Interventionists

Candy Finnigan, BRI II

Board Registered Interventionist (Level) II

A nationally recognized addiction specialist, Finnigan has been involved in all areas of recovery for more than 15 years. She received her certification in chemical dependency from UCLA and completed her internship at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she worked in addiction services.

Finnigan was certified in sex addiction and codependency at The Meadows. She received intervention training from the man who developed the process, Dr. Vern Johnson. "I feel extremely fortunate to have been personally trained by Dr. Johnson."

Finnigan has been affiliated as an interventionist with the Betty Ford Center, Sierra Tucson, The Meadows, Cottonwood de Tucson, Promises West and Malibu, Vista Taos, Hazelden, Talbots, Caron, and other treatment centers.

Besides interventionist training, Finnigan is an expert in relapse prevention and family and individual counseling. She has extensive experience in assessment, placement, and aftercare treatment. She is an experienced group facilitator for both adolescent and adult clients.

Personally in recovery for over 23 years, Candy states, "I was inspired to go into this work because I saw that as a recovering woman, I might be able to connect with suffering people in a way that others couldn't," she says. "It's not just my work, it's my life."

In April of 2008, she published a new book, When Enough is Enough: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Intervention, that provides advice to family members thinking about an intervention.

To learn more about Candy Finnigan, visit http://www.candyfinnigan.com.

Jeff VanVonderen, BRI II

Board Registered Interventionist (Level) II

A sought after speaker and consultant, Jeff VanVonderen has more than 25 years of experience counseling individuals, families and organizations in the areas of addiction, family systems and recovery.

He is the author of five books: Good News for the Chemically Dependent, Families Where Grace is in Place, When God's People Let You Down and best-sellers Tired of Trying to Measure Up and The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. His published works have been translated into several languages and much of his material is available in audio and video.

VanVonderen has been featured in magazines and broadcast media around the country and has appeared as an expert witness in cases involving issues of abuse in Alabama, Hawaii, Minnesota, Washington, and Wyoming.

"Quite often people try, with the best of intentions, to help themselves or their loved ones through a problem or crisis, only to discover that the help is not only not helpful, but even harmful," says VanVonderen. "They find themselves supporting and helping to prolong on the outside, the very thing they do not support on the inside."

He goes on to say: "Individuals and families become dysfunctional by accident. But they get well on purpose and this is what I'm about, helping them do that."

To learn more about Jeff VanVonderen, visit: http://www.jeffvanvonderen.com.