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I take a special interest in the addictive nature and the addiction challenges of the creative person.

In addition to all of the risk factors that put anyone at risk for an addiction, the creative person is confronted by special risks having to do with her meaning-making efforts and her meaning crises and with the rhythms and realities of the creative process and the creative life.

Dr. Susan Raeburn, an addictions specialist (and daughter of the Big Band leader Boyd Raeburn and the jazz singer Ginnie Powell), and I have written a book on the subject that will appear Fall 2008 from Shambhala Press. In it, we describe the creative person’s relationship to addiction and present a complete recovery program for the addicted creator. 

If you’d like to read a bit from the book, here is an excerpt.

Dr. Raeburn is available to work with you as you deal with your addiction. Here is Susan’s bio. If you’d like to work with Susan, drop her an email and let her know of your interest.

If you’d like to contribute to the sequel that we’re preparing, take our survey.

If you’d like to read more about addiction and recovery, here is a resources bibliography.

We’ve also prepared a list of treatment facilities.

If you intend to live an authentic life and if the idea of making meaning resonates for you, then you will surely have to come to grips with the reality of addiction, depression, anxiety, obsession and other features of full existential presence. I hope that you will visit my books section to see which of my books speak to you and take a look at the play list of my shows, as I present many shows on these subjects, including a nine-part series on “obstacles to creating” and a nine-part series on “the art of making meaning.”