When not writing, I practice life as a physician. I’m a psychiatrist, which gives me the chance to live vicariously through other people’s eyes, hear lots of stories, live lots of experiences — it’s an incredible honor to be part of that.  It’s humbling.

But here’s the real story:

My brother was a marine air traffic controlled before crack hit him. That was in 2003.  Now in 2021, he’s still using.  He has had all types of treatment and participated in dozens of rehabs, but he just can’t stay clean. As a psychiatrist, I can say all the right things. As a sister, it breaks my heart. 

Quitting drugs is painful. People feel broadsided by recovery, the holy grail that comes with lots of rules, lectures from well-meaning family members, and mundane addiction treatment manuals. “Newbies” crave motivation. They need sober excitement and humor. Instead, they struggle with futility. The past is too dangerous to visit.  The future is unknown and frightening. The “now” is overrun with obstacles and consequences. Recovery is no easy voyage. It takes strength to survive this journey. Many don’t.

As professionals, we see a high relapse rate. We also lose patients. It’s disheartening. What can we do differently? How can we motivate our clients? How can we spice things up?

I started Outside-the-Box Recovery to help professionals help clients outlive drug and alcohol problems. OTB Recovery walks alongside providers and clients during difficult moments, offering a unique, friendly, and hopeful approach to a a challenging task. Together we figure out how to survive the devastation of addiction. Together we laugh a bit and seek joy too.  There’s a place for play, even silliness, because early recovery isn’t necessarily filled with humor. But we need humor, don’t we? 

That’s my  spiel, and it’s devoted to my brother. I’m here for you, kiddo, when you’re ready to quit.

For more information about me, check out my About page.