective(s) and interact in the world, including some aspects of mental health and mental

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More than 47,000 Americans died of accidental overdose in 2014. What is causing this epidemic of overdose deaths?

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There is a reason that world renowned chefs like Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain are singing the praises of Table Manners: How to Behave in the Modern World and Why Bother—because the bo

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“This book is a one-of-a-kind teaching, a rare delight for those who want to live their lives more fully . . .”

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“The prose is refined, even beautiful, which is unexpected when such a difficult subject is being discussed.”