High Desert is a courageous, gripping, and deeply personal auto-biographical account that offers one person's experience of growing up in an abusive home and learning to rely on her faith and spiritual beliefs to heal and grow in ways that go beyond traditional twelve-step programs and other approaches.

In this eye-opening account, writer Kim Douglas reveals a wide range of issues and behaviours that will be familiar to many who have come from similar circumstances: eating disorders, obsessive or compulsive behaviours, and troubled relationships with friends and other family members.

Most important is the author's insight and guidance for finding effective ways to cope with life's challenges, learning to trust others in a close relationship, parenting without repeating the cycle of abuse, healing the relationship with the abuser, and forgiving those who don't help in a time of crisis.