The purpose of The Shopping Addiction Workbook is to provide helping professionals with cognitive and
behavioral assessments, tools, and exercises that can be utilized to treat the root psychological causes of
a shopping addiction. It is designed to help people identify and change negative, unhealthy thoughts and
behaviors that may have led to a shopping addiction. The activities contained in this workbook can assist
participants in identifying the triggers which can lead to an addiction to shopping and teach them ways
to overcome and manage those triggers.
The Shopping Addiction Workbook will help participants to shape their behaviors:
• Recognize that they are experiencing an addiction problem.
• Reflect and become aware of the behaviors that were part of and arose from the addiction.
• Build self-esteem in positive capabilities outside of shopping.
The Shopping Addiction Workbook is a practical tool for teachers, counselors, and helping professionals
working with people suffering from a shopping addiction. Depending on the role of the person using this
workbook and the specific group's or individual's needs, the modules can be used individually or as part
of an integrated curriculum. The facilitator can administer an activity with a group or individual or use
multiple assessments in workshop.
• Understand the triggers for preoccupation with various aspects of shopping behavior.
• Develop greater self-acceptance and the ability to change ineffective behaviors.
• Understand recurring patterns that indicate a shopping addiction.
• Learn ways to live a new life without obsessing about shopping and spending.
Ester R.A. Leutenberg has worked in the mental health field for many years as a publisher, author, and advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a devastating loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with a mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986. Soon after, as a way of both healing and helping others, Ester co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing with her daughter Kathy Khalsa and began developing therapeutic products that help facilitators help their clients.
John J. Liptak, EdD has many years of experience in providing counseling services to individuals and groups in a variety of settings including job training programs, correctional institutions, colleges, and universities. In addition, John has years of teaching experience as an adjunct professor at Radford University. John frequently conducts workshops on assessment-related topics. He has written three books on career-related topics. His books have been featured in numerous newspapers including The Washington Post, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His work has also been featured on MSNBC, CNN Radio, and on the PAX/ION television series, "Success without a College Degree."
